Curtain Up!

In its 2011-12 concert season, the Golden Belt Community Concert Association brings the curtain up on eight concerts – two more than its traditional six concerts per season – yet keeping its same membership fees.

This concert season features a variety of entertainers, selected by the association's local board members with the goal of pleasing a wide range of musical tastes. The 2012-12 season features 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.

Becoming a Member of the Golden Belt Community Concert Association:

Membership fees: $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.

Board Members Choose the Entertainers for Each Concert Season

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.