Community Concert Membership Campaign Starts Now

The Golden Belt Community Concert Association will soon launch its membership drive for the 2012-13 season. The campaign for memberships will continue through April.

In September, for its second year in a row, the association will raise the curtain on eight concerts – two more than its traditional six concerts per season, yet again keeping its same membership fees.
The new season features a variety of entertainers, selected by the concert association’s local board members with the goal of pleasing a wide range of musical tastes.

To select the entertainers for each season, members of the GBCCA board of directors attend the Live On Stage National Conference in Nashville, Tenn., along with hundreds of representatives of concert associations from across the country. Last July, board members at the conference saw 39 performances – most of them live; a few in video – each lasting 15 minutes, demonstrating the performers’ talents and giving concert representatives glimpses into the appeal their performances have to offer for their audiences.
As they watch the performances, members not only take note of their own personal preferences, but also notice the total audience reaction to each performer. In this way, board members can choose the performers they know will appeal to the wide-ranging tastes of their audiences at home.

This year, members came back from their July Nashville trip full of enthusiasm for the entertainers they had seen. Board members made their final selections at a special meeting in the weeks following their arrival home from the conference. Once making those decisions, they submitted their preferences to their regional Live On Stage representative who went through the booking process to set dates that fit into the performers’ concert itineraries.

For the 2011-12 season, the GBCCA board is happy to present all eight of its original selections and confident association members will be pleased with the caliber of entertainers this new season has to offer.
The season will feature the following concerts:

• The American Tenors, Sept. 15, described as a vibrant combination of voices and spot-on humor with a repertoire varying from “Nessun Dorma” to “West Side Story,” from the Great American Songbook to Neopolitan favorites.
• The Water Coolers, Oct. 25, an award-winning comedy troupe whose original music and parodies of familiar songs make everybody laugh at the headaches and hassles of everyday life and work.
• Sean Jones, Nov. 14, a singer/songwriter whose rhythm and blues, pop, soul and big-band vocals have people comparing him to Frank Sinatra, Marvin Gaye, Seal and Stevie Wondra.
• Carpe Diem String Quartet, Jan. 14, performing a classical repertoire, but also showing their passion for Gypsy, tango, folk, pop, rock and jazz.
• Guy Penrod, Feb. 17, who performed with the legendary gospel group the Gaither Vocal Band for 14 years and is returning to country music while still delivering a moving message.
• Spanish Brass, March 1, created in 1989 by five Spanish musicians with a flair for both classical and contemporary music.
• Anna Wilson, March 27, a critically acclaimed jazz singer and songwriter who also sings country standards including “You’re the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me” and “Night Life” that evoke appreciation from country and jazz enthusiasts alike.
• “Take Me Home: The Music of John Denver,” April 30, performed by Jim Curry, who brings John Denver’s music back to life through an ultimate tribute to him.

The Concert Association has contacted present members for their membership renewals. Present members need to respond by April 5 for guaranteed renewal. They may renew online at www.goldenbeltcca.org if they wish. Anyone who is not a current member, but wishes to purchase a membership may contact Norma Hammeke, 793-6759, to have their name placed on a waiting list.
Even with eight concerts scheduled for the new season, the price of membership remains the same: $45 for adults; $10 for full-time enrolled students; $100 for a family membership including two adults and all dependent children living in the same household; and $100 for a grandparent package for two adults and up to four minor grandchildren.

Admission to concerts is by season membership only. No single concert tickets are available. Memberships will be counted April 14, 15 and 16 at GBCCA Headquarters located at the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce, 1125 Williams. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 14 and 15, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 16. Anyone wishing to inquire about a membership may do so in person by going to the headquarters on one of those dates, or they may contact Norma Hammeke by calling the phone number listed above.