It's that time of year again!

After a quick family visit in the frozen tundra of central Illinois, I'm back in Houston rehearsing BACHANALIA, Ars Lyrica's all-Bach program for New Year's Eve 2008. The festivities begin at 9 pm Wednesday evening, with a program that features the divine duo of soprano Melissa Givens and bass-baritone Timothy Jones, plus Baroque oboe virtuoso Kathryn Montoya, a complement of strings and yours truly in a couple of Bach wedding cantatas and concertos. A gala reception (with champagne and yummy hors d'oeuvres and sweets) and a silent auction follows, so be sure to bring your checkbook! We've got some wonderful items up for bids this year, all proceeds of which benefit Ars Lyrica. Join us for the classiest New Year's celebration in town, and take home something special for yourself or a friend!

A Prop 8 Christmas Gift

Though the passage of Prop 8 in California was hardly a nice present for the gay and lesbian citizens of the Golden State, a wonderfully funny musical spoof of Prop 8 and its effects has recently appeared on the web. See Prop 8 Musical and prepare to laugh out loud...a lot!

Here's hoping that the California Supreme Court does the right thing in the next few months and allows the nearly 20,000 gay and lesbian couples who got married over the last year to remain so. A democratic government should not bestow such a basic right and then yank it away from an entire segment of a population; that's the stuff of tyrants and dictators.

TX license plates support the arts!

Texas residents and lovers of the arts: the perfect holiday gift awaits you through the Texas Commission on the Arts. Personalized license plates actually benefit arts organization throughout Texas. Read more about it at TCA and get your plates now! Who knew that supporting the arts in our fair state could be so easy -- and you'll never again forget your license plate number.

This Thursday at Beaver's

Come join Ars Lyrica musicians, staff, and friends for "Cultured Cocktails" with Ars Lyrica & Spacetaker, on Thursday, December 4, from 5-10pm at Beaver's: 2310 Decatur Street (just south of Washington at the corner where the "Pigstand" used to be). A portion of the proceeds from "Cultured Cocktails" menu benefits Ars Lyrica, and the event is a great social opportunity for us. Hope to see you there!