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LYRA
Allen Ames & Maryanne Kremer-Ames

with Chamber Luminary
Bert Harclerode


Friday, March 19th 7:30 PM
$12 advance $15 door, $12 Seniors

Lyra and Former Tubadour Come to Old Town

How many musical ensembles have you heard that include the tuba, classical guitar and Violira?  And, wait a minute, did you say Violira?  What’s a Violira?  You can hear and find out about all of the above at Old Town Center for the Arts on Friday, March 19th, for a special concert that begins at 7:30 pm.  Lyra, the guitar - violin duo of Allen Ames and Maryanne Kremer-Ames, will be joined by the energetic and multi-talented Bert Harclerode, for an evening of classical to gypsy and beyond.
 
More about the concert, but first let’s answer a question, and explore this trio and their collaboration a bit further.  The Violira is a violin - viola hybrid, has six strings, is made by Allen Ames, and is the only instrument of its kind in the world. Maryanne Kremer-Ames began as an orchestral percussionist, and uses that background for her considerable composition and arranging skills, and has emerged as one of Arizona’s best classical guitarists.  Bert, the third part of the triangle became semi-famous with the Tubadours, who have not performed in Tuba City, but did formerly perform a regular engagement at Disneyland.  A fine musician, Bert also has the distinction of being responsible for bringing some of the brightest and best musical talent in the world to Sedona – Verde Valley, as Director of Sedona Chamber.

Don’t let this eclectic mix fool you. Lyra will play from a repertoire of beloved and time tested songs, with style and arrangement that have made them one of the most popular duo’s in Arizona.  Their own compositions are innovative, accessible, and original.  Bert’s finesse, critical ear, and wit add another dimension to the ‘low’ and ‘high’ end.  But it will be their superb musicianship that transcends any perceived limitation of combining guitar, violin and tuba?
  
Lyra was formed in 1987, performing their debut concert at the Phoenix Art Museum. Since then, Allen and Maryanne have played all over Arizona, as well as California, New Mexico and New York. The duo has been featured on television and radio broadcasts, performed and recorded with the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra on its award-winning CD, Music from the Magnificent Seven, and played with Dave Brubeck in his Fiesta de la Posada Christmas Cantata. Lyra has also performed many concerts and residencies for the Arizona Commission on the Arts
For twenty years, Lyra has been engaged as the annual summer ensemble in residence at the Briar Patch Inn in Sedona and was featured for fifteen years at the Noches de las Luminarias at the Phoenix Botanical Garden.  In 1996 Allen created the six-string, five octave Violira to expand Lyra’s tonal range.  Maryanne, with a degree in symphonic percussion, has composed many compositions for Lyra, based on her orchestral experience.

Lyra has released four CDs: Lyra, Violin and Guitar; Way Back Tomorrow; Four Hands, One Heart; and Christmas with Lyra.  In his review of  Way Back Tomorrow, Hoyt Johson of Sedona Magazine describes this recording as "an exceptional, outstanding disc." 
Though based in the Phoenix area, Lyra has had a close relationship with Sedona since 1989, when they became the summer Ensemble in Residence at the Briar Patch Inn in Oak Creek Canyon. They have performed often at the Sedona Arts Center, Sedona Creative Life Center, and the Sedona Arts Festival.  In 1989, Allen and Maryanne were married at the Briar Patch, where they are looking forward to playing their 21st summer.

Bert Harclerode is a Pennsylvanian who moved to Indiana where he began piano lessons at age 5, then moved to Utah and began brass lessons with his father on trumpet, then euphonium. With his family he sojourned to Woodstock NY where he took up the tuba. The family moved to Scottsdale where, as a member of the Scottsdale Boys Band, he marched in the 1969 Inaugural Parade for Richard Nixon representing the State of Arizona, where he dropped his mouthpiece before the President and began his improvisatory skills.

Bert studied tuba with Rodger Vaughan, James Self and Roger Bobo, who he later represented as agent and manager with two appearances on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.  He is Flagstaff Symphony Principal Tubist (1998 to present) and founding managing performer with the Tubadours, who performed at Disneyland from 1975-1986. The Tubadours made two appearances on the Gong Show, winning first place under the keen eye of judges J.P. Morgan, Steve Martin, Artie Johnson, and later second place.

 

Tickets are available online at showtix4u.com

and at our Ticket Outlets 2 weeks in advance of show

 

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Maryanne & Allen Ames
Maryanne & Allen Ames

 

Bert Harclerode
Bert Harclerode

           
                     
                 
           
         
                           
     
     

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