Concerts, Readings & Theatrical Presentations
Since its founding in 1994 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 as well as access to world-class talent.
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. Since 2003 The Hampshire County Arts Council has regularly presented concerts in The Bottling Works, thanks to a working partnership with The Loy Foundation.
For a complete list of performers HCAC has presented click here.
The 2008-9 Concerts Season (July-June) has brought: Randy Barrett and The Barretones, Small Potatoes, Guy Davis, Tom Chapin, Bryan Bowers, Chris Smither, Martha and Eddie Adcock with Tom Gray. Still to come are Potluck with Colleen Anderson, Julie Adams and Karen Vuranch, Tim O'Brien and Todd Burge, and Michael and Carrie Kline.
The 2009/10 Season is now firmed up. You can look forward to hearing The Barnstormers, String Fever, The April Verch Band, Johnny Staats and Robert Shafer, Ouros, Madeline MacNeil, Gandy Dancer, and Hot Soup.
The Cabin Fever Concert each 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, The Critton Hollow String Band, The Unfortunate Rakes, Nordika, South Mountain String Band with Rock Candy Cloggers, Just4Fun and the Chorus of the Potomac, Port Righ, Jay Ungar and Molly Mason and Martha and Eddie Adcock with Tom Gray.
The Council's Free Summer Concerts on the Lawn Series is designed especially for families. The Potomac Center has graciously allowed us use of their beautiful grounds and facilities for these relaxed free family concerts. This series 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, to African dance & drumming Osubi Craig and the Prophecy Music Project. 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, Pangea Steel Ensemble, The Blue Rhythm Boys, Randy Barrett and the Barretones, Resonance Steel Ensemble, Minas, Two of a Kind, The Kennedys, Ensemble Tympanon, Wolf Creek Session, Andrew Reissinger with Jonathon Byrd, The Hula Monsters, and Magpie.
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 community square dances, hosted the US Air Force Band of Flight's Clarinet Quartet and the Shepherd University Jazz Band, 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, Ophelia String Band, and the HHS Jazz Ensemble. 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 has offered informal coffeehouse performances at Taggart Hall and The Bottling Works.
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. The Romney Moose Lodge #1371 and Augusta Animal Hospital have also been regular sponsors helping make concerts possible.
HCAC has 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 (PennPAT).
Performing Arts 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 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 304-703-1350 cell.
Or send email to:
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