Made For Music

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and numerous community partners are excited to announce another performance in the popular Made for Music concert series at the Dana-Thomas House State Historic Site. The next concert features The Fiddle-Sax Fusion Band and is scheduled for Thursday, November 10 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The ticket is a suggested donation of $10.

Seating is limited. Reservations are required and can be made at https://MadeForMusicNovember2022.eventbrite.com or by calling 217-782-6776.

The Fiddle-Sax Fusion Band consists of Illinois State Fiddle Champion Jessie Stark and Brian Stark, who is Jazz Ensemble Director and Saxophone Instructor at UIS and also teaches classes at Lincoln Land Community College. They have forged a lively and lighthearted mix of jazzy interpretations of songs from American, Irish, and Eastern European fiddle traditions that can be heard on their recent independent CD release, Grumbling Growling and Other Pandemic Breakdowns. In addition to an album release tour in Summer 2022 they have also appeared at the Bean Blossom IN Music Series, the CU Folk and Roots Festival, LLCC Multicultural Week, and the upcoming Biennial Conference of the North American Saxophone Alliance.

The Made for Music community partnership consists of the University of Illinois School of Music, NPR Illinois, Illinois Symphony Orchestra and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The Dana-Thomas House features several performance balconies and other architectural features that make it an ideal location for musical performances. The concerts, which will pilot this year and follow a full schedule in 2023, aim to enrich the community by showcasing an array of inspiring musical performances in world-class architecture.

The Dana-Thomas House, built between 1902 and 1904, is one of the largest and best-preserved of architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s “Prairie Style” homes, with more than 400 pieces of specially made art glass and original furniture. The Dana-Thomas House is open daily for tours. Tour reservations are encouraged and can be made at danathomashousetours.eventbrite.com. 

Community partnership announces

Made for Music Concert Series at the Dana-Thomas House

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and numerous community partners today announced the return of a concert series at the Dana-Thomas House State Historic Site in Springfield.  The concerts, which will pilot this year and follow a full schedule in 2023, aim to enrich the community by showcasing an array inspiring musical performances in world-class architecture.

The Made for Music community partnership consists of the University of Illinois School of Music, NPR Illinois, Illinois Symphony Orchestra and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The Dana-Thomas House features several performance balconies and other architectural features that make it an ideal location for musical performances.

The first concert, which will feature José Gobbo and Andrew Binder is scheduled for Thursday,October 20 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The ticket is a suggested donation of $10.

Jose Gobbo is a Brazilian jazz guitarist based in Central Illinois. In the Spring of 2022 he was Artist-in-Residence at Allerton Park in Monticello, IL, which culminated on the solo guitar album "Allerton Park Suite". Jose is a doctor in jazz performance throughout the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign , and in 2022 alone he has performed in New York City, Chicago, Nashville, Pittsburgh and St. Louis. 

Andrew Binder is a bassist and composer from St. Louis, Missouri. He has performed regularly with notable musicians such as Chip McNeill, Tito Carrillio, Joel Spencer, Larry Gray, Chip Stephens and Joan Hickey. Andrew obtained his Master's in Music Theory & Composition from the University of Miami and is currently finishing his D.M.A. in Jazz Performance at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 

Seating is limited.  Reservations are are required and can be made on Eventbrite at https://MadeForMusicOctober2022.eventbrite.com, online at historicspringfield.dnr.illinois.gov or by calling 217-782-6776.

The Dana-Thomas House, built between 1902 and 1904, is one of the largest and best-preserved of architect Frank Lloyd Wright's "Prairie Style" homes, with more than 400 pieces of specially made art glass and original furniture. The Dana-Thomas House is open daily for tours. Tour reservations are encourage and can be made on the house website.