Author: Andrew Holm

Andrew will be playing the cello in the Des Moines Symphony Water Works Pops concerts Labor Day weekend.  Saturday, September 2nd, at 7:30 PM, is music of ABBA.  Sunday, September 3rd, at 7:30 PM, is Heroes and Legends.  Both will take place at Water Works Park across from Grey’s Lake in Des Moines, and both are free.  Please feel free to bring lawn chairs and picnic baskets!

https://www.dmsymphony.org/concerts-events/direct-from-sweden-the-music-of-abba/

https://www.dmsymphony.org/concerts-events/heroes-legends/

Andrew will be playing with the Des Moines Symphony in their performance with Kelli O’Hara next Saturday the 22nd at 7:30 PM at the Civic Center.  Tickets can be purchased here:  https://desmoinesperformingarts.org/events/evening-with-kelli-ohara/.

I did post this info on the intranet a few weeks ago, but I thought I would re-post about the Des Moines Symphony Yankee Doodle Pops.  It’s on Monday, July 3rd, at 8:30 PM on the Iowa State Capitol grounds.  It’s free and please feel free to bring lawn chairs, food, and beverage.  There will be vendors there as well.  If you are unable to attend, it will be broadcast live on Iowa Public Radio Classical as well as Iowa PBS.  Iowa PBS will show a re-run at 8:30 PM on July 4th.  I hope you can tune in either via media or in person!

Andrew will be playing the cello in the Des Moines Symphony Yankee Doodle Pops on Monday, July 3rd at 8:30 PM on the Iowa State Capitol grounds.  It’s free, and please feel free to bring lawn chairs, blankets, food, and beverages.  It will also be broadcast live on Iowa PBS, and I will let you know if I hear anything about Iowa Public Radio broadcasts as well as re-runs.

https://www.dmsymphony.org/concerts-events/yankee-doodle-pops/

There is also a viewing party taking place at the State Historical building, and here is a link with info about that:  https://www.dmsymphony.org/concerts-events/viewing-party-for-yankee-doodle-pops/

If you are a great singer, there is an opportunity to audition to sing the Star Spangled Banner at the Yankee Doodle Pops.  Auditions will take place on Saturday, June 24th, and hopefully their website will have info about that soon.  It’s posted on Facebook however.

Andrew will be playing in the Des Moines Symphony this weekend, and here is a link to purchase tickets:  https://desmoinesperformingarts.org/events/giunta-conducts-rachmaninoff/.  We are playing Rachmaninoff works plus a contemporary piece.

Andrew will be playing the cello in the Des Moines Symphony masterworks 5 featuring Carl St. Clair as guest conductor.  We will be playing “Alone Together,” by John Winglass, Max Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 in g minor, and Tchaikovsky’s 6th Symphony in b minor.  Aubree Oliverson will be the violinist joining us, and here is a link with info on how to purchase tickets:  https://my.desmoinesperformingarts.org/0/6350?queueittoken=e_newdmpasafetynet~q_e517ff6f-425c-41bd-bc41-7f28dce068ba~ts_1677775516~ce_true~rt_safetynet~h_494a4c4eaf2ee02a62d427465579405ef9635424c279563af1192903ddf5ba5d

Andrew will be playing the cello in the Des Moines Symphony youth concerts on March 7th and 8th.  If you know anyone who will be attending, please let me know.  Please let them know about a colleague playing the cello as well.

Please help yourself to a triple chocolate cookie in the breakroom when you get a chance.  They are in a ziploc bag, and Andrew made them.

Andrew will be playing the cello in the Des Moines Symphony Masterworks 4 concert set in early February, and here is a link to purchase tickets:  https://my.desmoinesperformingarts.org/0/6347.

We are playing Mahler’s Fifth Symphony, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with Kevin Zhu as soloist, and Seven O’Clock Shout by Valerie Coleman.  The Coleman works honors Covid-19 heroes.

