Arts Council announces new season

September brings hot jazz

If you like Dixieland and hot New Orleans Jazz, come to St. Luke's United Methodist Church at 620 D Street in David City at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, to celebrate national Grandparents Day. You will hear many musical styles including the best of popular and country music with Omaha based Doc Woody and the River City Ragtime Band. From Gay 90s to the Roarin' 20s and Tin Pan Alley this great combination of musicians will keep your toes tapping and a smile on your face. The Butler County Arts Council will continue in November with Michael Pujado, another Omaha based artist who is a wonderful percussionist from Chile.

He will teach area students in a Nov. 2-6 residency and bring a band to jam at the Thursday, Nov. 5, performance. The place will be in David City and may include student performers from his work in the schools.

At 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, One-Act Celebration with all four area schools will share their best theater. The location of this event is yet to be confirmed. The annual holiday tradition will continue to be with the Butler County Community Choir directed by Keith Byrkit, accompanied by pianist Carol Fuxa and a professional chamber orchestra. This annual cantata with other choral and orchestral numbers will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at St. Luke's United Methodist Church.

In 2010, the season will continue at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, with the Toasted Ponies laying down a unique blend of bluegrass, acoustic music and original songs. This group features four of the region's most popular and accomplished musicians. Steve Hanson, banjo, mandolin and guitar, Erin McGovern, guitar and mandolin, Terry Keefe, fiddle and mandolin, and Jim Pipher, bass and emcee, guarantee a great time for all. The valentine weekend performance is traditionally in the Thorpe Opera House. This group plans to perform in an area nursing home at 5:30 p.m. before the 7 p.m. performance at the Thorpe.

On Sunday, March 14, Duo AdantŽ will perform at 3 p.m. featuring the harp of Heidi N. Beran and the flute of Betsy Bobenhouse. In April 2010, there will be a youth artists showcase featuring student musicians and their art. The season will finish in June with the youth theatre written, directed and produced by Jarod Ockander, who is known statewide for his excellence in speech and theatre.

Ockander, as past president for the arts council, will continue to be a major force in youth theater productions from the One Act Festival in November to the Youth Theater workshop and performance in June as Mistyn Kozisek becomes president. Kozisek organized the July event of Musical Soiree on the Square for the second consecutive year. This and the spin art and county fair entertainment at the Butler County Fair in July continued the tradition of offering free musical entertainment in the summer with a variety of entertainers. This arts outreach included extended hours at the Bone Creek Museum of Agrarian Art with two great exhibitions open to the public with no admission required. Food stands provided fundraising opportunities for nonprofit groups in the area. These and other programs to come this season under the Butler County Arts Council would not be possible without major grants from a number of sources including the Butler County Area Foundation.

The Nebraska Arts Council, a state agency, has supported this arts event through its matching grants program funded by the Nebraska Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment. Visit www.nebraskaartscouncil.org for information on how the Nebraska Arts Council can assist your organization, or how you can support the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, at www.nebraskaculturalendowment.org. In addition to these granting organizations Grand Benefactors for this season include Bank of The Valley, Cornerstone Bank of Rising City, Moravec Financial Advisors Inc., Aquinas/St. Mary's Catholic Schools and David City Public Schools.

Corporate sponsors for the arts council season include The Banner~Press, Bierbower Law Office, Butler County Clinic, P.C., Butler County Health Care Center, Chermok Funeral Home, Dale's Food Pride, david place, Egr & Birkel, PC, First National Bank - David City, First Nebraska Bank - Brainard Branch, Kracl Funeral Chapel, KV Vet, Signature Portraits - Samantha Kosch, St. Joseph's Villa and Court Inc., St. Luke's United Methodist Church [in-kind giving] and Union Bank & Trust, David City.

Arts council brochures detailing this season's events are in the mail. If you are not in town to pick up any at the chamber office, Legion gallery, library or other locations, phone 402-367-3712 and leave your mailing address to receive one. Suggested membership donations for season tickets are in the brochure.

Memberships can be obtained at any arts council event, and suggested donations at the door remain at $8 for adult and $5 for student or child.