By RUTH FIRESTONE
Hays music supporter

One of the most looked-forward-to concerts of the year, the Hays Symphony Orchestra and FHSU choirs joint concert, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6, in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center.

And, as with all this season’s concerts, it is free and open to the public, thanks in part to a generous donation from Dr. Michael Meade.

The orchestra will begin with the Ninth “New World” Symphony of Antonin Dvorak, composed in 1893 when he was living in New York and vacationing in the Czech-speaking community of Spillville, Iowa. Like many composers of his era, Dvorak was deeply interested in folk music and thought that spirituals would provide the basis for a truly American school (He was partly right and partly wrong because he didn’t go to New Orleans and discover jazz).

At any rate, perhaps as homage to America, he began the second (largo) movement with a melody that sounds like a spiritual but was actually composed by William Arms Fisher, one of his students. We know it as “Goin’ Home.”

“Nimrod,” one of Edward Elgar’s 14 “Variations on an Original Theme,” or “Enigma Variations,” will follow. The “Variations,” composed in 1899, established Elgar as a world-class composer. The work is quite mysterious — the basic theme on which the variations are based is a mystery — theories abound regarding its identity — all we know is that Elgar intended each variation to reflect the characteristics of one of his friends.

“Nimrod” reflects a close friend, A.J. Jaeger, who encouraged his career. The variation is probably the most famous of the 14 because of its elegiac tone — in Britain it is regularly performed on Armistice Day and it was played also at Princess Diana’s funeral.

For the finale of the concert and season, the FHSU choirs and the Smoky Hill Chorale will perform the work of another British composer, John Rutter. Rutter’s “Requiem,” premiered in 1985, has rapidly become famous throughout Western Europe and America. Rutter is well-known as a choral composer and conductor, and the “Requiem” has been called one of his finest works.

So, come and enjoy the concert of the season — mark your calendars for Saturday, May 6, 2017, 7:30 p.m. in Beach/Schmidt, with post-concert refreshments provided by the Downtown Hays Development Corporation.

Four Hays High School students recently had their work exhibited at the Mary R. Koch Arts Center in Wichita. The Scholastic Art and Writing awards give out the American Vision Award, Gold Key, Silver Key, and Honorable Mention. 2,100 submissions were received in the Eastern Kansas Region. Of those entries, 570 received awards. Five of the thirty-five submissions from HHS students received awards. Senior Morgan Budig received an Honorable Mention for her painting “Range,” as well as an Honorable Mention for her drawing “Underground.” Senior Tanner Callis received a Silver Key for his submission “Communicate: From Here to There.” Senior Joe Factor received a Gold Key for his poem “Public Transportation.” Sophomore Iris Garibay received a Silver Key for her drawing “Un Amore Privato.”

FHSU University Relations and Marketing

Tickets are now on sale for Matt Haimovitz: “The Bach Suites — A Moveable Feast,” the next performance of the 2016-2017 Encore Series. The performance is set for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday April 22.

Acclaimed cellist Matt Haimovitz offers a brilliant musical variation on the concept of “A Moveable Feast.” Renowned as a musical pioneer, cellist Haimovitz has inspired classical music lovers and countless new listeners by bringing his artistry to concert halls and clubs, outdoor festivals and intimate coffee houses, any place where passionate music can be heard.

He brings a fresh ear to familiar repertoire, champions new music and initiates groundbreaking collaborations as well as creating innovative recording projects for Oxingale Records. Through his visionary approach, Haimovitz is redefining what it means to be an artist for the 21st century.

This performance is sponsored by High Plains Public Radio.

Tickets are available at the Memorial Union Student Service Center, by calling (785) 628-5306 or by visiting www.fhsu.edu/encore. Tickets for the general public are $30 reserved and $26 unreserved; for seniors and children ages 5-17, tickets are $28 reserved and $24 unreserved; and for FHSU students, tickets are $21 reserved and $17 unreserved with a Tiger Card.

In addition to the April 22 performance, Matt Haimovitz will perform three pop-up performances on Friday, April 21: 1 p.m. in the Forsyth Library Lobby; 3 p.m. in the Memorial Union Atrium; and at 5 p.m. in the Hays Public Library.

These performances are free and open to the public. Each will last approximately 30 minutes.

For more information, contact Jacob Ternes, [email protected], (785) 628-4664.

KCAIC

TOPEKA–The Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission announced 26 grants in 19 communities totaling $139,582 were awarded by the Commission in the the categories of Strategic Investment Program and Arts Integration Program.

To review the application process, as well as program and category specific policies and guidelines visit KansasCommerce.gov/CAIC.

Grants were reviewed by peer panel and awarded at the quarterly commission meeting on April 7.

