Meadows Alumna Launches "Classic Blend" Concert Series at Union Coffee House in Dallas
Free performances on last Saturday of each month feature local talent, audience participation
Mandy Milliot, who will graduate from Meadows in December with a B.A. in cello performance, has always dreamed of creating an eclectic, cross-genre concert series. Now she is making that dream come true with the launch of “Classic Blend,” a multifaceted performance series at the Union Coffee House, located near the SMU campus at 5622 Dyer St.
The series, which kicked off on May 30, showcases local musical talent at 8 p.m. on the last Saturday of every month. Admission is free.
“We feature all kinds of music – jazz, classical, world music, experimental, improvisational and more,” she says. “I wanted to help bring music to new audiences in Dallas in a fun and interactive way. In our first concert, we had a kazoo choir at intermission – made up entirely of audience members who learned parts and performed the theme from Star Wars. It was a blast!”
The next concert will be held at 8 p.m. June 27, and will feature Milliot performing with oboist Amy Wainscott (M.M. ’08) in duets and solos, as well as a trombone quartet with Meadows alumni Myles Blakemore, Louden Cunningham, Chris Guilfoyle and Steve Peterson. The audience kazoo choir takes over during intermission – Milliot is taking suggestions for the kazoo musical selection on Facebook.
The July 25 concert will feature SMU Meadows faculty member Kim Corbet performing an improvised blend of American and world music using synthesizers and looping software. Other performers for the evening will be announced soon.
“My goal with this series is to make music performance more attainable to people who might not otherwise seek out classical/jazz music, and to give area musicians a chance to perform locally,” Milliot says. “I hope to convert non-music lovers into full-blown music lovers by offering them concerts in an enjoyable, laid-back environment and letting the audience participate in the performing process in a fun way. I hope that people come out of each Classic Blend concert feeling happy and with a new appreciation for music!”
To learn more about the Classic Blend Concert series, contact Mandy Milliot at mandy.milliot@me.com, or find news and updates on Twitter at @DalClassicBlend or Facebook.
About Union Coffee House
Union is a nonprofit coffee house that dedicates 10 percent of coffee sales to causes that make a positive difference in Dallas. It offers outstanding coffee, a robust community and the opportunity to support world-changing causes. Hours are 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday. The address is 5622 Dyer Street in Dallas (75206). For more information, visit uniondallas.net.