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WPAA NEWSLETTER
PROGRAM DATE CHANGE NOTICE
The date of the Stanleytones has been
changed from February 2 to February 9 due to
the Super Bowl scheduled for that date.
The group had been scheduled nearly a year ago
and at the time the Super Bowl was not thought of
as a schedule conflict. The date change was suggested by the group leader James Bertolin and
WPAA agreed. They will appear at the Sharon
Springs High School Auditorium February 9 at 2:00
pm MT, 3:00 CT.
2013-14 Season PROGRAM HIGHLIGHS
January 21, Church Basement Ladies
February 9, Bertolin and the Stanleytones
February 16, Pippa White
March 1, Sons of the Pioneers
March 23, California Dreaming
April 6, Balyeats
April 27, Eddy and Robert Hiebert
BRING A STUDENT
In past seasons we have made available a coupon
for ticket holders to “bring a student” to a WPAA
concert. We are repeating that offer for the balance
of the current season. At any time during the current season the ticket holder is encouraged to bring
up to three students, either one at a time or up to
the three, to a concert until the spaces on the coupon are filled in. The coupon on page 3 can be
clipped and kept with your season tickets.
The NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS has
generously provided matching funding of $560,000
to the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission
for the federal fiscal year beginning on October 1.
This is an important event for all Kansans, particularly after the negative attention Kansas received
after Governor Brownback's efforts to completely
eliminate state support and funding for the arts.
This good news is because of the hard work of
arts advocates across the state. Your constant communication with members of the Kansas Legislature through email, phone calls and personal contact helped reinstate arts funding. http://kansasarts.org/
Northwest Kansas
“A KALEIDOSCOPE OF THE ARTS”
Volume 20, Issue 1
SAMUEL RAMEY AT WICHITA STATE
February, 2014
excerpts from Wichita
Eagle 2013-10-12
Samuel Ramey has performed in “Susannah” at the Metropolitan Opera, the San Diego Opera, New York City Opera, and Lyric
Opera of Chicago. Later this week, he will once again sing in this
classic American tale at Wichita State University – but this time
with students.
Ramey is helping WSU undergraduate and graduate opera students realize their potential as they perform side-by-side with
Kansas’ very own opera legend.
Ramey, a three-time Grammy winner, is a distinguished visiting
artist at Wichita State University, his alma mater. He is performing
the role of Blitch in “Susannah” on Friday and Sunday.
“It’s one of my favorite parts,” Ramey said. The recording of
“Susannah” that Ramey appeared in won a Grammy Award in
1995. He is said to be the most recorded opera singer in history,
with more than 80 recordings and numerous television appearances.
Ramey’s voice teacher at WSU, Arthur Newman, was in the
first professional production of “Susannah” at the New York City
Opera in 1956. He played Elder McLean, baritone.
“I remember him (Newman) telling us about it,” Ramey said. “I
bought my original score in Wichita 45 years ago.”
That original score has accompanied this opera legend worldwide. But this time he is using the score as a teaching tool. Along
with the score, the opera’s composer, Carlisle Floyd, will fly into
Wichita from Florida and speak to the opera students and the audience about his award-winning opera that has become a part of
the standard repertoire.
“I think it’s a very ripe time for American opera and opera of all
kinds,” Floyd said. “I’m very encouraged in what I see in this generation.”
Floyd, the son of a Methodist minister, grew up in rural South
Carolina. While teaching at Florida State University, he composed
his most famous opera – “Susannah.” The opera was first performed in 1955 by students at Florida State.
“Susannah” is based on the biblical tale of Susannah and her
elders from the book of Daniel. Floyd set the piece in the mountains of Tennessee and used a combination of folk tunes, hymns
and classical music. The women in the small town are jealous of
the beautiful Susannah. When they discover that she is bathing
naked in the creek, they ostracize her. The charismatic, traveling
preacher Olin Blitch, played by Ramey in Friday and Sunday’s performances, seduces Susannah. Overcome with guilt, Blitch tries
unsuccessfully to change the community’s views toward the
young woman.
“This opera is an extraordinary piece,” said Marie Allyn King,
the director of this performance and of opera at WSU. “It’s very
accessible.”
Ramey continued on page 2
Ramey continued
King decided to produce “Susannah” because of Ramey’s
willingness to share his expertise with her opera students in
an annual residency. This is his second year as a distinguished visiting artist.
King said the students’ interpretation and delivery rises
due to Ramey’s presence.
“He is the kindest, most gentle man,” King said. “He is
such a wonderful artist.”
