Community news of note: Box office binge, piano festival and more

Cinergy Entertainment hosting 'Box Office Binge' on Saturday

On Saturday, Feb. 24, Cinergy Entertainment will be hosting its 3rd annual “Box Office Binge” at all of its locations, including Amarillo's at 9201 Cinergy Square.

For one day only, Elite Rewards Members can purchase an $18 movie ticket at their local Cinergy to enjoy a full day of unlimited movies in all formats, during all showtimes, and unlimited free popcorn, all day long. Elite Members can purchase their “Box Office Binge” tickets at their local Cinergy or online at https://www.cinergy.com/film-info/unlimited-movie-day . Tickets are limited, so people are encouraged to buy them in advance. For more information, visit the Box Office Binge FAQ page on Cinergy's website.

To sign up to become a member is free; interested persons can go online to https://www.cinergy.com/signup .

To contact the Amarillo location, call (806) 414-3600.

Internationally renowned artist to open 2024 Hamilton Piano Festival at WT

CANYON — Jennifer Hayghe, chair of the Roser Keyboard and Piano Area at the University of Colorado–Boulder, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23 in Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall to open the 2024 GraceHamilton Piano Festival at West Texas A&M University.

Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for non-WT students and free for festival participants and WT students, faculty and staff with a Buff Gold Card.

Hayghe was the last student of Adele Marcus at The Juilliard School, where she won the William Petschek Debut Award, resulting in her New York City recital debut at Alice Tully Hall. Hayghe has performed and taught as a soloist and chamber musician at universities and colleges throughout the country as well as appearing as a concerto soloist with various orchestras throughout the United States. She has performed in major chamber music series, including Bargemusic in New York and the Garth Newel Center for Music series in Virginia, and has taught chamber music throughout the United States and Central America.

The festival, which dates back around 60 years, was named in 2016 in honor of Grace Hamilton, an influential area piano instructor who cofounded the Amarillo Symphony and was its first pianist. Nearly 100 students from around the Panhandle and Eastern New Mexico perform throughout the day Saturday, Feb. 24, concluding with an honors recital at 3 p.m. in the recital hall inside the Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex. The festival also will include a piano teachers’ workshop Friday, featuring Hayghe and festival co-directors Dr. Choong-ha Nam, professor of piano, and Dr. Sarah Rushing, assistant professor of piano.

To purchase tickets, visit wtamu.edu/music or call 806-651-2840.

Cantata composed by Nathan Fryml to be performed by Amarillo Symphony on Friday, Saturday

The Amarillo Symphony’s season-long centennial celebration continues Feb. 23-24 not only with Gustav Mahler’s soulful Fifth Symphony, but with a new composition by Dr. Nathan Fryml of the Amarillo College music faculty.

Fryml, an associate professor of music who serves as director of choral activities at AC and also as director of the Amarillo Master Chorale, was commissioned by the Symphony to compose a piece for the centennial season. The result is Novae Laudis, a cantata of just over 15 minutes in duration, a euphonious blending of the Symphony and the Master Chorale.

According to notes in the Symphony program, Novae Laudis is Latin that can roughly be rendered in English as “of new praise,” and the piece features a celebratory anthem of thanks and a musical reflection that dwells on the nature of praise itself.

“When I was invited to do this I was overwhelmed,” Fryml said in an AC news release. “I’m so excited to be a part of the Symphony’s centennial celebration. For them to go out of their way to include chorale music and Amarillo College in a big season like this is huge, and I’m grateful. Joy and gratitude are the embodiment of the spirit of my piece.”

Both performances (Friday and Saturday) of Mahler’s masterwork and Fryml’s cantata will be conducted by George Jackson and begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts. Additionally, a free dress rehearsal is set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22.

Sod Poodles to host national anthem auditions at Hodgetown March 2

The Amarillo Sod Poodles will be hosting public auditions for national anthem performances for the 2024 season on Saturday, March 2 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Hodgetown.

Soloists, duets, and trios are invited to audition for "The Star-Spangled Banner" or "God Bless America" for a chance to perform during the season. Auditions can be done a cappella or with a personal instrument.

The only way to reserve a guaranteed time slot to audition will be by completing this registration form. Walk-up auditions will be heard on a first-come, first-served basis on March 2, according to a news release. Performers will enter Hodgetown through the Sod Poodles team store located on the northwest corner of the ballpark next to the box office (715 S. Buchanan). After checking in, performers will be sent to a closed, private area to audition in front of a panel of guest judges and a handful of Sod Poodles staff members.

Hopeful performers who are unable to make the live auditions and still wish to be considered for a spot this season are encouraged to submit video auditions to VictoriaH@SodPoodles.com.

Two winning participants will be given the opportunity to perform during marquee games on either opening night, April 5, or during the Sod Poodles Independence Day game on July 3. Many other individuals will be given opportunities to perform on additional game dates throughout the season. All chosen performers will be given complimentary tickets to the game(s) for which they will be performing.

Single-game tickets for the 2024 season are on sale now.

For the most up-to-date news on the Sod Poodles 2024 season along with detailed information on promotions, groups & hospitality, or other Hodgetown events, follow the team on social media @sodpoodles on Facebook, X, and Instagram. For questions and more information, call 806-803-7762 or email info@SodPoodles.com .

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo community news in brief for Feb. 22-24