Radio Rosies Flag Day Tribute

The Plymouth Arts Center is pleased to welcome back The Radio Rosies for a special Flag Day Weekend concert celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary, presented as one show only on Saturday evening, June 13.

This popular USO-style trio returns with their signature three-part harmonies inspired by the music of the 1930s, ’40s, and ’50s. Audiences can expect an evening filled with toe-tapping classics, heartfelt ballads, and nostalgic favorites that capture the spirit and charm of the Greatest Generation. In honor of Flag Day weekend, the program will also celebrate America’s rich musical heritage with several beloved patriotic selections woven into the performance.

True to the authentic style of the era, The Radio Rosies recreate the look, sound, and feel of classic female vocal trios such as the Andrews Sisters and the McGuire Sisters, delighting audiences with both familiar tunes and hidden gems from the period.

The concert will take place Saturday, June 13, at 7:30 PM at the Plymouth Arts Center. Tickets are $20 per person and are available at the PAC Box Office, 520 E. Mill Street, Downtown Plymouth, WI, or online at PlymouthArts.org.

While the PAC commemorates Flag Day and America’s 250th Anniversary, a companion photography exhibition by Ken Pannier, “Plymouth—Then & Now: A Visual Transformation,” will also be on display. The exhibition opens that afternoon with a reception from 1 to 3 p.m., where complimentary “America at 250” Birthday Cake will be served.

Ken’s work pairs historic and contemporary images of local architecture, creating a shared community experience that welcomes both neighbors and visitors. The music celebrates the spirit and heritage of our nation, while the exhibit highlights Plymouth’s growth, resilience, and evolving story. Together, these events foster civic pride, strengthen connections, and encourage a deeper appreciation of history across generations.

The concert and art show are sponsored by Sargento, Masters Gallery, Van Horn and is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin, the National Endowment for the Arts​​, and through Freedom 250.

About The Radio Rosies Formed in 2013, The Radio Rosies are a Milwaukee-area USO-style trio who perform regularly with their fabulous instrumentalists. The Rosies—Catherine, Heather, and Elizabeth—are passionate about preserving the musical traditions of the Greatest Generation. Their past performances include the USS Milwaukee Commissioning, Honor Flight send-offs, and the 101st Airborne Division Reunion in Madison. They have also appeared at Sunset Theater in Elm Grove, South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center, Waukesha Civic Theatre, and Vogel Hall at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.

Elizabeth Novacek (soprano) has always had a particular fondness for the music, fashion, and films of the 1940s, and she is delighted to be able to share her love for the Great American Songbook by performing with the Radio Rosies. Elizabeth has appeared locally in musicals such as My Fair Lady, State Fair, and Oklahoma! She has also sung at the Basilica of St. Josaphat and at St. Stanislaus in Milwaukee, where she routinely has had the pleasure of singing with instrumentalists from the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, both in a choral setting and as a soloist. She is an award-winning visual artist and enjoys drawing and painting in a wide variety of media. She remains grateful as always to her parents, to her fellow Rosies and instrumentalists, and to our audience for appreciating this music with us!

Heather Blachowski (mezzo-soprano) – Heather is a classically trained dancer and studies with companies such as Milwaukee Ballet and Danceworks. She has been performing in area musical theater productions since high school, most recently in Mamma Mia! with Forte Theatre Company. Select favorite productions include A Chorus Line, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Anything Goes, South Pacific, and Firebringer. She is mom to two sons, Aidan and Avery, and her day job is the Director of Operations for the Software Engineering Team at Ascension Healthcare. Heather dedicates all of her Radio Rosies performances to the memory of her grandmother, Mary Peterson, who performed in a similar trio in the 1940s.

Catherine Kahler (alto) – After teaching middle school literature and writing for ten years, Catherine now works in marketing for an actuarial consulting firm. She loves cats, late night snacks, and warm summer evenings. Previously, she dipped her toes into the waters of musical theater, appearing in local productions of Oklahoma!, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Hairspray. She also recently played Kathryn Crosby in Bing Crosby: Christmas On the Air at Greendale Community Theater.

Doug Peterson (bass) has been holding down the low end for the Radio Rosies since 2013. A Marine Corps veteran, entrepreneur (with too many projects and not enough hours), and lifelong groove-chaser. Over the years, Doug has shared stages with exceptional musicians—experiences he counts as lessons more than credits. Grateful for every chance to make music, he’s happiest when the groove is steady and everyone around him is smiling.

Fabian Qamar (piano) is a singer, multi-instrumentalist, teacher, conductor, arranger, composer, and improviser. His first musical experiences were given to him at an early age by his parents. His late father, jazz and world music luminary Nadi Qamar (aka Spaulding Givens), introduced him to the music of jazz and the Great American Songbook. Fabian always enjoys getting to make more of this music with The Radio Rosies and the jazz trio Jive Safely. When he’s not doing this, he keeps busy as the Director of Sacred Music at St. Stanislaus Oratory in Milwaukee and as a private music instructor. His background also includes staff conducting positions with the Sheboygan Symphony, teaching voice at Lakeland University, and earning an M.M. from UW-Madison (voice) and a B.A. from Lakeland (voice, viola).

Thomas Pibal (drums) - Thomas Pibal eats, breathes, and lives music, although sometimes he eats bacon and breathes air, too. Thomas plays 26 instruments, has a different hairstyle every day and lives to connect with, edify, and inspire people through the amazing and transcendent art of organized sound. While he was playing keyboards for Unity the band during 2020-2021, the band received the WAMI award for “Artist of the Year 2020.” While playing bass for Suzie and the Detonators they were nominated for “best cover band people’s choice” in 2023. He teaches private lessons from his home in Sheboygan. Thomas performs regularly as seen at www.thomaspibal.com and on YouTube, is also the drummer for the jazz combo Jive Safely: www.jivesafely.com and his latest single “Peace On Earth” is available for download and streaming on all major streaming platforms.

The Plymouth Arts Center is a 501(c)3 charitable non-profit organization solely supported through memberships, fundraisers, business and individual donations, grants and sponsorships. The mission of the PAC is….to enliven the spirit of our community and to enrich the lives of all, by providing diverse experiences in the arts. For more information or a full schedule of events, please visit the PAC website: www.plymoutharts.org, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or X.