The Hot Springs/Hot Springs Village Symphony Guild is delighted to continue its 2025–2026 Classic Concert Series with Dances and Songs for Strings, Wood and Winds: Colorful Voices in Concert, a compelling collaboration between Little Rock Winds musicians Susan Antonetti (flute), Jonathan Tomasello (marimba), Gabriel Womack (alto saxophone), Janice Bengston (Clarinet), Jason Brannon (Bassoon), Mary Ritch (French horn), and Arkansas Symphony Orchestra principal harpist Alisa Bekebrede (née Coffey). Their program, Dances and Songs for Strings, Wood and Winds: Colorful Voices in Concert will be performed on Sunday, March 8 at 3:00 p.m. at Presbyterian Kirk in the Pines (275 Asturias Drive). General admission is $10. Tickets can be purchased at symphonyguild.org (your email confirmation serves as your ticket) or at the door. The concert will last approximately one hour and will be followed by a meet-and-greet with the artists.

Dances and Songs for Strings, Wood and Winds: Colorful Voices in Concert presents a vibrant journey through a diverse array of chamber and solo works, each rich in color, character, and emotion. Sergei Golovko’s Charanga Salada pulses with the rhythms and spirit of Cuban dance, as flute and marimba engage in lively dialogue. Jean-Michel Damase’s Sicilienne Variée transforms a gentle dance theme into a series of graceful, virtuosic variations for harp, while Georges Barboteu’s Trio for Horn, Flute, and Harp balances warmth and brilliance across its contrasting instruments. J. S. Bach’s Prelude from Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major flows with timeless elegance on marimba, offering clarity and emotional depth. Claude Debussy’s Children’s Corner brings playful charm and tender lyricism to the marimba, and David Maslanka’s Song Book explores intimate, meditative moments on alto saxophone and marimba. Jenni Brandon’s Spider Suite spins whimsical tales through flute, clarinet, and bassoon, and Robert Muczynski’s Exit from Fragments concludes the program with bold, energetic interplay that leaves listeners exhilarated. Together, these works celebrate imagination, virtuosity, and the expressive power of small ensembles and solo instruments.

About the Program

Sergei Golovko’s vibrant piece, Charanga Salada, a Cuban dance for Flute and Marimba, draws on the rhythms and spirit of Cuban dance. The bright, agile voice of the flute blends with the rich sonorities of the marimba, creating a lively dialogue full of energy and color.

Also inspired by dance, Jean-Michel Damase’s Sicilienne Variée presents a graceful set of variations on the gentle rhythm of the sicilienne. True to his elegant and lyrical style, Damase transforms the lilting theme into a series of vivid variations that highlight both expressive melody and the harpist’s dazzling virtuosity. The work captures his signature mix of charm, wit, and refinement.

Georges Barboteu’s Trio for Horn, Flute, and Harp combines three very different voices: the noble horn, the lyrical flute, and the shimmering harp. The result is a colorful and elegant chamber work that balances warmth, brilliance, and intimacy.

Perhaps J. S. Bach’s most famous work for solo cello, the Prelude from Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major unfolds as a continuous stream of broken chords, combining clarity, elegance, and emotional depth. Its timeless beauty has made it a cornerstone of the cello repertoire, which translates especially well for marimba, the instrument on which it is performed in this concert.

Claude Debussy wrote Children’s Corner as a set of six piano pieces for his young daughter, evoking the charm of childhood. From playful exercises to tender lullabies, each miniature paints a character or scene. Performed on the marimba, today’s program features: Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum — a witty take on piano finger exercises; and Serenade for the Doll — a gentle, lyrical piece that imagines a doll coming to life.

David Maslanka’s Song Book for Alto Saxophone and Marimba is a collection of short, lyrical movements that explore memory, loss, and joy. Each “song” carries a personal, almost meditative quality, as if capturing a fleeting emotional moment. Selected movements include: Song for Davy, Lost, Song for Allison, and Hymn Tune with Four Variations.

Jenni Brandon’s playful Spider Suite for Flute, Clarinet, and Bassoon spins a musical web of imagination, telling the story of a spider’s adventures. Each movement brings a fresh scene, from stealthy entrances to lively dances. Selections from the suite include Along Came a Spider, Spinning Song, and The End of the Day…Begin Again.

Exit, the final movement from Fragments for Flute, Clarinet, and Bassoon by Robert Muczynski bursts with rhythmic vitality and bold, angular lines that highlight the character of each instrument. Written with the composer’s trademark energy and clarity, the music drives forward with wit, color, and momentum. Though concise, the piece feels complete in its own right, offering a spirited showcase of interplay and leaving listeners with an exhilarating finish.

Attached is a link to the music they will be playing: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLN78A1jrTu7y7VIaiesyTYX8uFAR2zkSi&si=ZfeSL5GF99daPC0t.

