Meccore String Quartet to Perform for Wisconsin Union Theater Patrons Feb. 28

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 15, 2021

Contact Information:
Shauna Breneman, Communications Director
Email: sbreneman@wisc.edu

MECCORE STRING QUARTET TO PERFORM FOR WISCONSIN UNION THEATER PATRONS FEB. 28

MADISON – The Wisconsin Union Theater will stream an online Concert Series performance by the Meccore String Quartet on Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m. CDT.

The Quartet will perform the String Quartet No. 21 in D major, K. 575 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, String Quartet No. 3 “Leaves from an Unwritten Diary” by Krzysztof Penderecki, and String Quartet in A minor, Op. 132 by Ludwig van Beethoven.

The ensemble includes violinists Wojciech Koprowski and Aleksandra Bryła, violist Michał Bryła, and cellist Marcin Mączyński.

As one of Europe’s most compelling ensembles, the Meccore String Quartet has appeared at many influential music festivals around the globe, such as the Rheingau Musik Festival and the Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The ensemble was the first ever Polish string quartet to perform during the Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony at the Bundestag, the national parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany.

The Meccore String Quartet has also received many international awards, including a nomination for the Paszport Polityki award in the classic music category for its “innovative approach to the music and for breaking the musical stereotypes.” The musicians won the Premio Paolo Borciani International String Quartet Competition and Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition.

When they are not performing, Meccore’s members lead chamber music and individual instrumental classes at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, Poland.

Praised for their technical accuracy, Meccore is also known for its deep musicality and expressiveness.

“The Meccore String Quartet brings an unparalleled energy and emotional depth to its performances,” Wisconsin Union Theater Director Elizabeth Snodgrass said. “This ensemble is admired the world over, and our patrons will experience why the Quartet has earned global praise during its virtual Wisconsin Union Theater performance.”

            Ticket purchase information can be found here. Tickets for this online event are $10 for UW-Madison students; $17 for Wisconsin Union members, UW-Madison staff and faculty, and students that do not attend UW-Madison; and $20 for all other patrons.

The Wisconsin Union Theater team presents its Concert Series season in collaboration with the student-led Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Performing Arts Committee, which, along with 10 other WUD committees and six clubs, promotes and runs more than 1,000 Wisconsin Union events each year.

The Meccore String Quartet’s performance is sponsored by the David and Kato Perlman Chamber Music Fund.

The Wisconsin Union Theater presents this event, in part, with the help of financial support from Wisconsin Arts Board funding from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Wisconsin Union Theater team is committed to taking action against racial inequities. For a full statement on the Theater’s stance, click here.

The Wisconsin Union Theater team strives for all of its spaces to be accessible. Those that need accommodations can reach out to the Theater team at wisconsinuniontheater@union.wisc.edu. 

For more information about the Meccore String Quartet’s upcoming performance, visit union.wisc.edu/events-and-activities/event-calendar/event/meccore-quartet.   

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About the Wisconsin Union Theater

For more than 75 years, the Wisconsin Union Theater has served as a center for cultural activity in the heart of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. The Theater hosts performances in multiple locations, including Memorial Union, and has an expansive history of remarkable performances. The Wisconsin Union Theater is part of the Wisconsin Union, a membership organization that blends study and leisure to create unique out-of-classroom opportunities. Learn more: union.wisc.edu/wisconsin-union-theater.

About the Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee

The Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee plans and promotes events for the historic Wisconsin Union Theater stages. The student-led committee programs a variety of events to provide a diverse and cultural experience for students, faculty, alumni, community members and visitors. Learn more: union.wisc.edu/get-involved/wud/performing-arts.

[Click here to download a photo of the Meccore String Quartet. Photo by Arkadiusz Berbecki.]

To read this release online, visit union.wisc.edu/about/news/meccore

Wood Communications Group: Become a local leader — apply to Leadership Greater Madison

If you care about your community and want to make a difference — Leadership Greater Madison is for you! Leadership Greater Madison is a non-partisan, civic education and leadership-training program with a mission to inform, connect and engage a diverse group of individuals so they might be inspired to serve, lead and make a difference in their communities.

Become an effective community leader. Join the nearly 800 local leaders who are LGM graduates and apply today for the next LGM class that will kick off soon. The online application can be found at www.leadershipgreatermadison.org. Financial assistance is available to qualified applicants.

Leadership Greater Madison is a joint collaboration between the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce and Wood Communications Group.

