Western Plains Arts Association - bringing fine music to
Northwest Kansas
“A KALEIDOSCOPE OF THE ARTS”
Volume 22, Issue 2
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Friends and Members of Western Plains
Arts Association
As I prepare my letter to you this summer, I
am reminded of the reasons I myself became a
musician. At a young age, I realized that I could
listen or perform music and be transported to
somewhere else, be it another time, another
place, or another world. I also enjoyed performing in the hope that others could do the same,
although it always depended on their own imaginations and their experience of what was shared
themselves.
I have always felt
that the Arts as a
whole are not just
entertainment, but
are instead an experience of what the
artist wishes us to
seek out and find. I
ran across the following quote which
helps explain the
need for the Arts in our schools and communities
everywhere. It reads as follows:
“. . . the arts have been an inseparable part of
the human journey; indeed, we depend on the
arts to carry us toward the fullness of our humanity. We value them for themselves, and because
we do, we believe knowing and practicing them
is fundamental to the healthy development of our
children's minds and spirits. That is why, in any
civilization - ours included - the arts are inseparable from the very meaning of the term
'education.' We know from long experience that
no one can claim to be truly educated who lacks
basic knowledge and skills in the arts.”
–National Standards for Arts Education
As Western Plains Arts Association Board
Members, we meet and carefully work on talent
and programs who will travel and perform in our
communities with the objective that each program will not only entertain, but will allow us a
much deeper experience in the understanding
and nurturing of our souls.
“Art is a nation’s most precious heritage. For
it is in our works of art that we reveal to
Continued next page
July, 2016
TENTATIVE PROGRAM SCHEDULE FOR 2016-17 SEASON
This is a tentative schedule and all programs are subject to change.
Please check the program booklet which will be printed later this summer for
more definite information on performances.
Saturday, September 10, 7:30 p.m. Pianist RONNIE KOLE will
share his expertise in a memorial concert. Gateway, Oberlin
Sunday, September 18, 3:00 p.m. SINGER/GUITARIST MATT
BAUER will perform a variety of selections. Quinter H.S. Auditorium
Sunday, September 25, 3:00 C.T. (2:00 M.T.) Sweet Adelines’ Chorus, WINDSONG, will share their rich harmonies in an entertaining
concert. Goodland H.S. Auditorium
Sunday evening, October 9, 7:30 p.m. The GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA will perform a concert of music from the big band era. Cultural Arts Center, Colby
Mon., Tues., Wed. October 17-19
WICHITA CHILDREN’S THEATRE will present “The Wizard of Oz” in area schools. Quinter, Atwood, Colby, Winona, Sharon Springs, Goodland
Sunday, October 23, 3:00 p.m., From Branson, the SONS OF THE
PIONEERS will share their unique brand of country and western music
classics. Oakley H.S. Auditorium
Saturday, October 29, 7:30 p.m. THE U.S. NAVY JAZZ COMMODORES ENSEMBLE will perform a rousing concert of varied selections.
Colby Community Building
Sunday, November 6, 3:00 CT (2:00 MT) The KEVIN MAC DUO will
present “Classic Country Jukebox” as he performs hits by iconic artists Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and many more. Sharon
Springs H.S. Auditorium
Thursday, November 17, 7:30 p.m. RHYTHM FUTURE QUARTET,
four young jazz virtuosos will perform dynamic attangements including old standards, Gypsy jazz and some originals. TBA
Thursday December 1, 7:30 p.m. CHURCH BASEMENT LADIES
will present their holiday show, “Away in a Basement”. Oakley H.S.
Auditorium
Sunday, December 18, 3:00 p.m. NEW ODYSSEY CHRISTMAS
SHOW will be a holiday celebration of high energy and great fun. It
will be 3 guys and 30 instruments with many Christmas favorites plus
a helping of their regular show highlights. Cultural Arts Center, Colby
Sunday, January 29, PIPPA WHITE will present a program called
“As Far as the Eye Can See” to commemorate Kansas Day. St Francis
H.S. Auditorium
Monday, January 30, School Presentation. St. Francis
Continued next page
president continued
ourselves and to others the inner vision which guides us as
a nation. And where there is no vision, the people perish.” –Lyndon Johnson, on signing into existence the
National Endowment on the Arts
Thank you for your continued support and membership
as we again move into our new year of programming.
Sincerely, Amie Kendrick, President
GREAT VALUE
Since there is so much talk nowadays about rising
prices, it is a good time to take a closer look at the price of
a WPAA season ticket.
