Community Concert renewal begins

By now, Community Concert ticket holders from this past season should have received the 2011-12 Season brochure in the mail.  If not, the information is online at www.npacvw.org or feel free to stop by the box office and pick up information.

The time schedule for renewing season tickets is as follows: Tuesday, May 3, all directors, sponsors and NPAC members have the chance to renew.  Beginning Monday, May 9, all patrons may start renewing.  By Monday, May 16, all single season purchasers may renew.  Beginning Monday, May 23, the Community Concert season is open to anyone wishing to buy the series.  Each individual concert will be available for single ticket purchases approximately 90 days before the concert date.

This process may seem a little involved, but it protects those who have been loyal concert attendees in the past while still allowing for growth to new concertgoers.  We have thought about different ways of renewing Community Concert Series tickets over the past couple years, but have tried to stay fairly consistent.  Since moving into the Niswonger Performing Arts Center, we have been able to reserve seats. It was much more difficult to do so in the Marsh Auditorium, especially without a ticketing system in house.

As we find seats for everyone, we really appreciate everyone’s understanding about aisle seating.  It seems that more people prefer an aisle seat than what we have available. It also occasionally becomes necessary to move people’s seats.  I just ask that you be understanding if this needs to happen and realize that changing seats is sometimes a good thing.  A new perspective is often a refreshing change.

We are excited about the upcoming season of five concerts.  It features a variety of musical and comedy entertainment.  On October 11, the Gaudete Brass Quintet will offer those who love brass chamber music an exciting concert in the outstanding acoustical environment of the VWCF Saltzgaber Music Hall.  Also appearing on this concert will be Polaris Brass from Ohio Northern University, allowing for some thrilling antiphonal possibilities.

The original and still the best a cappella male vocal group of all time, Rockapella, will be visiting the NPAC for the first time on November 4.  This is a group I’ve always wanted to bring to Van Wert and we finally got them on our schedule.  Their brand of music is fun for old and young alike.

Now the next concert on March 24 ought to hit just about as the political scene really gets heated up. Capitol Steps is a Washington-based troupe of congressional songwriters who give a performance of politically satirical music.  I am sure by then we could all use a good laugh!

It’s not often we repeat performers, but on April 28 we will present Livingston Taylor once again, only in a little different light.  We have combined him with the Voices of Unity Choir from Fort Wayne, an award-winning gospel choir of young people who have performed for an Indianapolis Colts football game, as well as backing up famed vocalist Roberta Flack, to just name a few.  They will open for Livingston and then combine with him on some great Gospel tunes Livingston sings.

Finally on May 12, the finest Rat Pack show we could find is coming to town. Sandy Hackett’s (son of the late legendary comedian, Buddy Hackett) Rat Pack show is the most authentic of any you will ever see.  Of course, his father, Buddy spent so many years around Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin and Joey Bishop that it is a natural for Sandy to create this show.

Okay, there you have it: the 2011-12 Community Concert Season, along with when to get your seats reserved. You may either mail in your renewal form or drop it off at the box office between noon and 4 p.m. Tickets will be available for pick-up or mailing after June 1. Thanks for your support and we look forward to another great year of Community Concerts!

FINÉ.