Sept. 1, 2015

Contact Jen Roberdeau at 608-796-3738 or jaroberdeau@viterbo.edu

VITERBO UNIVERSITY BRIGHT STAR SEASON TO OPEN WITH DUKES OF DIXIELAND SEPT. 23

LA CROSSE, Wis. – New Orleans’ own Dukes of Dixieland will open the 2015–16 Viterbo University Bright Star Season with their electric jazz performance at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23 in the Fine Arts Center Main Theatre.

The Dukes of Dixieland blow traditional jazz and Dixieland music into the 21st century as they combine authentic New Orleans sounds with pop, gospel, and country. The group has recorded 26 albums and produced three PBS television programs, New Orleans Pops, Salute to Jelly Roll Morton, and Celebrating Satchmo. They perform 30 concerts a year nationally and internationally and are regular performers on the Steamboat Natchez dinner cruise.

“The sound is authentic and vibrant, yet with a contemporary twist,” wrote Les Fillmer
, chair emeritus of the 
Alabama School of Fine Arts department of music. “Every member of this ensemble is a superb soloist and the music selection was perfect. I can tell you with some authority, this is the finest Dixieland Band anywhere in the world.”

Members of the band will lead a pre-performance discussion at 6:30 p.m. as of the Fine Art Center’s Arts in Context series. The musicians will talk about the Dixieland style of music and its significance in the New Orleans cultural scene. Arts in Context discussions are free to ticket holders.

This performance is sponsored by Mayo Clinic Health System and in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts. Wisconsin Public Radio is the media sponsor.

Tickets are $34 for main floor, $30 for lower balcony, and $24 for upper balcony seating. For more information or to order tickets, contact the Viterbo box office at 608-796-3100 or visit www.viterbo.edu/tickets.

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