Playing to Their Strength
The Grant County Community Concert Association begins its 49th performance season.
The Grant County Community Concert Association (GCCCA) kicks off its 2006-2007 performance season this month with a concert by the Manhattan Ragtime Orchestra on Oct. 1. This is the organization's 49th year, proof they must be doing something right, says association board president Walt Schwartz.
With hundreds of members renewing every year, the organization consistently fills WNMU's Fine Arts Center Theater, Schwartz says. Average audience size is 650 people, filling the lower portion of the cavernous theater, and a few performances have had seatings into the balcony, tickling the 900 mark, he says.
"And don't forget our schools program," Schwartz adds. Thanks to annual financial help from Phelps-Dodge and Albertson's grocery in particular, the GCCCA is able to offer free arts matinee programs for all third- and fourth-graders in Grant County and in schools beyond the county limits.
The focus of the GCCCA, Schwartz says, is on classical arts and music offerings. The yearly slate includes concert pianists and organists, international singing groups—like the Russian singers who brought down the house last year—and unique stage offerings, like this season's Gilbert and Sullivan Repertory Company comedic production. The GCCCA offers five live performances per season.
The "Community Concert" concept—with the slogan "a Carnegie Hall in every town"—began in 1927 in New York City as a division of Columbia Artists Management.
The GCCCA signed on and took shape with the 1947-48 season, continuing for 13 years until depressed economic conditions in the area forced its closure. With help from the Silver City chapter of the American Association of University Women, the organization was revived in 1971 and has had 34 successful seasons since. Today the concert association is a non-profit, independent production organization working with artist representatives and booking agents from around the country.
Board president Schwartz says the group finds great cultural opportunities and makes its booking connections through a Nashville-based organization, Live On Stage.
For families and those looking to get a cultural package for a bargain—as well as those just wanting to support the arts organization—membership is the way to go. Yearly GCCCA membership costs $15 for students, $40 for adults and $80 for a family of two adults plus children under age 18, and provides tickets to all of the association's events in that performance season. Tickets may be purchased individually, as well—even at the door, if there's room—for $15 per performance.
Yearly memberships may be purchased as soon as the GCCCA sets its schedule, and at the door of the season's first performance. For more information on the GCCCA, call 388-1604.
Community Concert Association 2006-2007 Season
Sunday, Oct. 1, 2 p.m.
Manhattan Ragtime Orchestra—A mixture of ragtime, blues, marches, waltzes, with a touch of New Orleans polyphony.
Thursday, Nov. 9, 7:30 p.m.
Time for Three—Youthful trio plays an eclectic mix of bluegrass, Hungarian gypsy, jazz, country western fiddling, classical and improvisation.
Wednesday, Jan. 31, 7:30 p.m.
Alexandre Moutouzkine—Award-winning, internationally acclaimed Russian pianist performs masterpieces by Rachmaninoff, Strauss, Chopin, Liszt and more.
Thursday, March 1, 7:30 p.m.
Hector Olivera—World-renowned virtuoso plays a wide range of music—religious, classical, popular, stage and movie themes—on dramatic, thunderous organ.
Monday, April 9, 7:30 p.m.
Savoy Express—Seasoned Gilbert and Sullivan Repertory Company performers transform stage classics—The Mikado, Pirates of Penzance, HMS Pinafore and many more—into quickly paced revue-style potpourris, with choreography, piano accompaniment and costumes.