Swing band to salute veterans in Murrieta Nov. 7

Specializing in Big Band music from the 1930s through the 1960s, the Robert Holts Orchestra will perform in “A Big Band Salute to our Veterans” on Nov. 7 at the Murrieta Mesa High School’s Gershwin Performing Arts Center.

The Robert Holts Orchestra to perform Nov. 7 at Murrieta Mesa High School's Gershwin Performing Arts Center. (Courtesy photo)

Concert-goers can expect two hours of swing-era arrangements by the likes of Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller and Count Basie, according to Band Director Robert Holts.

“The words ’swing’ and ‘big band’ describe us perfectly,” Holts said.

The band formed three years ago and practices out of Holts’s garage, according to Band Manager Guy M. Schmidt.

“We are truly a garage band,” Schmidt said. “The neighbors love it.”

The band, made up of 19 pieces and an eight-person singing accompaniment, has become a hot commodity in the Temecula Valley area, selling out a recent show at the Old Town Temecula Theater.

Tickets to the Nov. 7 concert range from $20 to $50, and all proceeds will benefit the Murrieta Veterans Memorial project.

The $2 million memorial project, to consist of five walls depicting different wars, will be erected at the Murrieta Town Square, according to Laura Frasso, special events coordinator for the City of Murrieta.

While the city has pledged to fund $500,000 toward the cost of the memorial, the rest is being raised by Murrieta veterans, Frasso said.

Holts, who served 10 years in the United States Navy, said his band is holding the concert free of charge to the city and all proceeds will benefit the memorial.

There are 750 seats in the Gershwin Performing Arts Center at Murrieta Mesa and Frasso is hoping for a sell out, although she admitted there is still a long way to go before that happens.

Entertainment and a good cause are reasons to come see the band’s performance, but Frasso said there’s more to it.

“This also gives the community a chance to come out and see the brand new high school,” she said.

Tickets can be purchased at the Murrieta Senior Center or online at www.murrieta.org. For more information, call 951-304-7275. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts promptly at 7 p.m.

Tags: big band, Gershwin Performing Arts Center, Maggie Avants, Murrieta, murrieta mesa high school, Murrieta Veteran's Memorial, Robert Holts Orchestra, swing band, SWRNN

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 10:20 pm and is filed under Arts & Entertainment, Lifestyle, Local News, Music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.