Concert Season Tickets On Sale
by Marlene Robershaw

The Ramona Concert Association is looking forward to their 20th anniversary concert season, which begins Oct. 8, but the deadline to get membership tickets at a bargain price is fast approaching — May 30.

Bargain-price memberships are $25 for adult tickets, and $55 for family memberships, which include parents and all the children under one roof. After May 30, each ticket goes up $3.

The 20th anniversary lineup includes some old favorites: Returning for the first concert on Oct. 8 is renowned pianist Gustavo Romero. The association’s inaugural concert in September 1985 featured Romero, then San Diego’s child prodigy pianist. After graduating from Juilliard School of Music, Romero was guest pianist for most major symphony and philharmonic orchestras in the world. He also became a first-prize winner of the prestigious Clara Haskil International Piano Competition in Switzerland.

On Nov. 13, the Cowboy Envy Quartet will bring a "real cowboy band" — three cowgirls and a cowboy — to Ramona. This Atlanta-based group offers the sound of popular ’40s Western singers such as Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and the Sons of the Pioneers. The quartet was voted "Best Harmony" by the Western Music Association.

Another Ramona favorite, South American Paraguayan harpist Alfredo Rolando Ortiz, will be on stage Feb. 12, 2005. Ortiz is a composer, lecturer, author and performing and recording artist. He has recorded more than 30 musical albums. His music includes folk, classical and pop music of many countries.

The season finale will be the lively Side Street Strutters Jazz Band, also back by popular demand. This septet is a regular at Disney-land and performs in concerts and with symphonies across the United States. The musicians are winners of many international jazz competitions and play big-band swing, Dixieland, jazz, blues and symphony pops.

Send in your remittance for membership to: Ramona Concerts, P.O. Box 1273, Ramona, CA 92065. Tickets will be mailed to you in August along with a reciprocity list of 20 other concert locations in Southern California where you may use your tickets.

Take advantage of this bargain and remember the deadline is May 30!