FPC Live Announces the “Return to Live”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, February 8, 2021

FPC Live Announces the “Return to Live”
A New Breese Stevens Field Series

Madison, WI – February 8, 2021 – FPC Live will be announcing the first artist in their “Return to Live” Series at Breese Stevens Field on Tuesday, February 9 at 9:00am local. The show date is set for Thursdsay, May 6^th and is expected to be the kick-off show in the series. This exciting, socially-distanced series will take place throughout the 2021 season and replicate the company’s successful “Around the Bend” socially-distanced concert series in Charleston, South Carolina which hosted 11 concerts in the fall of 2020 with plans for more shows this spring and summer.

“We are thrilled to safely bring live music to Madison,” said Matt Gerding, President of FPC Live. “Our experience in other parts of the country have proven that fans can safely enjoy outdoor live events, and we look forward to bringing shows back to our hometown.”

The “Return to Live” concerts will look different than previous Breese concerts. Reserved, socially-distanced 8 x 8ft pods will be sold rather than individual tickets. Each pod can accomadate up to four guests. Breese Stevens Field normally hosts up to 10,000 fans for concerts; however, current plans for the series have a capacity of 1,512 in the stadium with pods divided among the field and stands. Other safety plans, include staggered entry and exit times, required face coverings, cashless concessions, and more. General information and safety guidelines are available at www.fpc-live.com/madisonreturntolive.

“We are confident in bringing our successful socially-distant concert model to Madison, and we know the community will continue to follow the mitigation steps supported by Public Health Madison Dane County (PHDMC). These efforts work, and we know Madison’s music lovers can count on everyone to mask up and stay safe so we can enjoy live music again this spring and summer,” added Gerding.

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About Frank Productions

Frank Productions (FPC Live) is a full-service concert promotion company involved in every facet of live events including production, logistics, ticketing, marketing, sponsorships, food and beverage, operations, and merchandising. Frank Productions produces and promotes live entertainment events in arenas, amphitheaters, performing arts centers, clubs, and other venues across the country. For additional information, visit www.FPC-Live.com.

Frank Productions (FPC Live) Media Contact:
Matt Gerding, President
matt@fpc-live.com  

Multi-Instrumentalist, Vocalist Nicholas Payton Online Performance Added to Wisconsin Union Theater Season

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 5, 2021

Contact Information:
Shauna Breneman, Communications Director
Email: sbreneman@wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 262-8862

MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST, VOCALIST NICHOLAS PAYTON ONLINE PERFORMANCE ADDED TO WISCONSIN UNION THEATER SEASON

MADISON – Multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Nicholas Payton, known as a leading voice in American popular music, will perform as part of the Wisconsin Union Theater season on Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m. CDT after which he will participate in a question-and-answer session.

Tickets for Payton’s virtual performance cost $10 for University of Wisconsin-Madison students; $17 for Wisconsin Union members, UW-Madison staff and faculty, and students that do not attend UW-Madison; and $20 for all other patrons.

Payton’s performance will include music from his latest album, “Maestro Rhythm King.”

Patrons will experience talent that has been nurtured and honed since Payton first began learning the trumpet at 4 years old. His talent for music became apparent quickly and early in his life. He was recognized as a prodigy before the 1st grade and participated in professional performances by the age of 10. This early talent for music has grown into a career that spans decades and has earned him numerous accolades, including a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo.

While Payton does not confine himself to specific genres, he works to honor postmodern New Orleans music and the spirit of Black American Music. He established the term Black American Music, also known as #BAM, to represent the breadth of improvisational music created by Black people in the United States.

“Nicholas Payton does not conform to the status quo in life or in his music. His musical talent is vast, but his most interesting and, I’d say, most important talent is how he uses his art for social activism and to make deeper connections to the world we live in,” Wisconsin Union Theater Director Elizabeth Snodgrass said. “Nicholas says art is not just here to make us feel good and to entertain; it’s to help us grow and think critically.”

This event is co-presented by the Wisconsin Union Theater team and the student leaders of the Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Performing Arts Committee. They work together to make dozens of events possible each year.

The Theater strives to make each Wisconsin Union Theater event accessible. Those that need accommodations can reach out to the Wisconsin Union Theater at wisconsinuniontheater@union.wisc.edu. 

The Wisconsin Union Theater is taking steps to address racial inequalities, including commissioning programming that highlights BIPOC stories. Click here for a full statement on the Theater’s stance and efforts.

The Wisconsin Union Theater presents this event, in part, with the help of financial support from Wisconsin Arts Board funding from the State of Wisconsin and funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information about this event, click here.

