By Evelyn Cairns
The Southern Great Lakes Symphony will open its 2012-13 season on Aug. 26 with a “Summer Jazz” event featuring the SGLS Jazz Trio and a pasta buffet.
The event is planned for 6 p.m. at the Grosse Ile Yacht Club, 29677 E. River Road, on Hickory Island.
Included in the price of tickets, $40, are three pasta sauces, meatballs, grilled chicken and dessert. A cash bar will be available.
For reservations, send a check postmarked by Friday to SGLS, P.O. Box 811, Grosse Ile, MI 48138, or call 734-246-2890 by Aug. 20, leaving your name and telephone number for a return call.
For additional information, go to the SGLS web-site, www.sgls.org.
The season will continue on Oct. 6 with another special event, “Rock ’n’ Ride,” highlighting the symphony playing rock ’n’ roll music of the Beatles and other favorite musical groups at the Grosse Ile Airport Hangar.
On Oct. 28, a “Hometown Hero” concert at the Flat Rock High School Auditorium will honor Trenton native Ramon Wodkowski, now of London, England, who will be a clarinet soloist with the symphony.
The SGLS will offer instrumentalists an opportunity to participate in its first Downriver Concerto Com-petition at the Flat Rock auditorium Jan. 11 and 25. The winner of the contest, open to all ages, will receive a prize and perform as soloist with the orchestra.
Semifinalists will be chosen by audition tapes, and finalists will be selected before a live audience.
On Feb. 24, a concert at the auditorium will feature favorite American compositions, along with performances by finalists in the Downriver Concert Com-petition.
Finalists in the 2012 Downriver Idol Competition — Lara Semetko, Jill Ryan and David Martin — will be featured on March 10 in an abridged concert version of “West Side Story” at the Flat Rock facility.
The final concert, also at the Flat Rock auditorium, is titled “Happy Anniversary, Ralph!” and will mark the 50th anniversary of pianist Ralph Votapek’s winning of the Van Cliburn Competition. A reception for Votapek is planned in conjunction with the concert.
Information about tickets for the individual events and concert packages is available by going to www.sgls.org.
Wine Crawl is scheduled
Wine will flow along Biddle Avenue from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday when the Wyandotte Business Association sponsors its eighth annual Wine Crawl.
Participants must purchase wine glasses for $20 each and then can visit participating merchants to be served the beverage. Glasses are available in advance until Friday at Traffic Jam Boutique, For Her Boutique, It All Makes Scents, Wicks and Stones, Madelyn’s, Pottery Creations and MBT.
They also will be sold beginning at 4 p.m. Friday at Maple and Biddle.
Photo identification will be required to prove that participants are at least 21 years old. Complementary trolley and horse-and-carriage rides will be provided along the crawl route.
The event is a benefit for the Josephine Ford Cancer Center Downriver, The Guidance Center and Blessings in a Back Pack.
1812 Muster set at Village
The War of 1812 Muster Saturday and Sunday at Greenfield Village will give visitors an opportunity to learn about one of the most important conflicts in America’s history and the citizen soldiers of the local militias, men who were considered the backbone of the nation’s defense.
Activities will begin at 10:30 a.m. both days with marching, drilling and cannon fire. Retreats will take place at 4:15 p.m.
At 1:30 p.m. each day, a fashion show will allow visitors to learn how politics and history influenced military and civilian fashions in the early republic.
Ongoing activities will include games for children, military cooking demonstrations and the sewing of dresses of the era, with an opportunity for visitors to design their own dresses.
Muster attendance is free with village admission: $22, seniors; $24, adults; and $17.50 youths. Children 4 and younger are free. Parking costs $5 per vehicle.