Isabel Velazquez, a recent graduate and Texas native,
plays opposite Ramey.
“It’s such a privilege to be performing with someone of
his caliber,” Velazquez, a soprano, said. “It’s surreal at
times.”
Ramey grew up singing bass in the Methodist church choir
in Colby and later attended WSU. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music performance in 1968 and made his
debut with the New York City Opera in 1973 at age 31. He is
one of the top basses in the world and has sung lead roles at
the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, the Paris
Opera and the Vienna Opera. In 1995, he was awarded Kansan of the Year. Three years later, he was awarded a high
honor by the French Ministry of Culture.
In January, Ramey appeared in a production of
“Turandot” at the Metropolitan Opera. Although this worldclass bass continues to perform, he holds a special spot in his
heart for up-and-coming stars. He wants to show them that
with hard work, they can reach their dreams.
In the 1990s, Ramey started an endowment at WSU to
help music students. This year, Andrew Simpson, a bass, who
plays the part of Blitch on Thursday and Saturday evening, is
the recipient of the fellowship.
Ramey is so thrilled to be helping students at WSU that he
said he is thinking of moving back to Wichita. Ramey’s wife
was brought up in South Dakota.
“It’s great to see how the program (WSU-opera) has developed,” Ramey said. “I’m happy that I’m able to be a small
part of the opera program here.”
FORTY FOURTH SEASON PROGRAMS
The STANLEYTONES Bluegrass Band was formed in 1999,
when the original members met while attending local jam
sessions in the Boulder area. The band was named after the
Stanley Brothers, Ralph and Carter, who played throughout
the 50’s until Carter’s
death in 1964. Having
recently finished recording a new album,
The Stanleytones’ passion for traditional
bluegrass is evident in
the their sound, and
has made them into
what they are today---a
classic bluegrass band reminiscent of those early
bands of the 50’s and 60’s, with an added repertoire of original compositions comprised of melodic instrumentals and skillful vocal harmonies. They
will perform a variety of musical selections Sunday, February 9, 2:00 p.m. Mountain Time, 3:00
p.m. Central at the Sharon Springs High School
Auditorium.
THE STORY OF THE ORPHAN TRAIN
How many were there? At least 200,000 but
maybe as many as 500,000. Fending for themselves on the streets of New
York, homeless children were
given a chance for a new life
in America’s heartland by riding the orphan train. Orphans
who remember the experience come to life and share a
heartrending and forgotten
part of history.
Pippa White will present a
history based program on the
Orphan Train story on Sunday, February 16, 3:00 p.m.
at the Atwood High School
Auditorium. A school presentation will take place
on Monday the 17th at the Rawlins County
Schools.
For over 75 years the SONS OF THE PIONEERS
have been proud to perform the music of the
American West celebrating the West, its awesome
landscape, its people, its culture and the American
Cowboy. Certainly, many of the songs they originally introduced and which have been their signature, such as Tumbling Tumbleweed, Cool Water
and Ghost Riders in the Sky, have become forever
entwined into the very fabric of the West. They
embrace that heritage and strive to honor it.
"Country western" artists may sing about pickup
trucks or their girlfriends. Their songs are unabashed love songs to the West. That's one of the
things that makes them different. See the SONS
OF THE PIONEERS perform at the Oakley High
School Auditorium on Saturday, March 1, 7:30
p.m.
HYPERION PRODUCTIONS will present a tribute
to pop music of the 60’s at the CCC Cultural Arts
Center Sunday, March 23 at 3:00 p.m. California
Dreaming is a sun-kissed song and dance tribute to
the pop music of a new generation. Songs like
“Wouldn't It Be Nice,” “Turn,Turn,Turn,” “Teach
Your Children Well,” “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” “Our House,”
44th SEASON continued on page 3
44th SEASON
continued
“Dream a Little Dream of Me,” “Catch a Wave,” “Good Vibrations”
and
“California
Dreamin’”
make this the
sunniest, most
nostalgic stage
show in America!
The BALYEATS, from Montana, are an award winning
combination of Country, Gospel and Bluegrass music with a
message of inspiration and hope.
This family of 9 will have you clapping your hands and
sitting on the edge of your chair watching for what will happen next in a musical presentation that includes lots of singing and 13 instruments. They have been awarded Bluegrass
Artist of the Year for 2010 by the International Country Gospel Music Association (ICGMA) in Branson and received Best
STUDENT COUPON
This coupon entitles an adult member ticket
holder to bring up to three non-member K-12 students to any WPAA program during the 2013-14
season.