Other than a library card (which is free), the next best
deal is a $50.00 season ticket to admit the ticket holder to
15 programs. Two additional programs are available,
which will be free to the public: The US Navy Band and
the Wichita Children’s Theatre.
Single admission prices for WPAA performances are
either $10 or $20. That makes the estimated value for the
2016-2017 season year to be around $220. Despite budget
cuts and rising costs, the WPAA board has not raised
prices. Thanks go to grants, patrons, sponsors, members
and board members who give hours of volunteer time to
the organization. The board of directors have not raised
prices since 2011.
Where else can you get so much for your money?
THREE NORTHWEST KANSAS COUNTIES
GAIN BYWAY PRIZE
Land and Sky Scenic Byway became the 12th Kansas
byway June 2, 2016. The 88-mile byway is the first byway
entirely in Northwest Kansas and the only byway in the
nation to focus on agriculture.
Kansas Highway 27 becomes Land and Sky Scenic
Byway. It crosses Cheyenne, Sherman and Wallace
Counties in Northwest Kansas. The designation runs from
the Nebraska-Kansas line south to Highway 27’s
intersection with U.S. Highway 40 in Sharon Springs.
Travelers along the byway have the opportunity to
experience the Wallace Branch of the Great Western Cattle
Trail, scale the highest point in Kansas at Mount
Sunflower and explore the deep canyons and rugged
landscape of the Arikaree Breaks. It features thousands of
acres of rotating crops, livestock and wildlife along the
route.
KDOT will place route markers along the byway and
mark the byway on the official state map. Kansas
Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism will include
Land and Sky Scenic Byway in the Kansas Byways Guide,
Kansas! Magazine and Kansas Visitors Guide.
Season continued
Sunday, February 12, 3:00 p.m. KENT RADER will
present the “Baby Boomer Comedy Show”, clean comedy
for people born before seatbelts, safety helmuts and Facebook. Rawlins County H.S. Auditorium Atwood
Sunday, March 5, 3:00 p.m. CROSSROADS will sing
relaxed gospel style music accompanied with various
instruments. Hoxie H.S. Auditorium
Sunday, March 12, 3:00 p.m. ROUTE 66 is a rock and
roll musical revue that follows the path of the old Route
66 Highway from Chicago to California. Musical numbers are from the late 1950’s and early ‘60’s. Cultural
Arts Center, Colby
Sunday, March 19, 3:00 p.m. THE ALL-AMERICAN
BOYS CHORUS will bring its troupe of young singers for
a concert of favorites from America’s musical historyBroadway, the Beach Boys, the roaring Twenties, songs
from the big band era, and a patriotic tribute. Cultural
Arts Center, Colby
Saturday, April 8, 7:30 p.m. Multi-instrumentalist
TODD GREEN will perform original music on over 30
acoustic string, flute and percussion instruments from all
over the world. He will also make presentations in two
area schools. Oakley H.S. Auditorium
April 6 & 7 School programs in Hoxie & Oakley
This is a tentative schedule and all programs are subject to change. Please check the program booklet which
will be printed later this summer for more definite information on performances.
FUNDRAISING BOOT CAMP
The Kansas Humanities Council is conducting a
one-week,
high-engagement
professional
development program is to equip fundraisers,
directors, board members and others with the
knowledge needed to thrive in today’s funding
landscape. This program is tailor-made for cultural
and arts organizations, public and private, large and
small, including museums, historical societies,
libraries, art centers, historical and preservation
societies, and other similar organizations, from
throughout Kansas. Beginners are welcome. It takes
place October 10-14. For details and cost go to
http://kansashumanities.org/programs/fundraisingbootcamp-for-cultural-nonprofits/.
ANNUAL MEETING HELD
The annual meeting of WPAA was held February
6. Amie Kendrick was elected as president Wilma
Mai, president-elect and secretary and David
Leopold continues as treasurer. The president serves
a two year term. Eric and Roxey Yonkey are Media
Correspondents.
ANY non-profit groups can have information shared on
KLOE AM 730 with Curtis Duncan in the mornings. Along with
WPAA full coverage of upcoming events he will be happy to
include others with little or no budgets. E mails are best
at [email protected]
Curtis D. Duncan KLOE-KWGB-FM, KKCI-FM
"Proudly Serving the Tri-States"
Office Phone 785-899-7300
Fax - 785-899-3062
[email protected]
COMMUNITY CALENDARS
COLBY
PICKIN’ ON THE PLAINS
July 15-17, Bluegrass and Folk Festival,
GOODLAND
Carnegie Arts Center
July – Wayne Ward, Mixed Media
July 22-24th—Community Musical “Cyrano de
Burgershack”
August Coby Brock, Photogphy
September—Ken Redding, Photography
CARNEGIE ARTS CENTER,
Tuesday through Saturday 10-5 p.m.