All grants are made possible through a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and are subject to KCAIC and NEA standards and regulations.

A list of grant awards follows.

Strategic Investment Program

Arts Council of Johnson County, Lenexa, New & Expanded Works, $3,400
The Arts Council of Johnson County will develop the next generation of arts leaders through a newly expanded internship program to include a summer intern, fall intern, and fall online intern. Internships will focus on marketing, communications, programming and distance learning.

Arts Partners, Wichita, Organizational Development, $2,775
The Executive Director and two board members will attend professional development training in organizational leadership to build administrative and business skills. Training will focus on specific capacity building needs for the organization and include strategies for maximizing string community partnerships and ensuring organizational health.

Busker Festivals, Lawrence, Equipment & Technology, $3,215
Busker Festivals will purchase equipment that will aid in venue identification and visibility for the outdoor performing arts festival.

Chamber Music at the Barn, Maize, New & Expanded Works, $5,000
Chamber Music at the Barn will feature a new work by the Harrington String Quartet and launch a new program entitled Afternoon Delight. The project will feature the Harrington String Quartet for a three day residence and include two general public performances as well as the first full season “Afternoon Delight” concert for residents of regional senior housing facilities who are bussed to venue.

Great Plains Theatre, Abilene, Equipment & Technology, $5,000
Great Plains Theatre Academy will purchase equipment to establish a new TV/Film department. The first project will use local actors/youth, be shot and edited in Abilene and will provide on and off camera opportunities for all ages as well as the ability to learn film editing and producing/directing.

Historic Jayhawk Theatre, Topeka, Organizational Development, $1,751
The Executive Director will attend The 2017 Arts Midwest Conference to address all the issues the Jayhawk Theatre will face as it prepares to open in 2020. The conference features professional development sessions and networking opportunities with agents and vendors.

Junction City Arts Council, Junction City, New & Expanded Works, $5,000
The Junction City Arts Council will expand its summer art camp from a one day a week to a five day a week program. The program provides free art classes to children ages 7-12 as well as on site programming in underserved sections of the city for those who cannot reach the primary facility.

Lucas Arts and Humanities, Lucas, New & Expanded Works, $5,000
Following the recommendations of a visioning task force, Lucas Arts & Humanities will begin a Main Street Initiative that will create thematic public art sculptures on the 16 wooden street signage / light posts that line the two blocks of Main Street.

McPherson Museum & Arts Foundation, McPherson, Equipment & Technology, $5,000
The McPherson Museum & Arts Foundation will purchase three new computers and one network storage drive. The project will have significant impact on customer service, presentation of exhibits, and the overall efficiency of the organization.

Olathe Civic Theatre Association, Equipment & Technology, $1,519
The Olathe Civic Theatre will purchase a professional projection system. The project will improve audience visual experience, increase the number of performances with video projections, and expand the ability to host and produce a broader range of performances by local artists who require digital projections.

Valeo Behavioral Health Care, Topeka, New & Expanded Works, $4,912
Valeo Behavorial Health Care will expand the reach of the Creations of Hope Gallery, a community outreach project aimed utilizing the power of art for mental health awareness, by establishing its own standalone gallery located in the NOTO art’s district of Topeka. The project will develop and establish ongoing gallery practices that focus on educating the public on mental health as well as increasing the number of artists participating in the gallery mission.

Vernon Filley Art Museum, Pratt, New & Expanded Works, $3,135
The Vernon Filley Art Museum will host its first invitational art exhibit, asking for submissions from 35 artists across the Country. The exhibit will increase audience, attract visitors, and enhance the reputation of the museum. Promotional material will be used in persuading other high profile artists of the museum’s reputation and provenance.

Wichita Symphony Society, Wichita, New & Expanded Works, $5,000
The Wichita Symphony Orchestra will expand their existing YPC program to present “The Legend of the Northern Lights,” a collaborative production with KV265, a non-profit organization whose mission is the communication of science through art with communities worldwide, with music by award-winning composer Christopher Theofanidis and Educational outreach facilitated by Dr. Jose Francisco Salgado and co-founder of KV265. The concert provides students, teachers and family members with a multimedia film, which instructs students and audiences about the science and art behind the music.

World’s Largest Things Inc., Lucas, Equipment & Technology, $4,150
World’s Largest Things Incorporated, an organization founded by artist Erika Nelson to research, collect, and disseminate information relating to the history, preservation, production, and promotion of Roadside Vernacular Architecture known as World’s Largest Things through a series of mobile museums, traveling exhibits, artistic replica displays, and site-specific projects, will purchase theme-appropriate lighting to help establish a new permanent exhibition space in downtown Lucas.

