2014-15 NPAC season opens next week

Niswonger PAC information

It’s a celebration of musical artistry on Saturday, October 4, at 7:30 p.m. at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center. Doors open at 6:30 that evening and the lobby will be filled with the excitement of a new season, along with the added thrill of giveaways and sweet treats.

The award-winning Annie Moses Band of PBS fame will kick off the Niswonger’s “Community Concert Series” by giving away an autographed violin in honor of the string sextet’s “Rhapsody in Bluegrass: The Art of American Music” tour.

Another lucky ticketholder will be the winner of a 5-carat Ametrine slide set in solid sterling silver valued at $400 from Slusher’s Jewelry. All ticket buyers are automatically entered to win.

The winners will be announced from the stage at intermission, and all attendees will be treated in the lobby to Bob Evan’s featured fall dessert samplers. In addition, coupons for free Bob Evans desserts will also be distributed while supplies last.

The autographed violin is signed by the six Wolaver siblings that comprise the Annie Moses Band: Annie Dupre, Alex Wolaver, Benjamin Wolaver, Camille Wolaver, Gretchen Wolaver, and Jeremiah Wolaver. The oldest three, Annie, Alex, and Benjamin, were trained at the Juilliard School in violin, viola and cello, respectively.

The Annie Moses Band is a classical crossover ensemble, with accolades that include more than 1,200 hours on PBS, two chart-topping albums, as well as debuts at the Grand Ole Opry and Carnegie Hall. The multi-instrumental group also includes piano, harp, mandolin, and electric and acoustic guitar, as well as the critically acclaimed vocals of Annie Dupre.

“Rhapsody in Bluegrass,” inspired by George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody In Blue” and other iconic American compositions, is a high-energy reinvention of classic American melodies. The show fuses Appalachian bluegrass, Irish fiddle, folk, and classic themes to create a musically diverse, family-friendly concert experience for all generations.

“With ‘Rhapsody in Bluegrass,’ we wanted to cover the scope of the American musical landscape,” said Dupre, lead vocalist of the Annie Moses Band. “We can’t wait to share this cinematic experience with audiences.”

Tickets for the evening begin as low as $20 and are available online at www.NPACVW.org or through the Box Office, 419.238.6722.

The Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio is located at 10700 Ohio 118 on the southwest edge of Van Wert.

The 2014-15 Season Sponsors are StateWide Ford Lincoln and Van Wert Federal Savings Bank. Vancrest Health Care Center presents the Community Concert Series at the Niswonger, while supporting sponsors include Taylor Auto Sales Inc., Delphos Hearing Aid Center, Central Insurance Companies, Slusher’s Jewelry of Van Wert and Van Wert County Hospital.