FloTones show that ‘Music Matters’
D
oes music matter? Why yes — and for a lot lon-
ger than you might have imagined. Back in the
fourth century BC, Plato, a guy you may have heard
of, said “Music is the foundation of the soul and the
heart of humanity. All other disciplines exist to serve
music.”
Th at guy was one smart dude.
Fast forward about 24 centuries. Were his prizes,
his honors and the public acclamation awarded him
the thing that brought the greatest joy to one of the
most illustrious scientists who ever lived?
“I know that the most joy in my life has come to
me from my violin,” said Albert Einstein.
Take it from a pair of smart dudes: music matters!
While the FloTones may not have the name recog-
nition of Einstein or Plato, music matters to its mem-
bers as well. Th ey clearly experience the joy of music
through their vocal jazz performances. And, wishing
to share this with the coastal community, the Flo-
Tones are producing two performances of “Music
Matters!” Saturday and Sunday, May 26 and 27, at
the Florence Events Center, 715 Quince St.
Th e FloTones will be introducing new songs re-
cently added to their repertoire, including “Misty”
and “For All We Know,” and will include an audience
favorite, Chuck Cassey’s arrangement of “Th e Wil-
liam Tell Overture.”
Sharing the stage with the FloTones will be four
CROW Kids, all recently on stage in the Children’s
Repertory of Oregon production of “Tarzan.” Th e
CROW Kids soloists include Alizabeth Norton, Wil-
liam Owens, Kristen Owens and Elyse Stewart. Th e
selections they will be singing include “Someone
Like You,” “Imagine,” “Wild Horses” and “A Million
Dreams.”
Th e second half of the shows will feature Th e Miles
To Go Quintet, made up of percussionist and group
founder Nate Kaplan, songstress Maree Beers, bass-
CROW
Kids
The FloTones
Miles To Go
Ron
Green
Nyah
Nyah Vollmar
Vollmar
ist Ray Brassfi eld, guitarist Michael Anderson and
keyboardist Greg Aldridge. Th e popular quintet fea-
tures familiar jazz tunes and appears frequently in
the Florence area. Th ey have a regular gig in Blue
Bills Sports Bar in the Th ree Rivers Casino Resort.
Guest artists also include trumpet player Ron
Green accompanying the FloTones and Nyah Voll-
mar with the Miles To Go Quintet.
Th e program will support music education in the
Siuslaw School District.
Does music matter to Florence’s school age young-
sters? Just listen to what two Siuslaw High School
students say — “Music gives me a way to express
myself in a positive and healthy way” and “Music
matters to me because without it I would have never
discovered my voice. It makes life fun and colorful.”
Coast Centras
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And it isn’t just the students.
Band Director Chris Rowbotham added, “Being
in a band is about time management, dedication to
practice and working together as team — all great
qualities to have to be successful at anything they
want to do.”
Echoing Plato, vocal choral director Bruce Mor-
ganti added his own perspective.
“Music is important because it IS; it matters be-
cause it is an essential part of being human,” he said.
Music Matters will be May 26 and 27 at the Flor-
ence Events Center. Th e Saturday performance is
at 7 p.m. and the Sunday matinee will be at 3 p.m.
Tickets, 20 for adults and $10 for students, are avail-
able now at the events center box offi ce and online at
eventcenter.org.
I NSIDE
COVER STORY: MUSIC MATTERS IN FLORENCE
— F LO T ONES PRESENTS M AY 26 & 27 CONCERTS ..............
EVENTS CALENDAR AND GALLERIES ....................
3
4-5
WALDPORT FEATURES EPIC BIKE RACE ...................
7
JOIN LRP’S ‘NICE FAMILY GATHERING’ ..................
8
THE BEATLES RETURN ON TOUR ..............................
9
BIG WAVE POETRY SEEKS SLAM ARTISTS ............
10
All photos used with permission. © Siuslaw News 2018
MAY 2018 • Arts & Entertainment • COAST CENTRAL • 3