Evanston's Best Deal for Christmas

7 professional concerts in Evanston, 3 bonus concerts in Kemmerer, and a weekend of Celtic music and culture equals the perfect Christmas gift for yourself or someone you want to impress (including your wife!).  The 2012 Uinta County Concert Series super pass offers 5 months of entertainment and fun during winter months.  "Don't expect long boring concerts here," said Concert Series Executive Director Carolee Bowen. "organizers have spent a lot of time and effort looking for performers that will entertain and inspire Evanston residents.  We feel like we have found artists that are a good fit for our community." 

Concerts included in the 2012 super series pass include:  Jan. 14 BYU Living Legends (South American and Polynesian music and dance); Jan. 27 Handsome Little Devils in Squirm Burpee Circus (Vaudeville style drama and acrobats);  Feb. 3 Richter/Uzur Duo (classical guitar and cello); Feb. 17 Lincoln Highway (Bluegrass/Folk); March 9 Mike Strickland (Jazz piano); March 23 Teada (folk musicians from Ireland); March 24 Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas (Scottish fiddler and cello); March 23-24 all-day admission to the Ceili at the Roundhouse Celtic Festival; April 27 NANDA (stage combat/comedy); May 12 Three Leg Torso (gypsy Jazz).  Also included in the pass is 3 bonus concerts in Kemmerer:  Jan. 20 Elysian (storyteller with live music); March 10 T Minus 5 (popular a capella); April 29 Neil Galanter (Classical pianist).

"All these concerts are included in the Concert Series super pass," Bowen said.  "You will find some of these artists performing in large metropolitan areas if you want to travel out of town in winter, but you won't find this deal anywhere but Evanston." An Individual pass that includes all of these concerts is only $70,  with a full family pass only $190 (no limit on number of family members, but all members must be immediate family).  Tickets, along with a 16 page, full color brochure with detailed concert information are available around town including the Evanston Chamber of Commerce, Curves for Women, and Copy Cats & Jewl's Card and Gift.  Or tickets can be purchased online at EvanstonTickets.com.  Young Musicians, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that brings the arts and education to Uinta County.

Registration is now open for the 2012 Young Musicians Festival to be held March 9-10.  Students perform solos and in small groups and get feedback from visiting professional musicians.  Workshops also included.  Back this year - the Honors Concert!  Click Here to get all the details!

Over 80 students competed at the 2012 Young Musicians Festival held on March 9-10. The 5 divisions included Strings, Instrumental, Vocal, Piano, and Music Composition. Students were awarded 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place ribbons and top performers in each division received MAT Camp Scholarships. Those who received a "superior" score received a lapel pin. Judges selected some students to perform at the Honor's Concert on March 10.  The audience voted for their favorite performers.  Click HERE to see who won!

2012 Young Musicians Festival Competition Results

2012 MAT Camp registration is now open!  Click HERE to go directly to the registration page.

Don't miss the upcoming NANDA show happening on April 26 in Lyman, and April 27 in Evanston.  Here are what people are saying about it-

Seattle Times arts writer, Michael Upchuch

"Nanda isn't an act. It's a whole four-man vaudeville show.

Its members juggle, dance, sing, fight, do magic, do acrobatics, do mime, fight some more, make films, steal a suitcase, drive a tank, stop time (while fighting), jump rope, make amusing spelling mistakes, acknowledge they're creating a dramaturgical mess and — did I mention? — fight. In their new production, "The Jacket," they blend the slapstick aesthetics of the Monkees, the Three Stooges and Jackie Chan into a single frenetic package. The show parodies "The Lord of the Rings," the legend of the Holy Grail and just about any other Sacred Quest myth you can name. The plot concerns a silver-lamé jacket that bestows super-powers on whoever wears it."

From Seattlepi.com, Michele Costanza

NANDA: The BEST All-Ages Live Entertainment in Seattle. WOW.

Well, if you’re looking for something that will blow your socks off, you MUST get over to the Broadway Performance Hall on Capitol Hill to see the most fun and entertaining show of the year....The Jacket by NANDA, Acrobaticalist Ninja Theater.

Acrobaticalist Ninja Theater...what does that mean??? I wasn’t sure what to expect, but my expectations were pretty high after watching the video on their website. I fully expected some juggling, maybe some dancing, and perhaps a bit of parkour/ninja acrobatics. They had all that, and so much more.

