The number of Toledo’s outdoor musical venues have increased: the Metroparks, gazebos in city parks, outside of libraries, you name it.
But before all these concert venues were even imagined, the biggest venue — outdoor, that is — was the Toledo Zoo Amphitheatre. And for decades, it’s been the setting for listening to music and seeing plays — under the stars — surrounded by the creatures that make music of their own.
The series that began with the venue’s inauguration in July, 1936, begins on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. with the 122nd Army Band taking listeners back to the 1980s. The concerts last through Aug. 11.
The great amphitheater, along with other structures that make up the city, was built thanks to the largesse of the Works Progress Administration.
According to an earlier story, 10,000 people showed up for the first classical concert on July 16 in the approximately 4,500-seat amphitheater. According to the zoo, a wall of multicolored, cascading water splashed into a pool filled with swans to hide the structure before opening to its awestruck audience.
In 1938, the term Music Under the Stars was coined.
In 1953, Sam Szor, Toledo’s Mr. Music, began to lead these concerts at the zoo, and he did so for 60 years.
Music Under the Stars was Toledo’s version of the Pops concert, a mix of light classical, marches, Broadway standards, jazz, and more, that began in Boston in 1885.
The story goes that Civil War veteran Henry Lee Higginson, who founded the Boston Symphony Orchestra, wanted to present lighter classical fare and popular music during the warmer months. That was a great way, he said, to keep his orchestra employed all year round, and, according to the BSO’s website, to re-create the ambience of summer evenings in Viennese concert gardens.”
The “Promenade Concerts,” as they were originally called, were soon informally known as “Popular Concerts,” which eventually became just “Pops,” the name officially adopted in 1900, according to the history of the BSO.
A Blade article published in 2011 said “Mr. Szor, known far and wide as Mr. Music, has mastered the art of programming for a diverse public, including light classics, Broadway standards, marches, and jazz.”
During Szor’s tenure, the Toledo Symphony partnered with the zoo, but since 2018, the zoo has been on its own, mainly inviting regional bands from Maumee, Bowling Green, Bellevue, and Toledo, said Jennifer Brassil, the zoo’s director of PR & Communications Events.
Brassil said that the average attendance is about 500, but it can number in the thousands.
“Our busiest Sunday performance is our Christmas in July performance, when we have a portion of our Lights Before Christmas lights on,” she said in an earlier interview.
July’s Christmas this year at the zoo will be on July 21.
On July 14, the Maumee Community Band will perform; July 21, Velvet Jones, with DC Taylor-Acoustic Duo, will be in the main plaza; July 28, will see the Polish American Band; Aug. 4, the Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra with the Black Swamp Fine Arts School is performing; and Aug. 11, the CakeWalkin’ Jass Band ends the concerts for another year.
Concert-goers can purchase food and beverages on-site.
While admission is free, zoo parking rates apply for nonmembers. Members receive free parking on Music Under the Stars concert nights in the Anthony Wayne Trail and Broadway parking lots.
■ Jazz in the Garden also kicks off its season at Toledo Botanical Garden at 6:30 p.m. July 11 with the Toledo Jazz Orchestra, the newly minted member of the Toledo Alliance of the Performing Arts, starting things off.
No reservations are needed, but it does cost to get in. Members of Metroparks Toledo can purchase two tickets and receive 50 percent off the ticket price of $10. And you must show your membership card at admission to get the discount.
After the TJO performs, other dates include, July 18, Tumbao Bravo/Cuban Jazz Combo; July 25, Ramona Collins Quintet; Aug. 1, Cake Walkin’ Jass Band; Aug. 8, Gene Parker Quintet; Aug. 15, Jean Holden ; Aug. 22, April Varner Band; Aug. 28, 6th Edition; Sept. 5, Dr. Jim and the Jazz Interns; and Sept. 12, Ariel Kasler Quintet.
■ In more all that jazz news, Ellie Martin , educator and performer, is working on her second album, Morning Glories , after receiving a grant from the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo. As with her debut album, Verdant , the new record comprises original compositions.
No release date has been announced yet.
■ The BeInstrumental Foundation and the Toledo Lucas County Public Library’s Kent branch, 3101 Collingwood Blvd., will offer a three-day Ukulele Camp for children on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11:30 to 12:30.
“We have a fantastic facilitator who will be teaching basic ukulele camp instruction, and kids who attend all three days of the camp will be entered to win a new ukulele,” said Jaclyn Hotaling-O’Neill, program director for BeInstrumental.
Hotaling-O’Neill said for those children ages 6-10 who wish to participate, visit events.toledolibrary.org to register. She said that it may say that the class is full, but the library is trying to fix the glitch.
Coming Up:
■ Orchestra Hall, Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center, 3711 Woodward Ave, Detroit; 3 p.m. Sunday. Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Tchaikovsky Spectacular led by conductor Thomas Wilkins , and pianist Natasha Paremski . Polonaise from Eugene Onegin , Piano Concerto No. 1’s first movement; Suite from Swan Lake , and the 1812 Overture. Tickets start at $25. Visit dso.org .
■ Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. 4th St., Ann Arbor; 7:30 p.m. July 11, 2024 Pre-Art Fair Songfest: Chantez Une Simple Melodie: An evening of beloved French art songs. Free admission.
■ PlaneWave Arts and Science campus, 1375 N. Main St., Adrian; 2 p.m. Saturday, 12th annual Ragtime Extravaganza, The River Raisin Ragtime Revue. Bands include the Adrian City Band under the direction of Brian Gorski ; the local Tejano ensemble Los Hermanos; Miss Maybell and Charlie Judkins , a ragtime and early jazz duo from New York City; and the River Raisin Ragtime Revue orchestra. Also, a magic show, an instrument petting zoo, face-painting, a bounce house, and food trucks add to the fun. Free.
Send news of music to Heather Denniss at hdenniss@theblade.com at least 10 days ahead of your event.
Most Popular
Comments / 0