September 1, 2006 - The Fowler Center at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro opens its season in September and will continue through April 2007. The series features eight performances, four of which comprise Riceland Distinguished Performance Series.

Individual ticket prices range from $6 for ASU students to $30 for adults, depending on section and category. Information is available at http://tickets.astate.edu. or by calling 972-2781 or toll free 888-278-3267.

The Dukes of Dixieland
The Dukes of Dixieland will perform Saturday, September 23, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. They are the oldest continuing Dixieland jazz band, with more than 32 years of tradition standing behind today's Dukes as they step forward with a sound that is durable and flexible, as jazz is meant to be. They bring traditional jazz and Dixieland into the 21st Century, weaving strands of pop, gospel, and country with authentic New Orleans sounds. As globe-trotting jazz ambassadors from the heart of the Big Easy, they have sold out such venues as The Hollywood Bowl, the Kennedy Center and the Smithsonian. For more information visit www.dukesofdixieland.com

Second City
Second City will perform Monday & Tuesday, October 9 & 10, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. They have been described as a cross between “Saturday Night Live” and “Who’s Line Is It Anyway?” Its alumni list includes: Alan Arkin, Joan Rivers, Robert Klein, John Belushi, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Julia Louis Dreyfus, Chris Farley, and Tina Fey. Known for comedy that is both hilarious and thought provoking, smart and silly, and sophisticated and wild, Second City has performed in every state of the union and to international audiences from Singapore to Vienna. Second City will perform Truth, Justice of the American Way in the Fowler Center Drama Theatre on Monday and Tuesday evenings. The performances may contain mature language and subject matter. For more information visit www.secondcity.com.

The Memphis Symphony Orchestra –
Riceland Distinguished Performance Series
The Memphis Symphony returns under the baton of guest conductor Robert Moody with over 60 musicians. They will perform Sunday, October 22, 2006 at 3:00 p.m. The symphony will be joined by the Campus Elementary Children’s Chorus and the Arkansas State University Chorus in presenting a salute to John Williams and his contributions to the film industry. Among the works planned for this concert are “Hymn to the Fallen” from Saving Private Ryan featuring the ASU chorus, “Dry Your Tears, Afrika” from Amistad with the children’s chorus, and Star Wars: Suite which will involve everyone. For more information visit www.memphissymphony.org.

The Vienna Choir Boys –
Riceland Distinguished Performance Series
The world’s best known boy’s choir, the Vienna Choir Boys will perform Sunday, November 12, 2006 at 3:00 p.m. The group was founded in 1498 with six boys, and today numbers about 100 choristers between the ages of 10 and 14, divided into four touring choirs. Together the four choirs give about 300 concerts and performances each year in front of almost half a million people, visiting virtually all European countries, and they are frequent guests in Asia, Australia and the Americas. The choir’s repertoire includes everything from medieval to contemporary and experimental music, and they have even recorded a pop CD, with songs by Celine Dion, Madonna and Robbie Williams. The choir has contributed to a number of film soundtracks: “Primal Fear” (USA 1996); “The 13th Floor” (USA 1999); “Dokuritsu shonen-gasshoudan” (Japan 2000); the animated “Doraemon” (Japan 2000); and “L.I.E.” (USA 2001). www.wsk.at

Leahy
Leahy will perform Thursday, March 8, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. They are a musical powerhouse of eight Canadian brothers and sisters who have been playing together their entire lives. Influenced by roots, pop, country and traditional Canadian music, their definitive sound brought audiences to their feet in 175 stadiums around the world. They have sold over a half million copies of their three CD’s, Leahy (1996), Lakefield (2001), and In All things (2004). Known for their exceptional musicianship, electrifying step dancing, and passion to perform, Leahy was the subject of the Academy Award winning documentary Music Most of All. They have received multiple Juno Awards, and they are the highest selling artist on the Virgin Canada label. For more information visit www.leahymusic.com.

Joyce Yang –
Riceland Distinguished Performance Series
Joyce Yang will perform Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. In June 2005, at nineteen years of age, she was awarded the silver medal at the Twelfth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, where she also won both the Best Performance of Chamber Music and the Best Performance of a New Work awards. Since the Van Cliburn contest, she has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, and the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center. In this season, Miss Yang debuts with the New York Philharmonic, as well as with the symphonies of Houston, Indianapolis, Fort Worth, Colorado, Kansas City, Colorado Springs, and Orlando. She was featured in “The Heart of Music,” the film documentary about the 2005 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, which was broadcast on PBS. For more information visit www.icmartists.com.

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra –
Riceland Distinguished Performance Series
 Back by popular demand, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra returns for a concert of classical favorites under the baton of Music Director David Itkin on Sunday, April 1, 2007 at 3:00 p.m. The repertoire planned for this concert includes Beethoven’s ever popular Egmont Overture, The Swan of Tuonela a beautiful, lesser known work by Sibelius, Smetana’s glorious tone poem The Moldau, and will conclude with one of the masterpieces of the romantic era, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4. For more information visit www.arkansassymphony.org.

The Canadian Brass
The Canadian Brass will perform Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. For over three decades, the Canadian Brass have been the number one, best known and most entertaining brass quintet in the world, not to mention being consummate musicians.. Millions of television viewers have seen them in such shows as The Tonight Show, Today, and Entertainment Tonight, and as guest artists on Boston Pops. The group has a long history of recording classical repertoire, and they have a special affinity for Baroque music, which requires the brilliance and musical structure that has become the Canadian Brass’ trademark. Their more than 60 recordings to date include works by Purcell, Vivaldi, Gabrieli, Pachelbel, Beethoven. Wagner, and especially J.S. Bach. www.canbrass.com