I’d describe it as a combination of: !the slick martial arts and slow-motion sequencing of The Matrix; the spirited fighting and humorous antics of Kung Fu Panda; with a bit of slapstick, á!la!Laurel and Hardy, mixed in for good measure. It is funny and intelligent, which I didn’t expect, leaving the audience laughing aloud.

The sequencing and choreography are bold and risky, and they certainly were not flawless on Opening Night. ! That said, I appreciate the local flavor those few imperfections gave the performance, which were pulled off with humor and charm...NOT an easy thing to do with a packed house.

We attended the 8pm show with two kids, ages 7 and 11, who were both tired after a long week. !I was slightly worried the younger one might fall asleep during the performance, but knew these worries were for naught as soon as the show began. Both kids (along with the entire audience) were riveted the entire 70 minutes. The storyline is clear, the fight sequences exciting, the sound effects excellent (makes a big difference in this show), and the multi-media presentation made great use of all the space onstage, offering clever versatility in the performance.

I give The Jacket by NANDA a big thumbs up for Best Family Entertainment of the year! (Ages 5 and up)

On May 12, the 2013 Uinta County Concert Series was revealed at this year’s series finale held at the Evanston Machine Shop.  Next season will offer a variety of concerts and outreach activities in Evanston and Bridger Valley, with bonus concerts held in Kemmerer.  The Concert Series runs from January through May.  Tickets will go on sale starting this fall and make a great holiday gift.

The regular 2013 Concert Series pass will include seven concerts in Evanston held at Davis Middle School, three concerts in Lyman, and tow bonus concerts in Kemmerer held at the South Lincoln Training & Event Center.  The 2013 Céilí at the Roundhouse Celtic Festival will be offered as an add-on to the Concert Series pass and will be held at the Evanston Roundhouse & Railyards Complex.  While the Concert Series performing artists are in the area, they will also present educational outreach activities in schools in Evanston and Bridger Valley.

2013 Uinta County Concert Series lineup

Drum Brothers - January 17, Lyman.  January 18, Evanston.  Drum Brothers world percussion ensemble presents high energy performances that celebrate a mix of ethnic and contemporary sounds: West African djembe and doun-doun drums, udu and frame drums, Australian didgeridoo, flute, guitar, vocals, and hand percussion.

The La Taifas Quartet – January 25, Evanston and January 26, Lyman. The La Taifas Quartet will present the striking and intricate sounds of Moldovan folklore music. The quartet of panflute, violin, accordion, and ţimbalom will perform pieces ranging from the haunting sounds of a Romanian doina, to exotic and virtuosic dances with a Turkish flair. These musicians are masters of Moldovan folklore music, radiating their excitement and joy in every performance.

Presidio Brass - February 1, Evanston. Since forming in 2006, Presidio Brass has rocketed to success as the face of a bold new generation in brass entertainment. By combining a brass quintet, piano and percussion instruments with fresh, original arrangements, their unique sound has become a trademark for the ensemble from San Diego, CA, captivating audiences everywhere.

BYU Vocal Point – February 22, Evanston. February 23, Lyman. Vocal Point is Brigham Young University’s premiere 9-man a cappella ensemble. Directed by James Stevens, Vocal Point wows audiences everywhere with their vocal firepower, innovative arrangements, and remarkable vocal percussion. In 2006, the group took first place and was crowned International Champions in New York City at the Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall.

International String Trio – March 1, Evanston. The International Strings Trio prides itself on its stylistic diversity, delivering Gypsy jazz, Appalachian folk, acoustic world music (Irish, Klezmer, Russian, Italian, French, Bluegrass, etc.), virtuosic classical arrangements and popular songs from movie sound tracks. The International String Trio enjoys using the diverse cultural backgrounds of its members, hailing from Russia, Japan and England, to influence its stylistic diversity and unique performance aesthetic.

BYU Theatre Ballet – April 12, Evanston. Theatre Ballet interprets classical and contemporary pieces with intensity and sensitivity. The company's repertoire represents a variety of styles, including productions of ballet classics like Romeo and Juliet, Coppelia, and Petrushika as well as contemporary pieces choreographed for the ensemble. Traditional pas de deux are also presented from Flouer Festival, le Corsaire, Don Quixote, Giselle, Paquita, and Swan Lake, among others.

Gonzalo Bergara Quartet – May 3, Evanston. The internationally acclaimed Gonzalo Bergara Quartet is an act not to be missed. Heavily influenced by Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt, traditional jazz, and hints of music from his native Buenos Aires, Gonzalo´s tightly knit quartet provides a captivating evening of sizzling musical virtuosity. Both with and without his quartet, Gonzalo has performed worldwide with shows in Croatia, Italy, France, Germany Hungary, Argentina, Brazil, England, Scotland, Canada and the United States.

