Event was truly talk of the town

By Rebecca Petersen | The Daily Journal

Published Saturday, September 27, 2008

Last night's Talk of the Town event at the Bigwood Event Center meant a lot of things to A Center for the Arts. While it's our biggest fund raising event of the year, it's also an opportunity for us to build community by gathering people together to have a good time around the arts. This is something we strive for all year long.

Last night's Talk of the Town was also an opportunity to raise money for the arts and A Center for the Arts programs. We work hard at fund raising and grant writing so that we are better able to keep ticket prices, class prices and participation fees affordable.

Last night was also a chance for us to let people know about all of the wonderful opportunities we are able to offer in the next several months because of their support. I'll share some of these with you now so you get this added bonus as well.

First on the program was The High School Chamber Orchestra. This was a taste of classical string music of which there will be many more opportunities. The formal dinner program opened with three Norwegian performers in a program they're participating in called “On the Road to Hostfest!” So this week they brought a dance & music program to Our Lady of Victory School AND to Mill Street Residence. They performed at Talk of the Town last night and will return to Fergus Falls on Sunday, Oct. 5 to do an evening or Norwegian Music, Dance and Storytelling at 7 p.m. at A Center for the Arts.

This is just one of many culturally diverse programs that we're planning. Others include African Drumming and East Indian Dance and we hope a Mariachi Band at Concerts in the Park next summer. It's also an example of how we work with the schools and community to offer lasting impressions on kids and adults.

A Center for the Art's Childrens Choir served up the first course. There will be many other opportunities to hear from them in the months ahead. Other classical vocal music opportunities include the FM Opera on Oct. 21; a sampler from Don Giovanni at 5:15 p.m. and other opportunities leading up to our May Day Choir Invitational Accompanist Susan Elaine Sanner played the piano for the choir and for trumpet Player Dan Carlson who welcomed in the main course.

A reminder that many pianists will be giving concerts in Fergus Falls this year, including George Winston on Oct. 7.

Throughout the evening we were treated to the music of Simone Perrin who helped us weave our way through an evening of eating, entertainment and socializing. She will be here for tonight's poetry reading at 7 p.m. She'll be providing musical interludes between poets. Join us by purchasing a ticket price for only $5; see what I mean about keeping prices affordable?

Finally, the program was complete when The Fergus Falls School of Dance gave us a taste of their talents. Some of the students will be performing at Dance and Dessert on Dec. 5 and 6. They also help us raise money to bring major dance companies to town. This year we will have return visits by TU Dance on November 8 and James Sewell Ballet in April.

This year's Talk of the Town Fund Raiser was truly “A Feast for the Senses,” But if you missed it rest assured. We'll be feeding you a smorgasborad of arts opportunities all year long. And, we're already starting to plan for next year's Talk of the Town. Hope you can make it.

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Rebecca Petersen is the director of A Center for the Arts in Fergus Falls.