COURTLAND—The Walter Noona Trio returns to Western Tidewater this Saturday, March 29, for the next performance in the Franklin-Southampton Concert Association series.

“We have a really good concert planned,” said Noona, speaking between music lessons he gives at Norfolk Academy.

“The Walter Noona Trio presents: Here’s to the Ladies, Romance, Broadway” is the title and theme.

The first half will include songs from “Hello, Dolly,” “The Girl from Ipanema,” “Whatever Lola Wants” and “Sweet Georgia Brown.”

For the romantics, the trio has planned to play, “I Just Called to Say ‘I Love You,’” the love scene from “Titanic,” “Love is Blue,” the theme from “Somewhere in Time,” “My Funny Valentine,” and “Sway With Me” in a funky latin beat.

The Broadway portion will feature “Maria,” and “Tonight” from “West Side Story,” “Send in the Clowns” from “A Little Night Music,” “Get Me to the Church On Time” (in an upbeat jazz tempo) from “My Fair Lady,” and selections from “The Phantom of the Opera.”

“What we play is more of the classics, which the audience will know,” said Noona, who added that the trio has played contemporary pieces in the past for local audiences.

Noona, who lives in Virginia Beach, began the trio in 1961.

“I’ve been around a long time,” said the pianist of the group. With him are Gregg Hanson, electric bassist, and Ralph Copley, drummer.

“I’ve had the same two gentlemen since the early 1990s. The bass player started after he graduated from college in the 1970s.

“We kind of know each other. It’s so much fun.”

As mentioned, the trio has been on the schedule in seasons past.

“We’ve been playing for Mrs. [Nancy] Rowe since the middle 1990s,” Noona said about the association’s president. When he got the request to return, he told her, “I’ve played everything I know.”

“Well, play it again,” Rowe reportedly said.

And so he will.

The program begins at 7:30 p.m. and will be in the auditorium at Southampton High School, 23350 Southampton Parkway, Courtland. Tickets at the door cost $30 per adult and $10 for students.

Call Rowe at 653-2498 or Bill Vick at 653-2892 for more information.