Céilí at the Roundhouse Celtic Festival – Headline Artists included in the Concert Series “Super Pass.”

Goitse – March 22, Evanston Roundhouse. Goitse is a flourishing, highly talented five piece band fast making a name for themselves as one of the most sought after bands amongst connoisseurs of Irish traditional music. Their fast paced energetic playing has seen them enjoying a growing fan base through show stopping performances in Ireland, America, Finland, Denmark and even Africa. The distinctive quality of their sound lies in the arrangement of well-known traditional tunes interspersed with their own compositions, which make each set entertaining and unique.

Battlefield Band – March 23, Evanston Roundhouse. Under their banner 'Forward with Scotland’s Past', Battlefield Band have been a bedrock of talent for over four decades, and continue to lead the way for Scotland with their inspired fusion of ancient and modern traditional music and song. Founded by a group of friends in 1969 and named after the ‘Battlefield’ area of Glasgow, the band have now been touring & performing throughout the world for over forty years, playing to audiences in Europe, Australia & New Zealand, Asia, the Middle East & Canada, as well as more than 60 cities annually in the United States.

Exclusive Event (not included in Season Pass)

Lúnasa – March 20, Exclusive concert held at Suds Brothers Brewery in Evanston.  Lúnasa has become one of the most sought-after bands on the international Irish music scene. The band’s inventive arrangements and bass-driven grooves are steering Irish acoustic music into surprising new territory. Inspired by Ireland’s great 1970s group The Bothy Band, Lúnasa use melodic interweaving of wind and string instruments, pairing flutes, fiddle, whistle and pipes in often breathtaking arrangements.  Reviews- “Ireland’s newest ‘supergroup’…the hottest Irish acoustic band on the planet.” - IRISH VOICE. “An amazing new instrumental quintet…state-of-the-art Irish music as aggressively infectious as you’ll ever hear.” - DIRTY LINEN. “Lúnasa’s musicianship is awesome … I’d sell my soul to be able to play like that” – MOJO

Bonus Concert also included in Season Pass, held in Kemmerer at the South Lincoln Training & Event Center.

More info coming soon!

Below is a working list of auction items that will be available at the Sept. 22 SPECIAL EVENT.  Many more items are coming, so check back often as new items will be added weekly!

Special pricing on 2013 Uinta County Concert Series season passes

Free carwashes

Hand painted child's violin

Bridger Valley fitness package

Dental care packages

Computer repair certificates

Cleaning supplies from Real Kleen Janitorial and professional cleaning/organizational sessions from Imagyne

Massage session

Violin lessons

Knitted accessories

Antiques

Quilts

Professional photography sessions

Soap/spa product packages

Authentic Asian souvenirs

Jewelry

Scentsy products

Health and fitness packages

Beauty packages

Modern Cleaners gift certificates

Kindle Fire

Dinner party

VIP Special Access season passes to the 2013 Uinta County Concert Series

House Concert with "Sage Street Quartet" classical chamber music

Compact Disk/Media package, various artists

House Concert with "Pennies from Heaven" old style Jazz

Show your support for Young Musicians by becoming a sponsor of the Uinta County Concert Series!

Now is the time for business and individuals to show support and get their name associated with the highly successful Uinta County Concert Series that starts in January, running through May of 2013. A great advertising opportunity, perspective sponsors have several sponsorship level options to be listed in individual concert programs, on signage at concerts and recognized in the audience. Sponsors also get free tickets for employees. The 2013 Concert Series lineup includes BYU Vocal Point, Drum Brothers, International String Trio, the Presidio Brass and more.  The full lineup click here. 

Becoming a Concert Series sponsor will help bring the arts to Uinta County, and through the Concert Series' educational outreach program, provide special opportunities to students of all ages and ability levels. A sponsorship will associate a business name with Young Musicians, a leading educational arts presenting organization in Southwest Wyoming that is known all across the country. Without generous sponsors, many great arts events would not be possible.

About Young Musicians- the Uinta County Concert Series is presented by Young Musicians, Inc., a nonprofit organization.  Other events include Specialists in the Schools Project, Young Musicians Festival, Ceili at the Roundhouse Celtic Festival, and Music, Arts and Theater Camp (MAT Camp) Young Musicians, Inc. started in 1995 with $50 and a few enthusiastic music teachers wanting to bring professional artists into the community to create special educational opportunities for their music students. Momentum grew as more community arts enthusiasts joined in the effort. Young Musicians incorporated in 1998 and became an official 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Over the years, Young Musicians has presented a variety of different events - educational, entertaining, and always inspirational. The artistic goal of the organization is to present outstanding arts events with exceptional educational opportunities to learners of all ages, ability, and income levels; introduce the community members in Uinta County to fine arts events; and to make the arts a higher priority in public school systems.

