Savannah Music Festival launches new concert series: SMF Live

We’ve been getting a lot of good news in recent days here in Savannah.

And this surely counts: the Savannah Music Festival’s new SMF Live Concert Series will be bringing world-class acts like Audra McDonald in November and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis in March 2012 (about 3 weeks before the SMF begins in earnest).

Here’s more info from the press release that I got a few hours ago:

The SMF LIVE Concert Series – a new initiative that reflects the quality and breadth of festival programming -presents renowned artists in jazz, classical, Americana and world music from October through April. “After nine years of continual growth,” says Executive & Artistic Director Rob Gibson, “this expansion addresses our community’s need for first-rate live music and supplemental music education, while also enhancing Savannah’s profile as a premier cultural tourism destination.” The new series includes the following performances:

TERRANCE SIMIEN & THE ZYDECO EXPERIENCE
Saturday, October 22 at American Legion Post 135
Family Zydeco at 3 pm, $20 ($5 for kids under 12), Zydeco Dance Party at 8 pm, $30

AUDRA MCDONALD
Wednesday, November 9 – Trustees Theater at 6:30 pm, $25, 40, 57, 72

LEIF OVE ANDSNES, piano
Monday, February 13 – Wesley Monumental UMC at 6:30 pm, $55

JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA WITH WYNTON MARSALIS
Thursday, March 1 – Trustees Theater at 6:30 pm, $28, 47, 64, 80

SANDRINE PIAU, soprano
Monday, April 23 – Wesley Monumental UMC at 6:30 pm, $45

I already have those dates on my 912 Music Calendar. Tickets go on sale Thursday, September 8th at 10 a.m.