To redeem coupon fill in member name and student names. Present to ticket taker at WPAA concert to have the student name checked off. Coupon
can be used until three student names have been
checked.
Member: ___________________________
Students:
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
Clip this coupon and keep with your season ticket
Family Gospel Album of the Year award from National Traditional Country Music Association in 2010. As individuals, they
also received Western Region’s Instrumentalist of the Year
and International Young Performer of the Year from CGMA.
They will perform Sunday, April 6, 3:00 p.m. at the Oakley
High School Auditorium.
The last show of the WPAA Season will be on Sunday,
April 27, 3:00 PM, at the St Francis High School Auditorium.
EDDY AND ROBERT HIEBERT will perform a variety of selections with their hammered dulcimers.
A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT
One of the activities of WPAA board members is to host performers at concerts at the various community venues. They
help with the show setup, take tickets, answer questions and
do anything necessary to accommodate the performers as well
as the audiences attending a show. If someone is not a board
member and is interested in helping at a concert they are certainly welcome to do so. Many of the performers enjoy interacting with local people and by volunteering, you as a member
can have that opportunity.
WPAA is always looking for board members and hope some
of you who are reading this newsletter are interested in serving
with a great group of people who work to keep this association
thriving.
LYNN TACHA
COMMUNITY CALENDARS
COLBY
PRIDE OF THE PRAIRIE ORCHESTRA;
Sunday February 23 and May 4
Both performances at 3:30 p.m. Frahm Theatre,
Colby Community College
GOODLAND CARNEGIE ARTS CENTER,
Tuesday through Saturday 10-5 p.m.
Monday 1-6 p.m.
785-890-6442
February 2-28. Elementary Art Exhibit
February 1, Tailgate Party and Dance
March 2-30, Junior High/High School/Summer Arts
April 6-27, NWKTC Computer Graphics Class
April 26 & 27, Annual Dinner Theatre
May 4-25, Brenna Downs, Water Colors
June 1-29, Rebel Jay, Mixed Media
June 16-July 24, Summer Arts Institute
http://www.goodlandnet.com/artscenter
ARTS DAY AT THE CAPITOL
Thursday, February 20th, 2014
WPAA BOARD MEMBERS
Cheyenne County
St Francis; Helene Landenberger, *Althea Lebow, Marsha Magley
Decatur County
Jennings; Lynn Tacha
Oberlin; Susan Nelson
Gove County
Grainfield, *Alma Golden, Denise Packard
Grinnell, *Leona Dickman
Quinter, Denise and Randy Wittman
Logan County
Oakley, Evelyn Engel, Connie Singer, Shane Stephenson,
*Marguerite Walz
Winona, *Jean Lowe,
Rawlins County
Atwood, Millie Fisher, Carole Luedders, Charles Peckham
Sheridan County
Hoxie, *Doreen Kennedy, David Leopold, CPA, treasurer,
Marilyn Meier
Sherman County
Goodland, Curtis Duncan *Eric and Roxie Yonkey
Thomas County
Colby, Joan Albers, Kenneth Gatlin, Terrel Harrison,
Kevin Juenemann, Amie Kendrick, Sandy Wilks.
C C C, Pat Ziegelmeier, Executive Director
Rexford, Janell Antholz
Wallace County
Sharon Springs, William and *Wilma Mai
Wallace, Cecil & Jayne Humphrey Pearce
Weskan, Vernon and Mary Beth Akers
* denotes community contact person
WEBSITES OF INTEREST
http://kansasarts.org/ Kansas Citizens for the Arts
www.maaa.org/ Mid America Arts Alliance
www.kansasartsfoundation.com/ Kansas Arts Foundation
www.hppr.org High Plains Public
Radio
www.colbycc.edu/ Colby Community College
www.goodlandnet.com/artscenter/
The WPAA Newsletter is Published 3 times yearly by
Western Plains Arts Association for its members and friends.
We welcome your comments and suggestions. at
[email protected]
Staff:
Bill and Wilma Mai…………....………………..…….…Editors
Bill Mai…………………………...…………..………...Publisher
Amie Kendrick......................................Media Correspondent
Pat Ziegelmeier…………………..…..…….Executive Director
Kevin Juenemann……………………………….….Webmaster
Web address…….................http://www.wpaa.us
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Colby Community College
Western Plains Arts Association
1255 SOUTH RANGE
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
COLBY, KANSAS
PERMIT NO. 136