Sunday 1-4 p.m.
785-890-6442
http://goodlandarts.org/
HOXIE
Hoxie’s Main Street Arts Council presentations
to be held at the Hoxie High School Hoxie, KS
"James and the Giant Peach Jr" on July 8th at 7:00
pm,
July 10th at 3:00 pm and July 23rd at 3:00 pm.
"Annie Jr" will be July 15th at 7:00 pm and July
17th at 3:00 pm.
All shows will be at the Hoxie High Auditorium!
NEW BOARD MEMBER
Jan Barnum of Colby has been accepted as a new board
member.
LOOKING FOR A GIFT IDEA?
A $50 WPAA season ticket is a great gift for the person
“who has everything.” Instead of buying more “stuff” that
might wind up in a garage sale, give someone eight months
of enjoyment they can get from attending a good variety of
WPAA programs.
PICKIN’ ON THE PLAINS
Pickin’ on the Plains is a Kansas music festival
including nationally-acclaimed bands. In addition
to live music, included with the price of admission
are instrument workshops available for bass, guitar,
banjo, mandolin, and fiddle. They are led by
musicians from the hired bands. For the youth there
are horse-drawn wagon rides or barrel train rides,
games and craft-making. The festival takes place
every year on the THIRD WEEKEND in JULY, in
Colby, KS. Crowd sizes have reached near 1,500
over the weekend.
To provide a cool atmosphere a 4000 square foot
framed canopy is constructed. Also, surrounding
the perimeter of the canopy are water misters that
blow mist underneath the canopy. Several various
food and craft venders sell goods near the audience.
http://www.pickinontheplains.com/
MEMBERSHIP DRIVE UNDERWAY
Board members are in the process of contacting
current members and sponsors for the 47th WPAA
season programs. If you have not been contacted or
know of someone interested in being a sponsor or
member please contact someone on the board member
list on page 4 of this newsletter.
I LOVE BAROQUE
by Bill Mai
I learned to appreciate “classical” music while in high
school when our music teacher suggested we listen to the
Telephone Hour on the radio which aired in the evenings.
My mother already listened regularly so it was not
something new to me. When I went to college good
music was the everyday routine at Bethany, Lindsborg. I
would study class assignments while sitting in the
auditorium listening to student recitals. Most of the
music was from romantic (1830-1900), classical (17501830) and baroque (1600-1750) genres, but I could listen
and get my assignment done. I did take part in some
opera productions while in college.
A couple of years ago I discovered the vast treasure of
fine music on You Tube where one could watch or just
listen to the finest and best music from all over the world.
I can listen while doing all kinds of tasks such as working
on this newsletter. I started out by trying to find works
by Handel. I was able to listen to more than forty operas
and oratorios, some of the best being Solomon, Saul and
Judas Maccabaeus. I also listened to more than twenty
Vivaldi operas. Most performances come from European
companies. Some should only be listened to because the
staging in my mind does not seem appropriate to the
presentation although some are wonderful and even
entertaining to watch. I liked watching Diego Fasolis
conducting Faramondo or William Burden singing a
humorous role in Susanna.
WPAA BOARD MEMBERS
Cheyenne County
St Francis; Helene Landenberger, *Althea Lebow, Marsha
Magley
Decatur County
Jennings; Lynn Tacha
Gove County
Grainfield, *Alma Golden, Denise Packard
Grinnell, *Leona Dickman
Quinter, Denise and Randy Wittman
Logan County
Oakley, Donna Albers, Evelyn Engel, Connie Singer, Shane
Stephenson,
Winona, *J ean Lowe,
Rawlins County
Atwood, Millie F isher, Carole Luedders, Charles Peckham
Sheridan County
Hoxie, David Leopold, CPA, treasurer, Marilyn Meier
Sherman County
Goodland, Curtis Duncan *Eric and Roxie Yonkey
Thomas County
Colby, J oan Albers, J an Barnum, Katina Brenn,
Kenneth Gatlin, Amie Kendrick, Sandy Wilks.
C C C, Pat Ziegelmeier, Executive Director
Rexford, J anell Antholz
Wallace County
Sharon Springs, William and *Wilma Mai
Wallace, Cecil & J ayne 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
http://goodlandarts.org/
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
Eric and Roxie Yonkey.......................Media Correspondents
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