Theater productions, bluegrass music, a cowboy poet, a string quartet and a Branson Show are among the programs scheduled during the Grundy County Friends of the Arts 2003-2004 season.
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Theater productions, bluegrass music, a cowboy poet, a string quartet and a Branson Show are among the programs scheduled during the Grundy County Friends of the Arts 2003-2004 season.
The Friends of the Arts has chosen to lead off the season with its Native Trenton series, featuring former resident Martha Risser, daughter of long-time Trenton vocal music instructor Ruth Risser.
A 1969 graduate of Trenton High School, Ms. Risser currently serves as music coordinator for the North Kansas City School District and is an adjunct professor at William Jewell College and Maple Woods Community College. She also serves as vocal music director for one of the Shawnee Mission Summer Theater in the Park productions. Ms. Risser will be bringing a Broadway music review from some of this group’s previous productions on Monday, Sept. 29. The program begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Wesley United Methodist Church.
Fresh Cut Grass, a Bluegrass and Folk Music Trio, will perform at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11 at the Wesley United Methodist Church. Terry and Ann Brock are the mainstays of this acoustical group, which performs a variety of Bluegrass, folk and traditional music. Ann provides vocal and plays guitar while Terry sings and plays the fiddle. The group has performed in over 25 states and Russia and have appeared regionally at Trails West! in St. Joseph, the Chautauqua in the Park at Chillicothe, Young Country at Laredo, the Missouri State Fair and Silver Dollar City. They have also opened for Lee Ann Womack, Steve Spurgin, Eddie Rabbit, Bill Monroe and Martina McBride.
The Trenton Acting Guild takes to the stage in November, presenting a comedy under the direction of North Central Missouri College instructor Dr. Vicki Wheeler. The play will be performed in the Hoover Community Theater on Friday, Nov. 21 and Saturday, Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m. and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 23.
The Trenton High School Vocal Music Department will present its annual Christmas vesper service at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7 in the Wesley United Methodist Church. Sherry Whitt will direct this traditional Christmas event.
Cowboy poet Martin Bergin comes to Trenton on Friday, Jan. 9, 2004 at 7 p.m. in the Hoover Community Theater. Bergin, a master saddlemaker in the Missouri Traditional Arts Apprentice Program, will perform both traditional and original poetry. Bergin has opened concerts for Dolly Parton, the Sons of the Pioneers, Chris LeDoux and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. In addition to his program, he will also provide an afternoon performance to fifth through eighth grade students at the Trenton Middle School.
A Branson staple will make their way to Trenton on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2004 when the Duttons perform at a 7 p.m. program in the Ketcham Community Center. The Duttons are one of Branson’s most talented musical families and present an exciting mix of classical, folk, bluegrass, gospel and country music. Each family member plays a variety of instruments, from the fiddle and banjo to the mandolin, harmonica and guitar. The Duttons also yodel, clog and sing.
Another program scheduled for February will feature the Arianna String quartet. Founded in 1992, the quartet has established itself as one of America’s finest chamber ensembles, having captured grand prizes in the 1994 Fischoff, Coleman and Carmel National Chamber Music competitions. They have performed throughout the United States, Mexico, Japan, France and Canada. In 1994, the quartet was appointed faculty Quartet-In-Residence at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The performance in the Hoover Community Theater will be at 7 p.m. on Feb. 20.
A second Trenton native will come back home for a performance on Sunday, March 14, 2004. Craig Johnston, son of Ed and Pam Johnston, is a member of Steel, a band formed by Dr. Dennis Rogers, director of percussion at Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph. The band utilizes five steel drums played by Jay Albright and Johnston, who is also a featured vocalist. Other band members include Ben Leimkuhler on bass guitar and Dennis Rogers on drum set and other percussion instruments. The band performs a wide variety of music, including reggae, samba, salsa, calypso, pop and island music. The show is scheduled for 3 p.m. in the Ketcham Community Center.
NCMC and the Arts will sponsor the NCMC Players, who will perform their annual spring theater production on April 2, 3 and 4, 2004 in the Hoover Community Theater. Dr. Vicki Wheeler is in charge of the program, which features students from the college showing off their theatrical talents.
The final program will feature Noree Boyd, executive director of the Missouri Arts Council. In addition to arts administration, Ms. Boyd is also a lyric soprano and has appeared in operas throughout the eastern United States and as a soloist/recitalist and cabaret singer in the U.S. and England. Her concert will consist of songs from 40s standards and cabaret to opera and musical theater. The performance will be April 18, 2004 at 2 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church.
In addition to the aforementioned programs, NCMC will sponsor a series of shows in the Dorris Rider Art Gallery on the college campus. The list of programs include sculptures by Mick Luehrman, Aug. 25-Sept. 19; photographs by Mark Fisher, Oct. 5-Nov. 1; clay and raky by Jerry Roberts, Nov. 10-Dec. 14; artistry in oil by Esther Druckenmiller, Jan. 4-30, 2004; Alaska art and artifacts, February and March 2004; an art show featuring works of area high school students, March 21-31, 2004; and lithographs by Jeffrey Sipple, April 12-May 17, 2004.
Information concerning season tickets will be announced later.
Programs are funded by NCMC, the Grundy County Friends of the Arts, the Missouri Arts Council and donations from individuals and area business.
Cathy Smith is president of the Grundy County Friends of the Arts with Gary Peterson as vice president. Other board members include Ed Holt, treasurer; Joe Brinser, Margaret Chapman, Vanessa Cox, Buddy Hannaford, Nancy Lankheit, Steve Maxey, Rebecca Nolte, Linda Overton, Kathy Stephens, Bev Whitley and Sherry Whitt. Steve Holt serves as part-time administrator. Joanna Anderson, Dean of Student Services, is the NCMC liaison to the board.