Arts Integration Program

Baker Arts Center, Liberal, Integrated Arts Education, $5,000
The Baker Arts Center will conduct arts programming in conjunction with Sea Lion Splash, a live animal public exhibit. The exhibit and related programming will give artists of all ages a creative outlet to express their interpretation of land and sea life as well as a chance to display their artwork publicly.

Cheyenne County for Creativity, St. Francis, Visiting Artist, $5,000
Cheyenne County will bring filmmakers from Peak Acting Studios to St. John to conduct a film camp for area youth ages 12-17 with a film screening open to the public.

City of Maize, Maize, Visiting Artist, $5,000
The City of Maize will return Glenn Alexander, a Maize native and professor of music at Sarah Lawrence College, to his hometown for a public concert and a day of guitar, jazz, and songwriting master class workshops for area students. The concert will highlight the new Academy Arts business district in the city.

Griots Storytelling Institute, Wichita, New & Expanded Works, $3,000
Griots Storytelling Institute will expand its Summer Arts Enrichment Camp, which uses music, dance, and the art of storytelling to bring history and historical character and traditions to life.

Hesston College, Hesston, Visiting Artist, $5,000
Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts will contract with Miraris Brass for a public concert and four complementary activities to include three underserved local elementary schools (all-school assemblies) and a brass masterclass for students of Bethel College, Hesston College and local high schools.

InterUrban ArtHouse, Overland Park, Innovative Partnerships, $15,000
InterUrban ArtHouse, in partnership with The Downtown Overland Park Partnership (a liaison between the City of Overland Park, the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce, and the community as a whole), is expanding the “ArtsConnect – Community Development through Creative Placemaking” program which focuses on inclusive community development through regional partnerships, exhibitions and performances.

Johnson County Library Foundation, Shawnee Mission, Innovative Partnerships $15,000
The Johnson County Library Foundation, in partnership with the Johnson County Juvenile Detention Center, will expand Literary Interventions, a program that connects detention center residents with literature through facilitated book discussions, author visits, writing workshops and slam poetry workshops. These programs are organized to encourage residents to express themselves and realize the world of opportunities around them.

Kansas Ballet Company, Topeka, Visiting Artist, $5,000
The Kansas Ballet Company will host Christopher Sellars (Soloist) & Arolyn Williams (Principal), from Ballet West in Utah and Ryan Nye & Kaleena Burks, Artists with the Kansas City Ballet. The company will feature performances by visiting guest artists from the world of professional ballet as well as a special one act presentation just for children: “Aurora’s Wedding”. In addition, the visiting guest artists will lead master classes and coaching sessions for local students a lecture/demonstration with the Boys and Girls Club of Topeka

Little House on the Prairie, Independence, Visiting Artist, $4,000
Gino Salerno will create two sculptures, one unit, from two 5-foot Elm trees acquired from the Little House on the Prairie Museum lands. The two 5-foot trees will be turned into one large sculpture over a 12-hour period. The statues will be cemented into the ground at the Little House on the Prairie Museum grounds. In addition, Gino Salerno will speak to two separate art classes at Independence Community College and Independence High School about his work and art, and how to market yourself as an artist.

The Seed House/Harvester Arts, Wichita, Visiting Artist, $5,000
Visiting artists Sharon Louden, Chloe Bass, Courtney Fink, Jayme McLellan, and Alison Wong will conduct a program entitled “Living and Sustaining a Creative Life in Kansas”. In addition to the primary panel discussion event, the following day we, along with Harvester Arts, will host three complementary workshops to tap into the visiting artists’ expertise to reflect and organize for the Wichita community.

Western Plains Arts Association, Colby, Visiting Artist, $2,725
Kansas Touring Roster member The Wichita Children’s Theatre will present “The Mark Twain Show: Stories of His Writings” at the St. Francis Community School for the general public. In addition, they will make presentations at six area elementary schools.

William Allen White Foundation, Emporia, Innovative Partnerships, $15,000
In partnership with the ESU Department of English, Modern Languages, and Journalism, The William Allen White Foundation Sesquicentennial Film project will produce a 50 minute documentary film about Emporia’s most famous citizen, William Allen White directed by Kevin Willmott and narrated by Bill Kurtis. The film will also be edited as an 8-10 minute short for use in middle, secondary, and college classrooms, and will be distributed free of charge to every school district in Kansas.

 

The Hays 9U Hammer won the 2017 Salina Slugfest on April 9.

Top row left to right: Kaleb Roe, Jarek Purdy, Logan Baalmann, Max Evans, Will Schmeidler and Bennett Smith.
Bottom row left to right: Sam Thielen, Easton Werth, Max Cadoret, Deyton Schmidtberger, Parker Linenberger and Ty Schmeidler

Send your spring/summer tournament news and photos to [email protected]!