From China to Cellos at the Wilson Performing Arts Center

It’s been three years since the Wilson Performing Arts Center opened its doors in Red Oak.

In that time, more than 15,000 people have come through those doors to attend performances.
  

 “That's audiences only,” said Board President Paul Griffen. “It doesn’t include all the performers, directors, students, teachers, other staff members, or our many volunteers. And audience members come from all over - not just the state, but all over the country and the world.

“We've had performers from all over the world as well,” he added. “This year in November we had a group from Israel, in February a Song and Dance Ensemble from China, and on March 8 the Hunt family from Ireland will be here.”

In addition to professional touring groups, the Wilson plays host to community theater productions, and recitals and concerts by students of its educational programs.

While the building has been open for only three years, the dream and the mission of the Performing Arts Center goes back much farther.

“We started out with a task force looking at possibilities,” said Larry Brandstetter, past and original President of the Board. “In 2003 we had a feasibility study done, and formed our first Board of Directors. Our first educational program was Strings Unlimited, which began in 2004. Then we offered guitar lessons, and in 2007 the Southwest Iowa Chorale, all before the building opened.”

Since then, many other educational opportunities have been added.

The Southwest Iowa Dance Studio with Joy Tunnicliff from Clarinda Dance Academy presently has 37 students, ages 4 through high school.  

Marsden Music Studio with Terra Marsden  has ten students ages 9 through adult taking private lessons in voice, piano and percussion.

EMPOWER! Youth Theatre Troupe has 25 high school students writing, directing and acting skits. Mary Jardon is the coordinator of this program.

Although the guitar program has been discontinued, the SWI Chorale is still going strong under the direction of Tim and Terra Marsden, with 40 members in the adult choir and 20 children in the Youth Chorale.

Strings Unlimited, under the direction of Becky Kia, has 26 students ages 8 through senior citizen enrolled this year.

“We were so glad to learn about this opportunity,” said Juli Whitehead, who comes from Sidney with her 8-year-old daughter Abby to take lessons.

Juli is learning the cello and Abby the violin.

“I heard about it from another mom who also home schools her kids. Word gets around in the home school community. We really wanted our daughter to learn the violin, and once I got here and saw the group, I thought, ‘Why don’t we both learn?’ We're really enjoying it.

“Abby is already looking forward to advancing out of beginner class into intermediate next year, and she asked me, ‘Mom, what if I move on and you don’t?’

I said I'll try my best to keep up.”

Esther Carlson of Red Oak always wanted to learn to play the violin.

“About five years ago my husband surprised me with a violin as a gift for Christmas,” she recalled. “I bought one of those self-help books, thinking I could teach myself, but you know how that goes. Then I heard about the program here. If it wasn't for this, I probably never would have learned.”

Many of the string students have continued in the program for several years and achieved considerable proficiency.

Several have played for weddings and other church events.

Bevin Griffin, a high school junior, was one of the original students back in 2004.

“I had actually started on the violin at age 6, when we lived in Savannah, Mo. We moved to Red Oak when I was 8, so then I joined this group. Otherwise, I would have had to go to Omaha for lessons.”

Griffin frequently plays her violin for church, and in school with the marching band (yes, the marching band) and the Minisingers.

This year she will perform for Solo and Ensemble Day.

Her plans for college are to major in both Music and English, and she hopes to eventually teach both at the high school level.

Upcoming performances at the Wilson include:

— The Hunt Family Irish Show, Thursday, March 8, 7:30 p.m.;

— Southwest Iowa Chorale Spring Concert, Friday, March 9, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 11, 2:30 p.m;

— The Noteables, Air Force Jazz Band, March 20, 7:30 p.m.;

— Shalo Lee and The Rush River Band, Saturday, March 31, 7:30 p.m.

For more information on the Wilson Performing Arts Center or future performances, go to www.wilsonartscenter.org.