CTAC to host Glenn Miller Orchestra in February

Jan. 17—The musical stylings of an orchestra will grace the stage at the Simmons Center next month.

The Chisholm Trail Arts Council will team up with DRH Health and Duncan Area Economic Development (DAEDF) Foundation to bring "The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra" to town as part of the Chisholm Trail Arts Council's CTAC Live! Concert Series on Feb. 9 at the Simmons Center in Duncan.

The box office will open at 6:30 p.m., doors will open at 7 p.m. for general seating and the concert will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Chisholm Trail Arts Council's (CTAC) Executive Director Darcy Reeves said even after 80 years since the orchestra's founding, Glenn Miller's music is "alive and well."

The Glenn Miller Orchestra is orchestra of professional musicians who carry on the traditions set by its founder, Glenn Miller.

Reeves said the orchestra will bring several timeless classics from "Mood, Moonlight Serenade, Chattanooga Choo Choo, String of Pearls and Tuxedo Junction back to the stage."

According to a timeline, the Glenn Miller Orchestra got its start in 1935 when Miller began recording under his own name for Columbia. In 1937, Miller organized his own touring band and signed with Brunswick records.

Moving forward several years from 1940-1942, the group has several top hits.

"The end of Miller's dominance of popular music (was) when he received an officer's commission in the Army/Air Force," a release states. "Glenn organized a service band, performed at military camps, and hosted a weekly radio series."

From 1943 to 1944, the band made Top 10 hits, went to Great Britain and performed for troops and radio broadcasts.

"On Dec. 15, Glenn Miller boarded a transport plane to Paris, never to be seen again," a release states.

According to a release, picking up in 1945 "Glenn Miller" the album began topping charts and then in 1954, partially fictionalized film biography was made and in 2003, Miller received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

A biography states, Glenn Miller said: "A band ought to have a sound all of its own. It ought to have a personality."

Along with event sponsors DRH Health and DAEDF, the program also receives support from the Oklahoma Arts Council and McCasland Foundation, as well as from businesses, donors and members.

According to Reeves, tickets to the show are selling fast.

"It was such a popular performance back in 2014," she said. "The CTAC Live planning committee decided it was time to bring back some of our favorites over the years."

Tickets for the event are are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and military and $10 for students.

For more information or to purchase tickets, contact CTAC at 580-252-4160 or stop by the CTAC office at 810 W. Walnut in Duncan or purchase tickets online at https://chisholmtrailarts.com/programs/ctac-live/.

For more information about CTAC, visit https://chisholmtrailarts.com/programs/ctac-live/ or visit www.chisholmtrailarts.com.

For more information about the orchestra, visit https://glennmillerorchestra.com/.

The Simmons Center is located at 800 Chisholm Trail Parkway in Duncan.