Get ready for a Lousiana-flavored party with a concert by the nationally reknown group Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience.

Simien brings his upbeat slice of Cajun groove to the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina on March 15. Children’s tickets are available for this family friendly concert.

An eighth generation Creole, Simien has been performing the indigenous music of Louisiana for more than 25 years, winning countless awards and accolades, including Offbeat’s 2007 Best of the Beat Award and a 2008 Grammy for his latest album, “Live! Worldwide.”

“It’s a real thrill to be able to bringing an artist of Terrance’s caliber to the Arts Center,” said president and CEO Kathleen Bateson. “I think zydeco music is more popular now than ever. A lot of the credit for that has to go to Terrance.”

Zydeco, an African word meaning “to dance,” is the music of the multi-racial, multi-cultural, French-speaking Creoles of southwest Louisiana. It features two core instruments: the accordion and the frottoir, or rubboard. It has evolved over the years and become a fusion of many different styles and musical influences. The one constant has been the change.

At the Arts Center concert, Simien will play a combination of original music, Caribbean-influenced songs, traditional waltzes sung in French and a few covers.

“There will be songs that will make you get up and dance and others that you can sit back and listen to,” Simien said. “We’re mixing it up so the audience will get a good feel for zydeco music.”

His music was featured in Walt Disney Pictures’ “The Princess and the Frog.” Simien also appeared in the film and soundtrack of “The Big Easy” starring Dennis Quaid. Over the years, he has recorded and performed with major artists, including Robert Palmer, Stevie Wonder, Los Lobos, Paul Simon and the Dave Matthews Band.

Universally acclaimed as one of the most exciting zydeco performers in America, Simien infuses the root music with contemporary influences. The Los Angeles Times hailed, “Simien’s soulful vocals could hold their own against Aaron Neville.” While Rolling Stone called Simien a “Zydeco master,” adding: “His voice yearning like Sam Cooke, he delivers soul worthy of Stax greats and shows crossover class.”

“I feel like I have done my part,” Simien said. “I didn’t set out to change the music; I just play what inspires me and what comes from my heart.”

Tickets for the show are $36 for adults and $26 for children and can be purchased by visiting www.artshhi.com or calling 843-842-ARTS.

The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina is a non-profit performing arts organization. In addition to a 349-seat, main-stage theater that hosts an annual theater and performing arts series, the organization oversees two art galleries and regional arts educational programs, as well as produces four community outreach festivals. The Arts Center received the 2006 Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Award for top arts organization in South Carolina.

The 15^th Hilton Head International Piano Competition, presented by the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, will be held at the First Presbyterian Church on Hilton Head Island, March 8 – 15, 2010.  Twenty competitors from 11 countries will be performing in four rounds of competition.  Round I, on Monday and Tuesday, March 8 and 9, will be held from 1:30 to 4:40pm and 7:00 to 9:10pm.  Round II, on Thursday and Friday, March 11 and March 12, will be held from 1:30 to 5:10pm and 7:00 to 9:30pm.  Six Semifinalists will compete in Round III on Saturday, March 13 from 1:30 to 5:20pm and 7:30 to 9:15pm.

Three finalists will vie in Round IV for cash prizes totaling $33,000 plus engagements on Monday evening, March 15, at 7:00pm.  Each finalist will perform a concerto with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra.

There are also some Special Events during Competition week.  Fourteen-year-old pianist, George Li, Second Prize Winner of the Gina Bachauer International Junior Competition will give a recital on Wednesday, March 10 at 7:30pm at Holy Family Church, HHI.  This recital is a preview of the extraordinary talent you will hear at the inaugural Hilton Head International Young Artists Competition, March 7 – 13, 2011.  The public is invited, admission is free but contributions are very welcomed.