The 2013 Uinta County Concert Series will offer a whole season of quality entertainment that can be enjoyed all winter.  Consider treating yourself and your friends to a gift that gives for 5 months. The Concert Series includes 7 professional concerts/performances in Evanston, and 3 concerts in Bridger Valley. 

The season starts January 17-18 with Drum Brothers, a world percussion ensemble.  The series continues with the La Taifas Quartet from Moldavia Jan. 25-26, Presidio Brass on Feb. 1, BYU Vocal Point Feb. 22-23, the International String Trio on March 1, Fairy Tales and Fantasy with the BYU Theatre Ballet on April 12, and the Gonzalo Bergara Quartet on May 3. The Ceili at the Roundhouse Celtic Festival is also part of the series, which includes Goitse from Ireland on March 22, the Battlefield Band from Scotland on March 23, and all-day admission to the festival.

The entire series, including the Celtic Festival concerts are included in the Super Pass, which is the best value, $70 for a single/individual pass, and $190 for a family pass.  The Regular Series Pass does not include the Celtic Festival, $50 for a single/individual pass, $125 for a family pass. Click the "Buy Tickets Now" button to see all the options for tickets.

Both the Super Pass and Regular Pass includes 3 bonus concert held in Kemmerer, including the BYU Chamber Orchestra on Jan. 11, Otter Creek on April 13, and Dan Costello on April 27.  All tickets are available online at www.EvanstonTickets.com, and at ticket outlets in Evanston and Bridger Valley. Evanston outlets includes Copy Cats and Jewls' Card & Gift, Curves for Women, and Evanston Chamber of Commerce. Bridger Valley outlets include Benedict's Market and Lyman Town Hall.

The Uinta County Concert Series is presented by Young Musicians, Inc., a nonprofit organization. Your ticket purchase helps bring the professional performing artists to the community, and supports an accompanying educational outreach in the schools, associated with each concert.

A whole season of great concerts will kick off this Friday, starting at 7 pm, at Davis Middle School.  The concerts continue through May with music groups visiting Evanston and Bridger Valley from around the globe.

This Friday, Jan.18,  Drum Brothers world percussion ensemble will present a high energy performance that celebrates a mix of ethnic and contemporary sounds: West African djembe and doun-doun drums, udu and frame drums, Australian didgeridoo, flute, guitar, vocals, and hand percussion. As an educational outreach, Drum Brothers will present music assemblies at North Elementary and Davis Middle School.

Next in line for the series features the La Taifas Quartet on Jan. 25, a group from Moldavia (former Soviet Union). On Feb. 1 the Presidio Brass from San Diego will perform and the Evanston Civic Orchestra will appear as a special guest at the end of the program. The hugely popular Vocal Point a cappella group from BYU will perform on Feb. 22.  The series continues on with 6 more concerts March - May.

Tickets prices are $10 adults, $5 students for each concert, however the best value is the Concert Series Super Pass, which is good for all 9 concerts in the series, including concerts associated with the annual Celtic Festival at the Roundhouse in Evanston.  2 more concerts in Kemmerer are also included as a bonus in the pass.  Tickets and Season Passes can be purchased in Evanston at Curves for Women, Copy Cats and Jewl's Card & Gift, Evanston Chamber of Commerce, and in Bridger Valley at Lyman Town Hall and Benidict's Market.  Tickets are also available online at EvanstonTickets.com.  Visit YoungMusicians.net to see the full concert series lineup.

Series concerts are sponsored in part by the Wyoming Arts Council, through funding from the Wyoming State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Click HERE to register

Registration for the annual Young Musicians Festival and Competition, to be held on April 13th at Davis Middle School, is now open.  Musicians of all ages and abilities, from young beginners to adults and teachers, are encouraged to participate in the festival by performing solos for adjudication by professional clinicians and/or submitting original songs/compositions for feedback and judging by a professional composer.  Those participants high school age and younger are eligible to compete for scholarships to MAT Camp in July and/or for a spot in the Honors Concert the evening of the Festival.

