Sycamore Music Boosters A Note to Remember February 5th, 2011, 7pm at Blumen Gardens in Sycamore
Home Meetings Events Board News Newsletters Scholarships Volunteer Opportunities Photos Forms	Karl Montzka Eric Montzka Ann Montzka-Smelser Linc Smelser Susan Montzka-McDonald To purchase tickets, please contact Jennifer Ruff at 815-899-3466 Montzka Family Headlines 3rd Annual Sycamore “Note to Remember” Event  Susan regrets that she can't be there to participate in the event.     On Saturday, February 5, 2011, the Sycamore Music Boosters proudly welcomes professional musicians and Sycamore High School alums Karl, Eric, Ann and Susan Montzka as it hosts its third annual night of jazz and classical music entitled “A Note to Remember” from 7:00pm – 11:00pm at Blumen Gardens in Sycamore. Sponsored in part by the Suter Company, Northern Rehab Physical Therapy Specialists, and the National Bank & Trust Company, the event will feature the highly acclaimed Montzka family and cellist Linc Smelser, Diana Morrasy and the Blue Skies Trio, as well as the Sycamore High School Jazz Ensemble, string and vocal ensembles, and faculty of the Sycamore music program.   An elegant, sweet and savory hors d’oeuvres buffet and coffee bar will be included along with a raffle and silent auction of over 50 gifts and prizes donated by local businesses.     Karl Montzka is a freelance jazz pianist and instructor in Chicago.  Karl has performed with his own group at the 1998 and 2008 Chicago Jazz Festival,1998 Iowa City Jazz Festival, as well as many venues across the country. This group, The Karl Montzka Organ Band, released its first CD in 1999. In November of 2009, Karl had the honor of playing an USO tour of Afghanistan with Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band. Additionally, Montzka also played for several Broadway shows in Chicago, including Wicked, The Lion King, and The Color Purple, and national tours of Legally Blonde, Spamalot, and In The Heights. Most recently, he finished working full time for the new production of Billy Elliot in Chicago.     Eric Montzka works full time as a freelance drummer in many styles -- pop, rock, fusion, big band, Latin, hard-bop, avant-garde. Eric has had the opportunity to work with a wide range of artists, including John Scofield, Maynard Ferguson, Dave Douglas, Kurt Elling, Dave Berkman, Howard Levy, Tim Warfield, Sandy Duncan, Mary Wilson, Marilyn McCoo, Von Freeman, Jackie Allen, Karrin Allison and Grazyna Auguscik.  In 1998, Eric became a member of the Patricia Barber Quartet, touring worldwide and appearing on her CDs “Verse,” “A Fortnight in France,” “Mythologies” and most recently, “Companion” on the Blue Note label. Eric continues to perform with Ms. Barber while freelancing and teaching privately in the Chicago area.     Ann Montzka-Smelser serves on the NIU and Wheaton College faculty teaching Suzuki pedagogy and is the director of the Community School of the Arts Suzuki strings program. Ann studied with Dr. Shinichi Suzuki at the Talent Education Institute in Matsumoto, Japan and in 2003, was the recipient of the Byron Hester Memorial Excellence in Teaching Award.  She is principal 2nd violinist with Camerata Chicago, principal violinist for the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and works with Suzuki families at Suzuki Institutes and workshops throughout the world.     Also performing will be Ann’s husband, cellist Linc Smelser, a member of the Grant Park Symphony and active substitute with the Chicago Symphony.  In 2003, Mr. Smelser was appointed conductor/music director of the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra in DeKalb. He has guest conducted the Rockford Area Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Northern Illinois University Philharmonic. He is also the founder and conductor of the NIU Sinfonia and the Symphonette, two youth symphonies that attract students from the entire Northern Illinois area.     Violinist Susan Montzka-McDonald is the Suzuki Program Coordinator for the Community Music School of Webster University in Missouri, where she has taught for over 25 years. She received her Music Education degree from Lawrence University Conservatory and her Masters degree in Violin Performance from Western Illinois University. She has taught at numerous workshops and institutes across the country, and was awarded the Byron Hester award for Excellence in Teaching as a member of the Colorado Suzuki Institute faculty in 2000.     Tickets are required for this community event and are $15 per person.  This includes musical entertainment and hors d’oeuvres and coffee bar.  A cash bar will also be available.   To purchase tickets, please contact Jennifer Ruff at 815-899-3466. For more information visit ww.sycamoremusicboosters.com. The Sycamore Music Boosters is a group of families and friends of students enrolled in music education classes in Sycamore Schools.  This fundraiser will aid in the purchase of instruments, uniforms, and scholarships for Sycamore’s talented musicians.  Thanks to all of our great sponsors Presto Level Sponsor ($501 - $999) Illinois Community Credit Union Allegro Sponsors ($251 – 500)   Austin’s Violin Shop DeKalb Mechanical National Bank and Trust Company Northern Rehab Physical Therapy Specialists Parkway Restaurant Prairie View Animal Hospital Suter Company   Andante sponsors ($100 – 250)   American National Bank of DeKalb County Keith and Madelyn Anderson Kishwaukee Community Hospital Kruskol Family Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons for Northern Illinois, SC Turner Law Offices Other Contributors Advanced Family Eyecare Center of Sycamore Art Attack BJ’s Decorating Brown’s County Market Buffalo Wild Wings Cabana Charley’s Caribou Coffee Chicago Bears Chicago Blackhawks Chicago White Sox Chicago Wolves Chicago Rush Cottone Family County Inn and Suites Culvers of Sycamore Dairy Queen Dalquist Heating and Cooling Deb Loitz Dolce Vita Salon and Day Spa Essentials by House of Interiors Eduardos Edward Jones - Ryan Genz Eggsclusive Café Ellman's Music Energym Fat Boyz Pub Farm and Fleet of Sycamore Fitworkz Floor to Ceiling Four Season Sports Giavonte of House of Chocolate Grant Family Hickey’s corner market Hillside Restaurant IHOP Jewel Osco of Sycamore Kar-Fre Flowers Karen Keicher Ken and Amy Tonaki Kentucky Fried Chicken Kish Corner Family Restaurant Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra Kishwaukee Family YMCA Lane and Virginia McMillion Le Print Express/Complete Image Solutions Lincoln Inn Los Rancheros Mariann and Jim Vogel McDonalds of Sycamore Milex Auto Care Morning Star Media Group NIU Community School of the Arts NIU School of Music NIU School of Theatre & Dance Noodles and Company North Grove School Association Papa Murphy’s Pizza Parkway Restaurant Pizza Villa PJ’s Courthouse Tavern Poc's Music Priority Promotions Pro Nails Q'Doba Quinlin and Fabish Rositas Restaurant Scott and Kristin Mertens Spex Expressions Sports of All Sorts Stagecoach Players Starbucks Sycamore Park District Sycamore Theatre Taxco The Confectionary Todd Curtis DDS, Ltd Tom & Jerry’s Trittenhaus Design United Mixed Marital Arts and Fitness World Famous Pizza