As you probably know, Andrew will be playing in the Des Moines Symphony’s production of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire on Friday, January 27th at 7:30 PM, and Saturday, January 28th, at 1:30 PM at the Civic Center downtown.  As of 1/5/23 at 10:53 AM, there are two seats available for the Friday night performance, and more but not a lot available for the Saturday performance.  If you wish to attend, NOW is the time to purchase your tickets!  After you purchase tickets, they should be available 72 hours prior to your desired performance.

https://desmoinesperformingarts.org/events/harry-potter-and-the-goblet-of-fire/

It’s time to purchase your tickets for the upcoming New Year’s Eve Pops with the Des Moines Symphony.  Andrew will be playing cello then, and vocalists Capathia Jenkins and Tony DeSare will be joining the orchestra.  Here is a link to purchase tickets:  https://my.desmoinesperformingarts.org/0/6568.  About half of the Civic Center auditorium is available as of 12/1.

Please help yourself to a chocolate mint brownie cookie in the break room.  I made them last night.

The Des Moines Symphony (which Andrew is part of as a cellist), is offering a holiday discount of $10 off on a Flex package for the next four masterworks performance sets.  All performances are at the Civic Center downtown Des Moines, and the dates and times of the concerts are as follows:

Mahler 5:

February 4th: 7:30 PM
February 5th: 2:30 PM

St. Clair conducts Tchaikovsky:

March 11: 7:30 PM

March 12: 2:30 PM

April in Paris:

April 22: 7:30 PM

April 23: 2:30 PM

Giunta conducts Rachmaninoff

May 13: 7:30 PM

May 14: 2:30 PM

Use the discount code HOLIDAYFLEX22 at checkout, and this offer expires December 31st.  You can use up to 4 tickets for one concert, one for each concert mentioned, or any combination.

No-churn ice cream

14 oz. sweetened condensed milk

1 tsp. vanilla, mint, or almond extract, or other flavoring (optional)

2 cups heavy cream, cold

Mix flavoring into condensed milk.  Whip the cream until it holds stiff, billowy peaks.  Gently mix a scoop of the cream into the condensed milk, as this will make it easier to fold in the rest of the whipped cream.  Transfer the rest of the whipped cream to the condensed milk mixture, and gently stir until you see just a few small lumps.  Be careful not to over mix.  Transfer to freezer-safe container, smooth the top, and place a piece of waxed paper on top to prevent ice crystals from forming.  Freeze for at least six hours before serving, and consume within two weeks for best flavor.

For flavored ice cream, heat cream until warm and/or a few wisps of stream occur.  Remove from heat and add desired flavoring.  Let sit until cooled to room temperature, then remove flavoring ingredient.  Refrigerate cream until completely chilled again, then proceed with recipe above.  I’ve used fresh raspberries, coffee beans, and cinnamon sticks for flavorings.

If you haven’t tried maple mustard salad dressing, here is the recipe:

3/4 cup 100% pure maple syrup

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup dijon mustard

Mix together and shake well until combined.

Andrew’s dad will be officiating the Nebraska Class A state football championship game tonight at 7:15 on Nebraska Public Television.  You can watch online or via the PBS video app.

Don’t forget to purchase your tickets for the Des Moines Symphony production of Gustav Holst’s Planets suite.  It takes place this weekend on Saturday the 19th at 7:30 PM, and Sunday the 20th at 2:30 PM at the Civic Center.  Here is a link for purchasing tickets:  https://desmoinesperformingarts.org/events/the-planets/

Also on the program are Edward Elgar’s Cockaigne Overture, Robert MacMillan’s Larghetto for Orchestra, and a fanfare for Amazing Grace.

There will be a rebroadcast of the 2021 Yankee Doodle Pops concert tomorrow (Veterans Day) at 11 AM on Iowa Public Radio Classical.  Andrew is playing the cello in this, and this was the YDP that was performed for broadcast only.  Hope you can tune in!

Andrew will be playing the cello in this weekend’s Des Moines Symphony concerts.  They’re on Saturday at 7:30 PM, and Sunday at 2:30 PM.  We are playing Ragomania by William Bolcom, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini for piano and orchestra by Rachmaninoff, Symphony No. 2 by St. Georges, and The Firebird suite by Stravinsky.  Charlie Albright will be our soloist, and here is the link to purchase tickets:  https://www.dmsymphony.org/concerts-events/the-firebird-2/

Don’t forget to purchase your tickets for the upcoming Des Moines Symphony pops concert next Saturday the 15th at 7:30 PM at the Civic Center.  Martin Herman will be guest conducting, and Mig Ayesa will be singing music of Queen.  Not very many tickets are left, so don’t wait until Saturday!