On Monday, March 15, the day of the Finals, the Competition will also present Master Classes with six Competition Judges and six Competitors, as well as a Lecture/Recital given by John O’Conor, 2010 Jury Chairman, entitled “Humour and Tragedy in Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas”.  The Master Classes are held in two sessions: (1) 9:00 – 11:25am and (2) 1:45 - 4:10pm.  The Lecture/Recital will be given from 12:30 to  1:30pm.  Both Master Classes and the Lecture/Recital are free and open to the public and are held at All Saints Episcopal Church, 3001 Meeting Street, HHI.  Spend the day at All Saints and enjoy lunch between sessions.  Lunch tickets are $10 if purchased before 5:30pm on March 13, or $15 at the door.

Featured on all 2010 HHIPC materials is the artwork by Lindsay Johnson, winner of the SCAD 2010 Poster Competition.  It is one of 38 entries created by the Savannah College of Art and Design students for the HHIPC.  All 38 entries will be on exhibit and for sale at the Arts League of Hilton Head Gallery in Pineland Station March 9 – April 10.

All tickets may be purchased online at www.hhipc.org, by calling the Competition box office at 1-843-842-2055, or at the Competition.  For more information about the 15^th HHIPC March 8 – 15, 2010, visit the Competition website at www.hhipc.org.

For the fifth consecutive year the Outback Steakhouse will offer a special Lunch on Sunday, March 7th, from 12:00 to 2:00 P.M. for the benefit of The Beaufort Youth Orchestra’s Scholarship Fund. This year’s event will be a plated meal, rather than a buffet. Outback is generously donating all the food, and 100% of the money raised will go to the young people. Chamber groups from the Youth Orchestra will be offering musical selections during the event.

The cost of the Lunch is $20 for adults; Children up to 13, $10. Children under 6 may come for free. Reservations must be prepaid in advance by sending a check to:

Beaufort Orchestra League

% Shandalove,

1501 Springwell

St. Helena Island, SC 29920.

Please note the number of children and adults on your check. For further information about the Outback Lunch you may call Greta at 476-1310 or Sherry at 838-3233. Donations from those unable to attend would also be gratefully received.

Each year the Beaufort Orchestra Board has been able to give selected members of the Youth Orchestra an opportunity to take private lessons, attend summer music camps, and to support those BYO graduates who continue their music studies while in college.

During 2009-2010 The Beaufort Youth Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Fred Devyatkin, has grown to nearly fifty young musicians. They are a full symphonic group, including strings, brass, winds, and percussion. New players are accepted through audition, and those interested may inquire by calling Greta Maddox at 476-1310 or Ron Maddox at 263-2190.

The talented young people typically begin playing with BYO in upper elementary grades and can continue through high school.  Rehearsals are held Thursday evenings at Beaufort High School. Recently, Beaufort Symphony members Amy Rabinowitz, Bill Baker, and Chris Cushman have volunteered their services to assist the Maestro in coaching sectional rehearsals and chamber groups.

According to Maestro Devyatkin, the young people make huge strides when they are able to take private lessons provided by the scholarships. This also sparks their interest in practice, and of course, increases the skills of the orchestra as a whole. Recently one of our graduate students attended Brevard Summer Music Camp in North Carolina. There she had the opportunity of working with Boston Pops Director Keith Lockhart and attended a master class with Yo Yo Ma! Another BYO grad is now a bassoonist and contrabassoonist at University of Memphis School of Music. Other alumni have begun teaching careers and one is a prolific composer!

BYO is proud of the honors our young people have won here in 2009. Several string players auditioned and were accepted into both Regional and State Orchestra. In addition, a number of wind and brass students auditioned and were selected for Regional Band.

The Beaufort Youth Orchestra will be in concert during the last week of February.  Dataw Island Club will host the young folks on Tuesday, February 23^rd at 7:00 P.M.  On Thursday, February 25 they will present the same concert at Sea Island Presbyterian Church, also at 7:00 P.M. The programs will include classical music, hits from Broadway and the movies, as well as current pops tunes. The concert at Sea Island Presbyterian, 81 Lady’s Island Drive, is open to the public. There is no charge for the concert, but donations are gratefully accepted.