Arts on 817 launches second season

By Miriam Ostermann, Associate Editor

Following the first year’s success of Strathmore’s only concert series, Arts on 817 is launching its second season with double the concerts and a broader reach of musical talent.
The Arts on 817 committee announced this year’s line up at the end of their inaugural series’ final concert on May 4, and already sold 25 season tickets that night.
Unlike last year, which included three concerts – The Heebee-jeebees, Latitude 49: Timothy Steeves and Jani Parsons, and The Foothills Brass Quintet – the 2018-19 season is packed with six concerts ranging from classical to comedy to bluegrass to contemporary with local and national acts.
“We didn’t really know what was going to happen. We had a pretty good feeling that it was going to be OK but when you launch a concert series that’s never been heard of before, you don’t really know if people are going to come and like what you’re presenting. So we were thrilled with the response from the community of Strathmore and surrounding areas,” said Carolyn Steeves, artistic director and member of the Arts on 817 Committee.
“This year we’ve been really bold; initially last year we wanted to have more than three concerts and we ran out of time because we wanted to get it launched so we stuck with three. This year we’ve gone to six so that’s a big step forward.”
According to Steeves, the concert series is based on Red Deer Lake United Church’s series called On the Edge, and originally stemmed from the Strathmore United Church’s need for a grand piano. A few years ago, the church had to turn away musicians because the piano at the time proved inadequate. As a result a piano committee was formed that eventually raised $36,000 for a new instrument, and with it the rise of the concert series. The committee, which contains roughly 10 members, morphed into a committee for Arts on 817.
The upcoming season will kick off with ReMix, selected members from the distinguished Revv 52 choir, who are determined to bring some current, classical, pop, R&B and jazz hits to the stage on Oct 27. Following them will be the Ton Beau String Quartet from Toronto, which will provide an evening of chamber music on Nov. 24. The Calgary Fiddlers, comprised of up of 15 talented youths, work their bows on Dec. 1 with contemporary, folk, country bluegrass and Celtic music to complete the fall line-up of the season.
In winter, mother-daughter duo mezzo soprano Elizabeth Hoyt and pianist Janet Scott-Hoyt – Women of Note – perform music by women or composed by women on Feb. 2. The famed group Arrogant Worms are sure to make families laugh on March 22. The 2018-19 season will finish with a final concert on May 10 with Rosebud talent, The Dearhearts, and their local bluegrass sound.
“We are the only sort of concert series; there are random things that come through, but as far as a concert series we’re kind of it,” said Steeves. “We fundraised for the piano and now we have this concert series. I’m personally very pleased and I think our church and our committee is pleased that it’s been very well received, that it’s been popular and that it’s been good for the community and good for our church. We’re very proud, I think, of what we’ve accomplished and hope to continue and build on it.”
Season tickets for the Arts on 817 2018-19 season are now on sale for $145 or $75 for the three fall concerts, or $85 for the three winter concerts. Early-bird season passes are now available until July 1. Tickets can also be purchased at the door for $30 for adults, and $10 for youth 17 years of age and younger. For more information or to purchase tickets call Linda at 403-901-2797.