The 2004-05 season of Sweet Briar's Janet Lowrey Gager Community Concert Series opens with a performance by Bill Carroll and The Band on Tuesday, Oct. 5 at noon in the SBC Memorial Chapel. The jazz quintet - which includes trumpet, piano, guitar, bass, and drums - will present the "Ultimate Jazz Songbook" during the 50-minute program, which is free and open to the public.

The series, which was founded eight years ago to bring quality music to the community during lunch hour, will feature two more concerts -- on Nov. 16 and March 8, 2005. This year's performances will span various musical styles including classical, opera, musical theater, and jazz. The series is made possible through the generosity of Forrest Gager in memory of his wife, Janet, who served as Sweet Briar's public relations director.

The Nov. 16 concert will feature pianist Rebecca McNutt, SBC professor of music; mezzo-soprano Mimi Hermosa, SBC adjunct professor of music; Joe Nigro (viola); and Robert Sorton (oboe) performing works by Brahms and Loeffler.

The March 8 concert will present duo-pianists McNutt and Alisa Bohon performing their favorite two-piano classics.

Listeners are encouraged to bring food or order lunch for $6 by contacting McNutt at 381-6115 by Saturday, Oct. 2.