Steve Is a lifelong music performer and music teacher. He will inform or remind folks about the power of music, especially music reading, to maintain brain health and even to develop it. In school-age students, reading music while playing it or singing it has been shown to increase processing speed, which is a major component of IQ. So that is to say, reading music makes you smarter! There have been fewer studies among elders, but it is well known among neuroscientists that reading music while you perform it occupies virtually every sector of the brain, which can be said of no other activity of which we are aware. So not only is singing and playing instruments a lot of fun, it can also help us maintain brain health! Time permitting, Steve may give some examples of how that can work. And hey, maybe we will sing a song!
Holly Jolly Holidays with Howie and Jenn
Howie and Jenn will present an evening of traditional and modern holiday favorites at this special holiday concert! Whether you are full of Christmas spirit or a total Grinch, this event has a little something for everyone! Tickets for this event will be $10 and can be purchased in advance or at the door on show days. The Auditorium lobby will open one hour in advance for the show, and seating will begin 30 minutes prior to the event.
In addition to holiday music, we are also planning some FUN things to go along with this event. Keep your eyes on this page and on the Ames Parks and Recreation Facebook for more information!
Jenny Throckmorton has been singing for… well, longer than she cares to admit — and loving every minute of it. A versatile vocalist, Jenny has performed across genres, from rock, pop, and indie to jazz, blues, and musical theatre. She spent years as the lead singer of a rock/pop/country/indie band and (a long time ago) became the first member selected for the All-State Jazz Choir. Her love of jazz has taken her from Iowa stages all the way to Carnegie Hall, where she had the unforgettable opportunity to perform with a jazz ensemble.
Michael Howland (Howie) is a two time Cloris Award winning actor. He just wrapped playing the title role of Jekyll and Hyde in the musical. At the same venue he previously portrayed Horton in Seussical. His previous roles include: Gleb (Anastasia) (Cloris Winford Featured Actor), Harold Hill in The Music Man, (USP) (Best Actor winner) Robert in Bridges of Madison County (History Boy Theatre), The Baker (Knoxville) and Narrator/ Mysterious Man (Tallgrass), Next to Normal (Dan), Beauty and The Beast (Beast) and later (Lumiere!) Les Misérables (Enjolras), Shrek (Shrek and Farquaad in 2 different productions), Little Shop of Horrors(Seymour), Little Mermaid (Prince Eric) aHappy Holidays concertnd She Loves Me (Kodaly). Mike has won two Broadway World Awards for his role as Bert in Mary Poppins and The Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz. In March, Mike accomplished a huge goal: He has run a marathon and sang the National Anthem in all 50 states! Last year he sang the National Anthem for Yankee Doodle Pops performing for over 100,000 people! He and his wife, Julie, have twins, Josiah and Sierra.