Vibrant Orange City, Iowa

Concert to feature Tom Forkenbrock and the Orange City Area Community Band
2011-07-14 07:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Windmill Park, 200 Central Ave NW, Orange City IA 51041
ORANGE CITY – Tom Forkenbrock is returning to Orange City to perform with the Onstage Orange City series Thursday, July 14.

Forkenbrock, who played trumpet with the U.S. Army Band for nine years, will solo at the 7 p.m. concert with the Orange City Area Community Band. Featured will be Forkenbrock in Chuck Mangione’s “Land of Make Believe” and Ed Huckeby’s “Intrada, Recitative and Rondo.”

The Orange City native graduated from M-OC High School in ’82, then enlisted in the U.S. Army. He has performed for two sitting presidents, Ronald Reagan and George Bush Sr., plus Prince Charles and other dignitaries from around the world. He also played for the Pan American Games and the ’88 Olympics in South Korea.

Since leaving the Army, Forkenbrock has performed with big bands, wind ensembles and other performing groups in the Chicago area, and with artists including Bill Watrous, Dick Oatts, Joe LaBarbera, Chuck Findley and Bill Porter. His bands have opened for Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich, Ramsey Lewis and Count Basie’s Big Band.

Forkenbrock also plays French horn, baritone and tuba, but his first and most enduring love, he said, is the trumpet, which he has played for over 35 years.

After rave reviews last year, Forkenbrock is again performing with the Orange City Area Community Band, directed by Carla Van Beek. The program will include “St. Louis Blues” by W.C. Handy, “Semper Fidelis” by Sousa and the “National Emblem March” and “Coat of Arms March.” The band and Forkenbrock will also perform “On a Hymnsong of Lowell Mason” by David Holsinger, based on the hymn by Mason, “My Faith Looks up to Thee.”

The free concert at Windmill Park is sponsored by the Orange City Arts Council and City of Orange City. Concessions will be available. Bring blankets or lawn chairs. Rain location is the Orange City town hall.

For more information, contact the Arts Council at OCArts@orange cityiowa.com or 712.707.4885.

Former Army Band trumpeter performs in Orange City July 14: Tom Forkenbrock, who performed for two sitting presidents, the '88 Olympics and Prince Charles while part of the U.S. Army Band, will return to Orange City Thursday, July 14. He will be featured in the Orange City Area Community Band concert at 7 p.m. at Windmill Park, part of the Onstage Orange City series.

Rockin’ Jake to return to Orange City
2011-07-07 19:00 - 21:00
The Rockin' Jake Band got a taste of the town when they visited Orange City in July, 2010.

ORANGE CITY – The Rockin’ Jake Band wowed the crowd in Orange City last summer, so they’re coming back. They’re part of the Onstage Orange City series, performing in Windmill Park at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 7.

Rockin’ Jake plays harmonica like you’ve never heard before. Jake – Lawrence Jacobs – is a five-time winner of Off Beat Magazine’s “Best of the Beat,” for best harmonica player.

Originally from the East Coast, Jake was hit early by the “blues bug.” He’s primarily self-taught, but studied briefly with Jerry Portnoy, harmonica player for Muddy Waters. Based in New Orleans for many years, he played with Coco Robicheaux, Little Freddie King, Eddie Bo and many others. He’s been heard on the soundtrack of “The Big Easy” TV series and the theme for the “Mike Ditka Show.”

Hailing from St. Louis, he was nominated in April as the St. Louis Riverfront Times’ Best Blues Artist. Jake tours with his band from Coast to Coast, playing a hybrid of blues, zydeco, second line and swamp funk.

According to one reviewer, the band “rocks the stage with a first rate high energy performance.”

Sponsor of the evening is Northwestern State Bank. There is no charge for the show.

Bring lawn chairs or blankets. Concessions will be available. Rain location is the Orange City town hall.

And take note: beginning and advanced harmonica players can learn from Rockin’ Jake. Jake’s harmonica workshop – from 4-5 p.m. July 7 at Orange City town hall – is for students and adults. Cost is $5 before July 1, and $8 after July 1. The first 24 people to register will receive a free G Hohner harmonica and a how-to booklet, sponsored by the Arts Council.

Those who attended the workshop last year also have the opportunity to win a special prize.

Register by emailing the Orange City Arts Council, OCArts@orangecityiowa.com, calling 712.707.4885, or sending $5 to the Arts Council at P.O. Box 202, Orange City.

The Rockin' Jake Band is coming back to Orange City. They're the band whose high energy consistently brings audience members to their feet. Rockin' Jake will perform in Windmill Park at 7 p.m. July 7, sponsored by Northwestern Bank and the Onstage Orange City series. Jake's harmonica workshop is at 4 p.m. at Orange City town hall July 7; register with Orange City Arts Council, 707-4885.