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About the Wisconsin Union Theater

For more than 75 years, the Wisconsin Union Theater has served as a center for cultural activity in the heart of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. The Theater hosts performances in multiple locations, including Memorial Union, and has an expansive history of remarkable performances. The Wisconsin Union Theater is part of the Wisconsin Union, a membership organization that blends study and leisure to create unique out-of-classroom opportunities. Learn more about the Theater: union.wisc.edu/wisconsin-union-theater.

About the Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee

The Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee plans and promotes events for the historic Wisconsin Union Theater stages. The student-led committee programs a variety of events to provide a diverse and cultural experience for students, faculty, alumni, community members and visitors. Learn more: union.wisc.edu/get-involved/wud/performing-arts.

[Click here to download a photo of Nicholas Payton. Photo by Jimmy Katz.]

To read this release online, visit union.wisc.edu/about/news/nicholas-payton.

Capitol Bank: 5 Things You Should Know Before Refinancing Your Mortgage

An Interview with Amy Gile-Enge, Senior VP of Mortgage Lending at Capitol Bank
By Natalie Gregerson, Director of Marketing/Officer at Capitol Bank

Beginning in 2020, interest rates fell to historically low levels and millions of Americans rushed to refinance their homes. With mortgage rates expected to remain low in 2021, we want to make sure homeowners have an understanding of the refinance process. We asked Amy Gile-Enge, Senior VP of Mortgage Lending at Capitol Bank, for the 5 things someone should consider before refinancing their mortgage.

1. Amy, how would someone know if they should refinance?

“Refinancing is all about saving money in the long run. It really depends on the remaining balance of your mortgage, the interest rate and the time remaining on the loan. If you are nearing the final years of your mortgage, it may cost you more in closing costs than what you will save with a lower interest rate. On larger mortgage balances or for borrowers with several years of mortgage payments remaining, a slightly lower interest rate will most likely save you enough money in the long-term to make the refinance process worth it.”

2. What kinds of mortgage loans are available when refinancing?

“Aside from low interest rates, a change in situations and circumstances often causes people to refinance, and we have different mortgage loan products to fit varying needs. Commonly, people will refinance from Adjustable Rate Mortgages to Fixed Rate Mortgages. Instead of having an interest rate that can fluctuate, this type of refinance allows for a stable interest rate throughout the life of the loan. Cash Out Refinances are available for certain individuals with a large amount of equity in their home. Capitol Bank has a list of all our mortgage products on our website and we help borrowers determine their best option based on what is available to them.”

3. How much does it cost to refinance?

“Refinancing will involve closing costs. These can include but aren’t limited to: prepaid interest, appraisal fees, recording fees, title fees and administrative costs. Contact one of our mortgage lenders to discuss what types of costs you may incur with refinancing.”

4. When refinancing, how would someone choose the term of the mortgage loan?

“It really depends on your income and what monthly payment you’re comfortable with. A relatively short-term loan will mean you pay less in interest over the life of the loan than with a longer-term mortgage, but it also means your monthly payment will be larger. If you’re more comfortable with a lower monthly payment, a longer-term loan will mean you’ll pay more in interest over the life of the loan, but the lower payment will be more manageable on a monthly basis. In addition, if you find you are able to make extra payments, you’ll save money in interest by paying off your mortgage early.”

5. Amy, you’ve been in mortgage lending for over 25 years. Can you explain, in a nutshell, how the refinance process works for those that may not be familiar?

“First, you would want to contact Capitol Bank, or fill out the mortgage application on our website. At this point, one of our mortgage lenders would contact you to let you know what additional documents are needed, such as tax statements, bank statements and pay stubs. This is part of the underwriting process, something all borrowers must go through to obtain a loan. Once approved, your mortgage lender would contact you to let you know what interest rate, term and mortgage loan type you qualify for. An appraisal may be ordered to determine the current value of your home. Finally, your mortgage lender will schedule the loan closing with you to go through paperwork and collect your signatures. If it seems stressful, don’t worry! Our mortgage lenders have a combined 45 years of experience and will walk you through the process. With currently low interest rates and the large amount of borrowers applying to refinance, you can expect the entire process to take anywhere from 30 to 90 days.”

Contacting Capitol Bank’s Mortgage Team
For questions on current interest rates, refinancing or general mortgage information, please CLICK HERE to connect with our mortgage team. Amy, Howard or Cori will be in touch with you!

All mortgage loans are subject to underwriting approval. Capitol Bank is Member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender.

Amy Gile-Enge NMLS #586017
Howard Cagle NMLS #593729
Cori Femrite NMLS #594085