&uot;There’s no bigger bargain going,&uot; said Sue Jorgensen of the Albert Lea Civic Music Association board.

The season ticket drive for the 2003-04 concert series is now on, and runs through Sept. 11. Headquarters for the drive will be at U.S. Bank, 331 S. Broadway Ave., Sept. 9-11 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The telephone number is 373-5976.

This year there are five concerts scheduled, and admission is by season ticket only. Cost is $80 per family, $35 for adults and $12 for students. Checks may be mailed to Albert Lea Civic Music, P.O. Box 167, Albert Lea.

The entertainment this year ranges from a ballet to a boys’ choir, four cellist, a jazz band and a violin-cello-piano trio:

-Alice-in-Wonderland Follies, Saturday, Oct. 4, 7:30 p.m. The New York Theatre Ballet brings their brand-new production of &uot;Alice In Wonderland Follies,&uot; about which the New York Times says: “This ranks among the best.” It includes not only ballet but vaudeville as well — acrobats, gymnastics and slap-stick comedy. The production is presented as a vaudeville show in 1915, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the publication of Lewis Carroll’s &uot;Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.&uot; Join Alice, the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, Tweedledurn and Tweedledee, the Caterpillar and a host of storybook characters in the romp of the year. Madcap music, terrific costumes, humor and fun &045; for all ages!

&uot;The ballet ticket in the main venues is more expensive than a season ticket,&uot; Jorgensen said.

-Kim-Schub-Diaz Trio, Sunday, Nov. 23, 3 p.m. The Kim-Schub-Diaz Trio first played together at the invitation of the 92nd Street Y in New York City. From the first, it was obvious that these three musicians enjoyed a warm chemistry and love of playing together. Since then the trio has performed together often. In addition to trio performances, each member maintains a successful solo career. The most prestigious orchestras in the world, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago Cleveland, Philadelphia and London have hosted them as guest soloists.

-Boni Pueri, Thursday, Feb. 5, 7:30 p.m. The choir springs from the afternoon School of Boys Choir Singing Boni Pueri in the Czech Republic. They sing in the sporano-alto-tenor-bass configuration, thus having a fuller, mellower sound than the usual treble voice boys’ choirs. The program is divided into three sections. The first includes European classical music, sung in choir gowns. The second features Czech music and folk songs, performed in folk costumes. The third presents songs from around the world with emphasis on American pop music, and sung in casual outfits. These young singers offer a multi-national array of music in many languages, always clearly enunciated and phrased. Their selections are sung both a cappella and accompanied.

&uot;To see a boys’ choir like this for $7 is incredible,&uot; Jorgensen said.

-Quattrocelli, Friday, March 5, 7:30 p.m. This ensemble is not only an instrumental quartet, these four cellists have a performance concept of their own. Quattrocelli performs regularly in concert and on radio and television broadcasts in Germany and Europe. Their performances combine classical, pop, cabaret and folk material. What weaves these elements into an exciting whole is the players” virtuosity, their delight in the new, and their enjoyment of colorful sound combinations. A quartet of four voices of the same register definitely requires the right chemistry among the players. They are also four very different individuals, each with his own different temperament and stage presence. At times hilarity prevails, and at other times an intense focus casts an almost hypnotic spell on the audience. This is music-making quite outside the conventions of classical concert-giving.

-Side Street Strutters, Friday, April 16, 7:30 p.m. This seven-member show band includes trumpet, trombone, sax, clarinet, tuba, drums and piano. This Disneyland band plays lots of the old Big Band tunes, as well as capturing the charm, vitality and rich musical heritage of old New Orleans. With extensive national and international touring experience, along with 16 years of weekly performances at Disneyland, the ensemble has developed its own unique formula for presenting over half a century of jazz styles. They’ll take you on a musical journey from the roots of jazzing the south to paying tribute to the great Big Bands of the 1930s and ’40s, playing tunes from the libraries of Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Count Basie and others. There is also tap dancing, vocal selections, rare vintage instruments, humor and fun.

All concerts are being presented in the Albert Lea High School auditorium. The doors open a half hour before each performance.

(Contact Geri McShane at lifestyles@albertleatribune.com or call 379-3436.)