By Jessica Blomquist
Staff Writer

Starting July 15, the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center unveiled its newest art exhibit, Glitz Practice, featuring paintings, photography, and mixed media installations by Tobin Hines and Mike Chapman.

Story by Angelina  Bellebuono - Photos by Angelina Bellebuonon and Patrick Yost

By Malin Dartnell
Staff Writer

When I found out that Jason Mraz was coming out with a new album, I was excited, to say the least. Not the sort of crazy, counting-down-the-minutes-until-it-is-released, obsessive excitement that some fans feel about their favorite artists, but I was really looking forward to the new album, entitled "We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things."
Of his three preceding albums, "Mr. A-Z" and "Waiting for my Rocket to Come" were the only two that I was familiar with, but when I say “familiar,” what I mean is that I know just about every word on both albums. His laid-back sound, cheerful and clever lyrics, and clear, beautiful voice combine to create an album that never fails to lift my spirits. In addition, other than the occasional slightly risqué reference, there is enough variety on each album to please just about anyone.
Then, to add to my anticipation, he released the single, "I’m Yours," and I fell back in love with him. As simple as the song is, it is just catchy enough to have kept me singing nonstop for about a month. If the bubbly tune isn’t enough to make you smile, the witty and charming lyrics certainly will do the job.
Upon listening to the new album, however, I was slightly disappointed. Admittedly, there were several songs that I really enjoyed. When Colbie Caillat paired up with Jason Mraz in "Lucky" and James Morrison joined him for "Details in the Fabric," for example, they created wonderful songs. However, overall, the album is a bit too “easy listening-esque” to suit my taste. So, while I would more than recommend the first two albums, I don’t know if I would go out of my way to buy his newest. But that’s just me.

By Kathryn Purcell
Managing Editor

Madison's sixth annual Chamber Music Festival, presented by the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center began with the sanctuary-filling vocals of Alison Buchanan Saturday. The festival is comprised of 13 concerts over the course of 20 days. Prior to press time, the first five concerts of the Chamber Music Festival - "The Many Moods of Alison," "Haefliger Nacht," "Americans in Paris Dinner Concert," "Lunch with Trio RPM" and "Mendelssohn Octet" - have taken place. The following is an updated listing of concerts yet to take place.

•"Yuja and You"
Saturday, June 21
5 p.m.
Steffen Thomas Museum
SOLD OUT

•"Musical Tales and Wonders"
Monday, June 23
11 a.m.
The Hall, Madison-Morgan Cultural Center
FREE

•"String Fling Lunch Concert"
Tuesday, June 24
Noon
Private Home
SOLD OUT

•"Vega Quartet"
Thursday, June 26
8 p.m.
Perk Avenue Cafe
Tickets: $20

•"Lunch with Valentina"
Friday, June 27
Noon
Private Home
SOLD OUT

•"Dynamic Duo"
Saturday, June 28
8 p.m.
Auditorium, Madison-Morgan Cultural Center
Tickets: $25

•"Tchaikovsky Trio"
Sunday, June 29
8 p.m.
Sandy Creek Barn
Tickets: $30

•"Splendor in the Brass"
Tuesday, July 3
7 p.m.
Front Lawn, Madison-Morgan Cultural Center
FREE

By Kathryn Purcell
Managing Editor

As if the first week of Madison's sixth annual Chamber Music Festival, presented by the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center, wasn't jam-packed enough, the second half of the 21-day series of concerts consists of seven more concerts. The Festival's second week features a little of everything, from the music of a cartoon composer to the harmonization of a piano duet to the patriotic sounds of our nation's history.
•The seventh concert in the 2008 Madison Chamber Music Festival lineup, "Musical Tales and Wonders," kicks off the second week of the Festival, and begins at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 23 at The Hall at the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center.
The concert will showcase the work of the "Maestro of Cartoon Music," Raymond Scott.
Scott's music has been featured in such cartoons as "Looney Tunes," "The Ren & Stimpy Show" and "The Simpsons," among many others, and Cartoon Network has adopted some of Scott's music as their theme song, according to www.raymondscott.com.
Also featured in "Musical Tales and Wonders" will be music from the cartoons "Meet Mr. Twink" and "The Adventures of Wonderboy." In fact, the "Meet Mr. Twink" music was composed by Festival artistic director Christopher Rex's father, who also had a radio show, according to Patricia DuBose, Cultural Center marketing director. Further, high school students from the Atlanta Youth Orchestra will be playing the "Meet Mr. Twink" music.
"Adults will recognize the music being played because it came from cartoons when they were much younger," Ruth Bracewell, Chamber Music Festival director, said.

By Kathryn Purcell
Managing Editor

It started in 2003 with four concerts. Since then, the Madison Chamber Music Festival, presented by the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center, has grown to 13 concerts in 10 locations over a span of 21 days.
Locations, strictly limited to the Cultural Center Auditorium in 2003, now include various settings within the Cultural Center, from the Auditorium to The Hall to the Front Lawn, as well as three of Madison's historic homes, Perk Avenue Cafe and Coffee House, the Steffen Thomas Museum, Madison Baptist Church and Sandy Creek Barn.
Madison's Chamber Music Festival is the brainchild of the Cultural Center and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Principal Cellist Christopher Rex, who also functions as the Festival's artistic director. Also the general and artistic director of the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival, which happens in early June each year, Rex often recruits musicians from that festival to play in Madison.
While quite a few of the same musicians participate in both, the content and programing of the Madison Chamber Music Festival and the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival aren't exactly the same.
"There are a lot of changes, so that it's not a reproduction," Patricia DuBose, Cultural Center marketing director, said. "But it is a stopping point for a lot of big names."
This year's Festival will see the likes of soprano Alison Buchanan, pianist Andreas Haefliger, pianist Yuja Wang, the American String Quartet, the Parker String Quartet, Trio RPM and Rex, among others.
And that's just the first week.

• The 2008 Madison Chamber Music Festival opens on Saturday, June 14 at 5 p.m. at Madison Baptist Church with "The Many Moods of Alison," featuring Alison Buchanan, an internationally recognized British soprano, who will be performing classical and popular pieces, as well as spirituals.