Dubuque Symphony Orchestra Opens 60th Anniversary Concert Season
​“on earth”

Violinist Gareth Johnson

Explore a season inspired by the elements, beginning with “on earth”, October 13 & 14 at Five Flags Theater, downtown Dubuque. Violinist Gareth Johnson returns to perform the Spring and Summer concertos from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. “He has such charisma and musicality: a fantastic stage presence. It’s no wonder he’s remembered as one of our audience’s favorite soloists!”  states Music Director and Conductor William Intriligator.  Also on the program are Beethoven’s beloved “Pastorale” Symphony and a beautiful, but lesser-known, piece by American composer Aaron Copland. Copland’s The Tender Land will be performed alongside a projected slideshow of earth inspired photos taken by local photographers.

“When I was programming this concert, I thought back on which pieces of symphonic music have really made me feel love for the Earth over my conducting career.  Beethoven’s “Pastorale” and the music of Copland were at the top of my list.  Copland’s music evokes landscapes as much as it evokes the American people and way of life.  His Tender Land will, I hope, make you feel that almost existential feeling of being at one with nature and the earth.  The “Pastorale” actually has all four of the elements in it: going for a walk into the country (Earth), a scene by a brook (Water), bird songs (Air), a storm (Air and Water), and even a few flashes on lightning are depicted in the music (Fire).  It culminates with a song of thanksgiving. People can hear this as simply giving thanks after the musical storm, but I hear it as Beethoven’s—and our—deeper feelings of being thankful for being alive, being grateful for the earth, being grateful for each other.”

The concerts will be held 7:30 pm Saturday, October 13 and 2:00 pm Sunday, October 14 at Five Flags Theater, downtown Dubuque. Intriligator will also present a free pre-concert lecture in the Five Flags Theater on Sunday, October 14 at 1:00pm. Tickets ($18-87) are available through the Five Flags Box Office or www.dubuquesymphony.org. Online sales are subject to added Ticketmaster fees.

​This concert is made possible by the generous support of Cottingham & Butler.

Regardless of how you feel inside, always try to look like a winner. Even if you are behind, a sustained look of control and confidence can give you a mental edge that results in victory.

​—Arthur Ashe

Bell Tower Theater Announces
Its Fall Comedy
​ Farce of Habit

Dubuque, IA-The Bell Tower Theater, your hometown theater, is pleased to announce their fall comedy, Farce of Habit by Jessie Jones, Nicolas Hope & Jaime Wooten. The performance will be directed by the Bell Tower Theater’s Artistic Director Sue Riedel.

Comic fireworks explode in this hilarious new comedy from the authors of Doublewide, Texas; Farce of Nature and Always a Bridesmaid. At the Reel ‘Em Inn, the finest little fishing lodge in the Ozarks, it’s not going to be a peaceful weekend on the lake. Caffeine withdrawal, marital trouble, a gaggle of nuns and a pompous radio personality make that impossible. Oh, and did we mention there’s an axe murderer on the loose?

The cast features Bell Tower veterans Don Brauhn, Debbie Meyer, Chris Becker, Matt Tompkins, Cindy Campton-Iwasaki, Jon Aguilar and Bridget Leary. They are joined by newcomers to the Bell Tower stage Gerarda Lahey-Keppler and Angela Schwarte.

​The Bell Tower Theater is conveniently located in Fountain Park at 2728 Asbury Road in the city’s vibrant West End just minutes from both Highway 20 and the Northwest Arterial. Performances are every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening at 7:30 pm, and Sunday afternoon at 2 pm from October 12 to 28. October 12 & 13 are the Early Bird Special performances when tickets are just $10.50. Tickets for all other performances are $21. Thursdays are Girls’ Night Out; all audience members get a free glass of wine. For information and to purchase tickets call
563-588-3377 or visit us online at www.belltowertheater.net.

Instructions for Confirmation were in full swing as John and I, Elizabeth, the eighth and ninth members of the family, prepared for our Confirmation day. Archbishop John (Sugar) Keane was not partial to the Monastery Parish as its pastor. Rev. Placid Magee, lived partially under Cistercian rules which hindered the Archbishop from having complete jurisdiction over him. The Archbishop had threatened not to confirm the class four years previously as he said, “They are not properly prepared.”


Rain or shine, John and I drove our single buggy to catechism on Saturday morning. Our sleek black pony. Dell, gave us a swift jaunty ride as we enjoyed freedom and responsibility. Our heads were crammed with Baltimore Catechism answers, which sounded like a record production with little understanding of their meanings.


The whole class marched with their sponsors, names to be taken pinned securely, and awaited the questions.
“How many were in the Upper Room when the Holy Spirit appeared to the apostles?”


Silence prevailed. All heads were down cast in deep thought.


Our pastor, Father Placid, stood behind the clergy, with his right hand plainly writing in midair the number 120.


After a long silence, I stood up and said, “Your Excellency, about 120 people were present.” With a broad smile the archbishop replied, “Very well answered.”


The whole congregation took on an atmosphere of relief as we had crossed the first hurdle. As more simple questions followed, the whole class volunteered answers, making it a happy occasion.


My sister Mary was teaching in Humbolt, Iowa. She was so happy with our achievement that she sent a box by parcel post to John and me. The mailman even drove his team up to our house to deliver the heavy brown package.


We hurriedly tore it open to find two pairs of shiny new roller skates, just our size. We slipped the snuggly fitting skates over our shoes, but found the two-plank boardwalk too rough to skate on.


John said, “We can clear a place in the upstairs hayloft to skate on.” So with two three-prong pitch forks we moved about two tons of hay back and up to get a 40 x 60 place to skate. The floor was planed and smooth so we could play tag games and master short curves with great speed.


The hollow sound from our skating was a real giveaway, and any task not finished summoned us to quit skating and get it done.


Now in 1997 we see the kids on their blade skates mastering far greater skills.


We appreciated our reward and cherished the thought that right will prevail!

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