Live and Local with Kevin Kelly

William Moersch and Ricardo Flores together constitute the percussion division at the University of Illinois School of Music. On Saturday, Prof. Flores leads the U of I Steel Band in concert, and on Sunday Prof. Moersch leads the U of I Percussion Ensemble, both at the Krannert Center in Urbana. Bill and Ricardo will be my guests on Friday's edition of "Live and Local.

On the Wednesday edition of "Live and Local," we'll feature two events taking place this Halloween weekend: the Illinois Brass Quintet's annual Halloween Spooktacular, and Charleston Alley Theatre's presentation, "The Beats Go On: Readings from the Beat Generation Accompanied by Live Jazz Music.

Violinist Elaine Fine and pianist John David Moore will give a recital of rarely heard works for those instruments at Lake Land College in Mattoon next Monday night, with music by Bach, Cesar Cui and Granville Bantock. Elaine will join us on the Tuesday edition of "Live and Local" to chat about the program and play some samples.

On Monday's edition of the show, I'll talk with Michael Hammer, organist at Faith United Methodist Church in Champaign, who will give a piano recital on the 30th. He'll bring along a recent CD of his playing.

Stephen Sondheim's 1979 musical "Sweeney Todd" is the perfect theatrical fare for Halloween week, when the drama students at Champaign Central High School will bring it to the stage. They'll join us on the Friday edition of "Live and Local" to sing some excerpts. We'll also hear about the Israeli Ethnic Ensemble, in residence this week in Bloomington-Normal.

The annual ACE Awards for arts, culture and entertainment in Champaign County are Thursday evening, with live music provided by the Rhythm and Raag Institute for Indian Performing Arts in Urbana. Those same musicians will appear live in our studio on the Thursday edition of "Live and Local." We'll also cover a recital by the Illinois State University Faculty String Quartet in Normal.

On the Wednesday edition of "Live and Local," we'll cover three very different events happening in our area: a concert by The Prairie Ensemble in Champaign; a program called "The Yoga of Rhythm" in Normal, and a production of Arsenic and Old Lace at the High School of St. Thomas More in Champaign-with a live-acted scene in our studio.

Many thanks for your support of the program during our fall pledge period. If you missed your opportunity to pledge during the show, you can still make a contribution online any time at willpledge.org. And tune in Tuesday for a live concert by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

Today's program is a special fundraising edition with highlights from the last few months of the show, including performances by the Frank Vignola Trio, Stringtown Lane, Dennis Stroughmatt & Creole Stomp, students from the Illinois Summer Youth Music Senior Jazz Camp, John Elder and Tommy Emmanuel--all live in our studio!