The Wellston Winds kicks off the WRCCA season with a FREE concert in the grand style of JOHN PHILIP SOUSA!  Under the direction of conductor C. Lloyd McDonald the Wellston Winds is Middle Georgia’s premier instrumental ensemble. With a nod to the days of the traveling professional bands of the early 20th Century, the Wellston Winds present a Sousa-style concert, complete with orchestral transcriptions, beautiful arias, and brilliant virtuosic solos – with a little modern-day flair as well! 

The Winds of Ocmulgee Brass join forces with organist Jonathan Poe to present an afternoon of brass and organ delights on the recently refurbished organ at Warner Robins First United Methodist Church.  Led by Col. Bryan Shelburne (U.S. Army, Ret.), former commander of The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” Winds of Ocmulgee Brass include some of the finest brass musicians from across Georgia. Jonathan Alan Poe currently serves as Organist and Choirmaster at the historic Christ Episcopal Church in Macon, Georgia. With the brilliance of brass and the majesty of the organ, this performance will enthrall the audience with selections from many eras and genres of music.

The KALEIDOSCOPE concert is a non-stop musical extravaganza featuring music of many styles and genres: instrumental, vocal, chamber, musical theatre, and more! Anchored by chamber groups from the Wellston Winds, KALEIDOSCOPE will include performances from schools, local ensembles, and other area performers. This showcase of musical talent and variety will be a highlight of the season you don’t want to miss!

Mark Valenti received his Master of Music from Northwestern University, Bachelor of Music from the Philadelphia Musical Academy and has studied with such notable teachers as Benjamin Whitten, Zoltan Kocsis and Mary Sauer. In addition to giving solo recitals in cities throughout the U.S., Mr. Valenti has performed in France, Belgium, Hungary, and Luxembourg. With experience in classical and jazz performances and an active teaching studio, Mr. Valenti brings a fresh, spontaneous, and lively approach to piano performance.

The Atlanta Mandolin Orchestra is the performing unit of the Atlanta Mandolin Society, Inc., and is celebrating 25 years of music-making in the 2019 season. AMO has been pushing the possibilities of acoustic music since the mandolin orchestra rage at the turn of the 20th century.  An ensemble of mandolins, mandolas, mandocellos, guitars and bass, the Atlanta Mandolin Orchestra brings music from Bach, Mozart, Joplin, Ellington, Zimmer, the Beatles, and more.  WRCCA is glad to have the AMO to perform again in Warner Robins!

Renowned for the hard bop approach of his trumpet and a voice that has been compared to Chet Baker and Frank Sinatra, Joe Gransden has performed worldwide with the big bands of Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller, as well as Barry White, The Moody Blues, Kenny Rogers, The Temptations, Aretha Franklin, and the Whispers.  Mr. Gransden has an innate ability to connect with an audience, and as Freddie Cole says, “With Joe singin’ and the band swingin’, it’s a beautiful thing!”