Performing Arts
Since its founding the Hampshire County Arts Council has pursued
an active schedule of performances by visiting and local artists,
providing fine entertainment and opportunities for exposure of
local talents. The schedule has grown from an open mike at our
2nd Annual Meeting and a single summer concert on the lawn to
performances throughout the year.
The 2007-8 Concerts Season includes: Simple Gifts, Just4Fun,
The Chorus of the Potomac, Pipeline, Acoustic Eidolon, Christine
Lavin, Dan Frechette, Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen, The Hula
Monsters, Osubi Craig and the Prophecy Music Project, Magpie,
Emily Smith, Pierce Pettis, Sara Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion,
Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas, Ernie Hawkins, Jay Ungar and
Molly Mason, Tony Trischka, and the WVU Steel Drum Ensemble.
The Annual Cabin Fever Concert in February gives a great excuse
to get out of the house. It has featured performers such as Walt
Michael and Company, Madeline MacNeil, Jan Gillies, author/ photographer,
Jim Clark, and The Critton Hollow String Band.
The Council's Free Summer Concerts on the Lawn Series is designed
especially for families. It has brought an impressive array of
performers to our community, from The Potomac Concert Band and
The Frostburg Arion Band, to folk trio Hot Soup and blues masters
Scott Ainslie, and Cephas and Wiggins.They have also featured
traditional musicians from Scotland, Ireland, and Brazil,
acappella gospel/folk trio Soup Kitchen, John McCutcheon, The
Martin Family String Band with the Rock Candy Cloggers, Queen
City Funk and Soul, and The Ladybird Singers and The Chorus of
the Potomac Chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement
of Barbershop Quartet Singing. The
Potomac Center has graciously allowed us use
of their beautiful grounds and facilities for these relaxed
free family concerts.
In conjunction with Hampshire Heritage Days, the Arts Council
has sponsored performances in both middle schools as well as public
performances by Sparky Rucker, and Ilene Evans and Richard Smith.
The Arts Council also brought Mountain's Stage's Julie Adams and
the Rhino Boys to headline Heritage Days 2001 entertainment. A
Heritage Days performance by participants in the Arts Council's
1999 summer arts camp showed off some of our local youths' talents.
The Arts Council has organized a series of community square
dances, hosted the US Air Force Band of Flight's Clarinet Quartet,
classical Trio Chorda, and a public performance of Duncan Inches
as Shakespeare. The Arts Council has also showcased such local
musical talents as the First United Methodist Church's Bell
Choirs, Hilary Hott, Aaron Eiler and Clarke Morgret. In conjunction
with the Arts Council's Annual Meeting in March, an open mike
session has often provided an opportunity to hear a range of
members' talents, as well as students from Hampshire High School's
drama club and Young Writers' winners.
In addition, the Ice Mountain Writers' arm of the Arts Council
has presented an annual Evening of Readings and Music, featuring
both visiting writers/poets/songwriters such as Colleen Anderson,
Kate Long, Grace Cavalieri, Ann Pancake, and Dennis Jay along
with our own talented Ice Mountain Writers.
The Arts Council periodically offers informal coffeehouse performances,
and since 2003 has been regularly presenting concerts in The
Bottling Works, thanks to a working partnership with The Loy
Foundation.
The Arts Council has assisted the Hampshire County GEAR UP
Program in bringing Walt Michael and Company's "Roots Across
The Water"
program to the county's middle schools as part of GEAR UP's enrichment
component. It has also presented the Grammy-award-winning
program, Bon Appetit! with Cathy Fink and Marci Marxer to all
the county's first-through-third graders, brought classical
guitarist Randall Avers and national flatpick guitar champion
Robin Kessinger to Hampshire High School's guitar classes, and
set up a jazz workshop with Siora Jazz for the Hampshire High
Jazz Band.
The Arts Council has successfully obtained grant funding for
many of these performances, with valuable local support in meeting
grant match requirements. The
Bank of Romney has sponsored the
Free Summer Concert on the Lawn Series and FNB
Romney has sponsored
our Fall/Winter/Spring concerts. HCAChas regularly received financial
assistance from the WV Division of Culture and History, and
the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the
WV Commission on the Arts. and from Pennsylvania Performing
Arts On Tour.
We thank The Bank of Romney for use of its Community Center
and the WV Schools for the Deaf and Blind for use of their facilities
as venues for many of the Arts Council's performances.
Concerts chair, Shari Gallery, welcomes suggestions for performers
and events, as well as sponsors.
The Hampshire County Arts Council welcomes persons with disabilities
at all of its events and activities. To request accessibility
services to participate, please contact any HCAC co-director
at least 5 days in advance and we will do our best to accommodate.
WV Relay Operator for information on performances: 711-496-8002
Contact Shari at (304) 496-8201
Or send email to: performances@hampshirearts.org
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