About the Artists

Susan Antonetti (flute) performs and teaches in the Little Rock Area. A retired high school band director, her teaching focus is based in the Suzuki teaching approach for young students and her students range from age 8 through adults. She is Principal Piccoloist with the Little Rock Winds, Flutist with the River City Men’s Chorus and performs and co-conducts with the Alchemia Flute Ensemble, with fellow conductors Lisa Brandon Doss and Tish Kennedy- Davenport. Susan holds degrees from Arkansas Tech University and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She and husband John are members of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, where they are both Chancel Choir and Handbell members. Susan loves spending time with her family; most especially, grandchildren Max and Ruby and she is an avid Pickle Ball player.

Located in Little Rock, Arkansas, Alisa Bekebrede (née Coffey) is the Principal Harpist for the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. Appointed in 2011, Alisa performs widely throughout the Mid South region both as soloist and orchestral performer. She has performed regularly with Iris Orchestra and Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, as well as Shreveport Symphony and Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra. Formerly in Philadelphia, Alisa performed with ensembles such as Symphony in C, the National Philharmonic, Philly Pops and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Alisa's summers have been spent participating in festivals such as Artosphere Festival, Saratoga Harp Colony, Spoleto Festival U.S.A. and Aspen Music Festival. An enthusiastic educator, Alisa maintains a large private studio in Little Rock, and also teaches at University of Arkansas and Hendrix College. Alisa also has recently completed training in the Suzuki method. As a soloist, Alisa received recognition in the 2011 Lyon and Healy Awards as well as the 2011 American Harp Society National Competition. She completed her M.M. at Temple University with Elizabeth Hainen and her Performance Diploma at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music with Judy Loman.

Janice Bengston (clarinet) grew up in small-town Phoenix, New York. She holds a bachelor’s in Music Education from the University of South Florida and a Master’s and Specialist’s degrees in Educational Leadership. While student teaching, the U.S. Air Force Band performed at her school, inspiring her to audition and join. Twenty years as an Air Force clarinetist led to countless opportunities to tour, record, and travel. She has performed on over 30 commercial and Air Force Band recordings, some of which received favorable reviews by Gramophone and Fanfare magazines, and even one won a Grammy. After the Air Force, she had a full career as a band director in Arkansas, Georgia, and Virginia. She viewed teaching as an opportunity to “give back” and inspire young musicians. Currently, Janice has shifted her pursuits to clarinet performance and study. In addition to performing as principal clarinetist with the Little Rock Winds, she performs as a Bass Clarinet sub with regional orchestras in Arkansas and Missouri, and as the full-time bass clarinetist with the Arkansas C4 Clarinet Quartet.

Jason Brannon (bassoon) currently works in data engineering at First Orion in North Little Rock. He has played bassoon with the Little Rock Winds since 2013 and serves as the group's librarian. When he is not behind a computer or music stand, Jason enjoys traveling, cooking, and entertaining friends and family.

Jonathan Tomasello (marimba) is a percussionist and educator living and working in Central Arkansas. He currently serves as the 6th and 7th grade band and choir teacher at Maumelle Charter Middle School and Music Director at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Little Rock. He regularly appears in the little Rock area as a solo and collaborative artist as well as with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and Little Rock Winds. He previously held positions in the Terre Haute Symphony, Columbus Symphony, and the Urbana Pops Orchestra. He studied Music Education and Performance at Texas Tech University and Percussion Performance at Indiana University.

Gabriel Womack (alto saxophone) is a Malvern native who has been playing alto saxophone with the Little Rock Winds since 2013 and was named Principal Alto Saxophone in 2019. He attended the University of Central Arkansas where he studied Music Education and Saxophone Performance with Dr. Jackie Lamar. While at UCA, he performed with the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band and Saxophone Quartet. He received the Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Litle Rock where he studied saxophone with Dr. Andy Wen. 

Mary Ritch (French horn) has lived, studied and played the horn across the U.S. and abroad, including the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory, the San Francisco Conservatory, and the University of Southern California, where she earned her Master’s and Doctoral degrees in performance. A former Los Angeles freelancer and award-winning soloist, she later worked as a paralegal before returning to music after retirement. Since relocating to Hot Springs Village in 2021, she has performed with the Natural State Brass Band, Little Rock Winds, Arkansas Master’Singers, and the Hot Springs Concert Band, with which she has an upcoming solo performance this April. She also founded the Hot Springs Horn Ensemble, co-leads Brass & The Bible with her husband, performs in chamber music recitals throughout the region, and serves on the Board of the Hot Springs/Hot Springs Village Symphony Guild, where she directs its Classic Concert Series and educational outreach programs.

About the Hot Springs/Hot Springs Village Symphony Guild

Founded in 1991, the all-volunteer Hot Springs/Hot Springs Village Symphony Guild has grown into one of the largest symphony guilds in the nation. While the HS/HSV Symphony Guild offers a variety of engaging programs for its members, its primary focus is philanthropic — supporting the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, promoting a love for fine music in the community, and serving as the region’s largest organization dedicated specifically to advancing music education in local schools. This three-fold mission is key to attracting members and financial backing. Our members value not only quality programming but also the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on students through music education, a vital part of the academic experience. As a member, you'll enjoy early access to event tickets and have the chance to volunteer in support of our educational initiatives. Annual membership is just $25, and you can join at symphonyguild.org.