Mothers, Grandmothers & Others

With Mother’s Day this Sunday, there’s sure to be plenty of Sunday brunches and flowers galore. Why not celebrate early? Friday, May 11, Austin’s first lady of jazz Pam Hart joins the McCallum Fine Arts Academy Orchestra in honor of mothers, grandmothers, and all the other women that make our lives special on a daily basis.

At 7pm Friday evening at the McCallum Fine Arts Centre, Assistant Orchestra Director Georgeann Shockley leads an all-female string ensemble selected from McCallum Fine Arts Academy Orchestra to accompany Hart’s program of jazz favorites.

Hart founded and runs local nonprofit Women in Jazz, providing exposure to and fostering the appreciation of jazz with young women performers. Funds raised from this event support the Orchestra's next trip to New York City, where they hope to perform at Carnegie Hall.

The MFAA orchestra has previously teamed for performances with Austin Beatles tribute the Eggmen and other special programs – no surprise given their high standards and regular competitions on state and regional levels that testify to their talent. With one of South by Southwest's panels this year titled “They Used to Call It Classical,” orchestras and chamber pop ensembles are buzzing like they haven’t been in years.

The best part? In a few weeks, many of these young players graduate and will be looking to integrate their years of experience locally as well as at the colleges they will attend.

It’s the annual vitamin shot Austin loves to get.