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Time Off For Oracle - But the Music Doesn't Stop
Following the performance at the Chocolate Ball
the band went into a spring break of sorts as Veronica had to have
some fairly delicate surgery performed to ease some mobility
problems.
Of course recovery from any major surgery requires
time to heal, but during her recovery period wild horses could not
have kept her away from a very special event.
Nikki Herrera, the band's dynamic & gifted
violinist, (and Veronica & Mike's daughter of course), performed
her Senior Recital as she prepared to graduate from Towson
University with a degree in music.
The program was exceptionally challenging, and at
the conclusion of the performance the audience rose in a standing
ovation.
Of particular note was the final piece, written by
Maurice Ravel, called Tzigane, composed around simple Gypsy
melodies, yet technically challenging, making use of all the tonal
possibilities the violin is capable of.
Check out the video clip below and listen to
the OTHER side of Nikki, that of a serious, accomplished classical
musician capable of tackling the most difficult works ever written
for the violin.
St. John's Singles
Dance The Night Away
As the band returned from our spring break, and with Veronica
well on her way to a complete recovery from her surgery, the band
was juiced to return for a performance at the St. John's Singles
organization in Columbia Maryland.
Dances of this sort are always lots of fun, as everyone there
comes prepared to DANCE! What better way to meet someone than
out on the dance floor in a safe a secure environment?
Oracle Band will be returning for two additional performances in
2010.
Gambrills Athletic Club Mother's Day Bull Roast
Mother's Day weekend has for the past four years meant that it's
time for the big bull roast over at the Gambrills Athletic Club in
Gambrills Maryland.
This is a BIG event, with close to 400 people in attendance
chowing down on some great food, then hitting the dance floor for
four hours of great music.
The most amazing thing about these performances are that they
sell out over a month in advance with a waiting list of folks hoping
to get a last minute ticket.
All the proceeds from these performances go to help support the
club and the activities it sponsors for their kids.
It seems strange that after so many years of
performing at weddings in and around Baltimore & Washington that
there are any places we haven't performed at, but in May we
performed at a place, built in 1794, that we hadn't even HEARD of
before.
It sounds pretty commonplace...Baltimore
Country Club. What makes it unique is that firstly it has no
golf course attached to it, and second, it is smack dab in the
middle of the city, where nobody would ever expect to find such a
beautiful place.
Wedding at Turf Valley Country Club & Resort
May is definitely a month for weddings, and the weekend of the
23rd we got to play back at Turf Valley Country Club and Resort in
Ellicott City Maryland for the wedding of a wonderful couple who had
actually never heard us perform before when they booked us.
With their children, grandchildren, and lots of friends in
attendance, it was a warm and enjoyable evening at one of the best
places in the area to have a wedding.
Turf Valley has been hosting weddings for years, and it is always
a treat to return. The professionalism of the staff is second
to none, making sure that every wedding is special, and attending to
the needs of not only the guests but of the vendors as well.
We always approach each wedding as a unique party. We
really don't believe in "cookie Cutter" weddings where they are all
basically the same. Rather, we strive to make sure the tone of the
reception fits with the personality of the bride, the groom, and
their families and friends.
Baltimore Yacht Club Opening Weekend
While the Commodore's Ball's in the wintertime are
impressive, with everyone in their uniforms and formalwear, opening
weekend at a yacht club is sort of like Mardi Gras. They are
no-holds-barred pure PARTY from start to finish.
The folks over at Baltimore Yacht Club have the art
of partying down, and over the Memorial Day weekend they throw one
heck of a shindig.
Mention should also be made that BYC has the honor
of having one of their own as Queen of the Chesapeake for 2008 -
2009, Ms. Renae Hunter, you can see her out on the dance floor
in the photo on the lower right).
Maryland Yacht Club Opening Weekend
One of the very first yacht clubs to invite Oracle out to perform
was Maryland Yacht Club in Pasadena Maryland.
From the very first day we have maintained an excellent rapport
with the officers and members of this beautiful club, performing at
many of the clubs events over the past few years.
For 2009 we were even more involved than usual. The club holds
formal ceremonies in the afternoon as visiting guests are greeted
and introduced.
Part of that ceremony was a wreath laying ceremony from a passing
sailboat. Our trumpet player Steve was on hand to play taps in
remembrance of those no longer with us.
Then that evening came the PARTY! As you can see, it was pretty
wild! Folks of all ages came out to dance, sing, and play along with
the band.
Although we don't typically post photo galleries for private
events, this one was just so much fun we went ahead and put one
together. You can see all of the photos over at the
Maryland Yacht Club Opening Weekend 2009 Photo Gallery.
Wedding - Overhills Mansion
On June 20, 2009 our friends Katie and Stephen tied
the knot and became husband and wife.
Oracle was on hand to make sure that the party was
one to remember, and believe us when we say it most definitely was.
Wow...these folks loved to party and dance. Katie
even grabbed a mic and sang along on a few tunes.
The Overhills Mansion facility was beautiful. We
were quite impressed with the layout of the place, with lots of room
for everyone, a good sized ballroom, and a stately manner that oozed
of elegance.
Our very best wishes go out to Katie & Stephen for
a long and wonderful life together.
Oracle Band Opens Montpelier Mansion
2009 Summer Concert Series
Oracle has always had a fairly good relationship with Mother
Nature, but every once in a while she rears back and lets us know
just who's boss.
Such was the case when Oracle went to open the Montpelier Summer
Concert Series in Laurel Maryland. It had been threatening
rain all day, and as show time approached it started rain a light,
summertime shower.
Fortunately Mother Nature gave us a break, and after about 15
minutes the shower passed and we were on stage entertaining the
audience that continued to arrive as folks realized the show was
still on.
Lindsey & Chris' Wedding - Chesapeake Bay Beach Club
The band wrapped up the month of June at the Chesapeake Bay Beach
Club, on Kent Island, situated in the shadow of the Bay Bridge, as
we played for Lindsey & Chris' wedding reception.
This was a really fun wedding. It was definitely hot,
(literally), and the wedding party was dressed casually but very
classily in pastel colored matching attire that was cool yet looked
really nice.
The Chesapeake Bay Beach Club is a great spot for a wedding.
They have multiple rooms to host simultaneous receptions, and two
really nice areas for outdoor ceremonies right on the water.
We have done a number of weddings over there and each one is
different, reflecting the personalities of the bride and groom, (as
we maintain should be the case with ALL weddings).
The view of the Chesapeake and the bay bridge are spectacular,
and if you time things right the ceremony can be backlit with a
spectacular sunset over the bay.
The day was simply beautiful for Lindsay & Chris, and we know
they are going to be very happy together.