This year's clinicians are: Band - Dr. Scott Turpen, University of Wyoming; Strings - Prof. James Przygocki, University of Wyoming; Piano - Dr. Chi-Chen Wu, University of Wyoming; Vocal - Dr. Jane Fjeldsted, Associate Conductor with the Salt Lake Choral Artists.

Registration includes your performance and/or composition evaluation, workshops, and admission to the BYU Theatre Ballet concert on April 12th.  Click HERE to find out more and for more registration information.

Calling all Prince and Princesses

The BYU Theatre Ballet will visit Evanston this Friday, April 12, to present their performance of Fairy Tales and Fantasy at Davis Middle School as part of the Uinta County County Series. Fairy Tales and Fantasy presents selections from ballets such as Romeo & Juliet, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Le Corsaire, Don Quixote and more to the stage for a night of magical dance stories.

The main production will start at 7 pm, but the fun starts for the children at 6 pm with a Prince and Princess Party, meet and greet, with refreshments sponsored by To The Pointe Dance Studio.  The party continues during intermission when children are invited to the stage to dance with the Theatre Ballet cast. The Theatre Ballet has been incorporating the Prince & Princess party at their performances for the last year. “The connection that the dancers make with the children before, during, and after the performances makes all the difference,” says artistic director Shani Robinson. “The children are so quiet in our performances because they are looking for their favorite dancer. Since they know a dancer personally, they are that much more interested and focused on what is happening onstage.”

Earlier in the day, the Theatre Ballet will visit Aspen Elementary students during school.  As an after-school activity, the Theatre Ballet director, Shani Robinson is inviting older dance students to warm up with the Theatre Ballet dancers from 4:45 - 5:45 pm. The Prince & Princess Party is included in the price of a ticket, $5 students, $10 adults.  For more information call Carolee Bowen, 307-679-2348.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at all of the regular Concert Series outlets- Curves, Evanston Chamber of Commerce, Copy Cats and Jewl's Card & Gift in Evanston and at Lyman Town Hall and Benidict's Market in Bridger Valley, or online HERE.  This event is presented in partnership with Aspen Elementary School and UCSD no. 1, and sponsored in part by the Wyoming Arts Council, through funding from the Wyoming State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Young Musicians Festival, held April 13 was a big success!  Students competed on several levels in 4 different divisions- Strings, Piano, Instrumental and Vocal.  Age categories included age 11 and under, age 12-14, age 15-18, and adult. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place was awarded in each division for each age category.  Award pins were given to students with Superior scores.  MAT Camp scholarships were given to the top three scores in each division.  Outstanding students were selected to perform in the evening at the Honors Concert, held at 6 pm.

Honors Concert Participants pictured above. Each received an award metal. Here is a LINK to individual pictures of all the Honors Concert participants.

At the Honors Concert, audience members were invited to vote for their favorite performance, as the "People's Choice" awardees, pictured below.

1st Place People's Choice - Emily S.

Hi, my name is Emily. I'm 17 years old and a senior at Evanston High School. I love singing, running, cooking, and playing piano and ukulele. I got into music when I was 4 through a program called Kindermusik, and I've been addicted ever since. After high school I'll be attending Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah to study music education.

2nd Place People's Choice - Christian L.

Hi! My name is Christian, and I am 13 years old. I have been studying the piano for about six years now, and I enjoy it very much. In my spare time I like to do card magic as well as play basketball. I plan to sign up for MAT Camp this summer, and would like to thank Young Musicians for the scholarship that they gave me. If you have not already done so, I would encourage you to learn more about MAT camp and maybe even sign up yourself!

3rd Place People's Choice - Tie - Sydnee D.

My name is Sydnee, I have been playing piano for 11 1/2 years. I also like to oil paint, sing, and do crafts. I think piano isn't about just being better than everyone else its about feeling the music and understanding what the composer wanted people to learn and picture from the piece.  Yiruma [the composer] is the stage name of Lee Ru-ma (born February 15, 1978), an internationally-known pianist and composer from South Korea.  I found this piece "River Flows In You" listening to my moms phone, the music I guess you could say spoke to me.  I wrote it down and when I was looking for a song to play at the festival I remembered that song, looked it up on the computer, bought it, and fell in love with it.

3rd Place People's Choice - Tie - Benjamin L.

Hey! My name is Benjamin, I am 15 years old, and I've played the violin since I was four. I love to perform, and I try to learn as many instruments as I can as well as to get involved in other performing arts. Young Musicians provides some great opportunities to learn and become better at music, and I would encourage you to take part in some of these upcoming opportunities.