Music, Art and Ice Cream in Windmill Park
2011-06-30 06:00 - 20:00
ORANGE CITY – Toy Story. Up. Cars. And Phantom of the Opera.
Music from Pixar movie classics and from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera will all be part of the Orange City Area Community Band’s performance Thursday, June 30 at 7 p.m. at Windmill Park, Orange City.
But it’s not just music Thursday. Come at 6 p.m. for the Orange City Arts Council’s annual ice cream social, featuring two-dip sundaes with hot fudge and butterscotch toppings, plus banana splits. Plus children, from 6-7 p.m., will have the opportunity to try their hands at artsy projects, organized by Sheila Van Den Brink. Puppeteers from Dover Avenue Alliance Church – Family & Friends Puppetree – will perform. Bethany Dykstra, MOC-FV student, will entertain with her fiddle. And anyone and everyone may make orange pinwheels.
The community band concert – part of the Onstage Orange City series – will offer music for everyone, not just children. Several marches are on the program, plus Down by the Riverside and Give My Regards to Broadway: A Cohan Salute, including Yankee Doodle Dandy.
Community band members are some of the finest instrumentalists in the area, directed by Carla Van Beek, who is beginning her 15th year as the band’s director, and her 15th year as the band director at Unity Christian High.
Bring lawn chairs or blankets, and some spare change for ice cream sundaes, popcorn and beverages. Art activities and music are free of charge, sponsored by the Orange City Arts Council and the City of Orange City.
Rain location is the Orange City town hall.

Thursday, June 30 is the children's night of Onstage Orange City – featuring arts activities for kids, plus entertainment and food for all ages: puppets, fiddle music and ice cream sundaes, all beginning at 6 p.m. At 7 p.m. at Windmill Park, the Orange City Area Community Band will perform a concert featuring marches, movie music and more. Shown is a young man from the 2009 art fest.

It's Onstage Orange City on June 30 – featuring the community band, plus art activities for kids and ice cream for everyone.

South Dakota Jazz Orchestra, Frank Sinatra impersonator coming to Orange City
2011-06-16 19:00 - 21:00
ORANGE CITY – “Come fly with me, let’s fly, let’s fly, pack up, let’s fly away” back to the era of Frank Sinatra. The South Dakota Jazz Orchestra will be performing at Onstage Orange City Thursday, June 16. This 18-piece big band has prepared a variety of jazz selections from jazz masters such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Oliver Nelson and Stan Kenton. Joining them for the event is Frank Sinatra impersonator, Steve Shininger of Omaha, for a recreation of the landmark ’66 concert with Count Basie, “Sinatra at the Sands.”
The South Dakota Jazz Orchestra is a non-profit group bringing high quality jazz to all ages. They perform weekly on Mondays at Skelly’s Pub in downtown Sioux Falls. Conductor Dr. Corliss Johnson is a devoted teacher, clinician and performer of jazz. He has received his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Colorado, and he has been an adjudicator for the South Dakota All State Jazz Ensembles for many years.
The sponsors for this Onstage Orange City event are Diamond Vogel Paint and the Orange City Arts Council.

Bring your lawn chairs or blankets. The free concert will begin at 7 p.m. at Windmill Park’s bandshell in downtown Orange City. Refreshments will be available for purchase, and patrons may register to win an adult or child’s bicycle. Rain location is the Orange City town hall.

Sinatra in the Park: The South Dakota Jazz Orchestra, with vocalist Steve Shininger, will present “An Evening with Frank Sinatra” Thursday, June 16 at 7 p.m. at Windmill Park in Orange City. Part of the Onstage Orange City series sponsored by the Orange City Arts Council, the show will feature the music of the Count Basie Orchestra and the jazz classics of Frank Sinatra.

Local talent to take the stage
2011-06-09 19:00 - 21:00
ORANGE CITY— Singing, dancing, juggling, dog whispering? Come to Windmill Park Thursday, June 9 for the next event in the Onstage Orange City series: “Orange City’s Got Talent.” Auditions have been held, and the top talent has been selected from Orange City and beyond. Be ready for a great evening!
Masters of Ceremony for the evening will be Lois Estell and Laird Edman. The 10 performers include vocalists, a break-dancer, and unicyclist/ jugglers. Prizes will be awarded to top performers.
Sponsoring this Orange City Arts Council event are Iowa State Bank and Pizza Ranch Restaurant.
Before the talent show begins at 7 p.m., make sure to head downtown for the city’s Customer Appreciation Picnic, with dessert provided by the Tulip Festival steering committee as a thanks to the community. Serving begins at 5 p.m.
Bring your lawn chairs and blankets, and plan to stay for the whole evening. There will be an announcement of Orange City’s new branding, plus door prizes given at the end of the evening.
Rain location is the Orange City town hall.

Coming soon: Orange City’s Got Talent!
2011-06-09 19:00 - 21:00
ORANGE CITY – June 9 is the day. Windmill Park is the place. It’s Orange City’s Got Talent!
Local performers of all ages may audition to be part of the upcoming talent show. Auditions will be held May 31, June 1 and 2, for the June 9 performance. Starting May 2, audition appointments can be made by calling 737-4208 Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Each group or individual auditioning must have two pieces prepared, each four minutes or less.
Prizes will be awarded.
For more information, contact Janine at the Orange City Arts Council, OCArts@orangecityiowa.com or 712.707.4885.
The Onstage Orange City Talent Show is sponsored by Iowa State Bank and Pizza Ranch Restaurant, with the support of local contributors.
