Pipestone School of Music presents its annual Music Days Celebration on May 25 and 26, with a Pipestone Orchestra concert on Saturday evening and an afternoon of student recitals on Sunday.
The orchestra, directed by Tara Kaiyala Weaver, will present a program that includes the first movement of Dvorak’s New World Symphony.
Nick Saunders, a graduating high school senior, will perform the third movement from Mozart’s “Violin Concerto in G Major.” The first movement from Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor will feature Linda Mendro and the Pipestone Jazz Ensemble.
Ten-year-old Keeley Brooks, winner of Pipestone’s Christine Cherrington Merit Award, will perform the Violin Concerto in A minor by Antonio Vivaldi, accompanied by Nancy Acheson, during the evening concert as well.
The May 25 concert will be held at 7 p.m. in the Methow Valley Community Center. Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for youths, and free for children 12 and under.
On Sunday, May 26, from 1-4 p.m., Pipestone School of Music students will display their talents and the fruits of a year’s dedication to music study. Students will perform on violin, viola, cello, guitar, piano and flute. Sunday’s recitals are free and open to the public.
Pipestone School of Music is the educational branch of Cascadia, the Methow Music Association. For more information call 997-0222.
Magpie returns to Methow
Magpie, the musical duo of Greg Artzner and Terry Leonino, will perform a benefit concert for the Methow Valley Citizens’ Council on May 19 at 7 p.m. at the Merc Playhouse in Twisp.
Magpie first appeared in the Methow in November 2010. Artzner and Leonino are internationally known for their musical work in the environmental movement. Their songs range from traditional, classic country, swing, and blues of the 1920s and ’30s, to contemporary songs written by themselves and others. They have produced 11 CDs, and are on numerous anthologies.
The Methow Valley Citizens’ Council works to preserve the wildlife, waters and farmland of the Methow Valley.
Tickets are $12 at the door. For more information, call 997-2669.
Students give piano recital
Local musician and composer Lynette Westendorf will present her annual Student Piano Recital on June 2, at 1 p.m. at the Merc Playhouse in Twisp. The recital will feature 20 young pianists, ages 7 through 17. All students will perform solo works and in four- or six-hand duet. Composers featured will include Bach, Beethoven, Grieg, Joplin and Schumann, as well as numerous composers of student pieces.
Admission is free. For information, call 996-3418.
Local art in regional shows
Two Methow Valley artists will be featured in regional exhibits this month. Photographer Matt Firth is showing his panoramic landscapes at Caffè Mela in Wenatchee during the month of May along with another photographer. Firth’s photography has been exhibited at many venues in the Methow, including the Winthrop Gallery, where he is a member.
Jennifer Molesworth is one of two featured artists at the Golden West Gallery in the visitor center in Stehekin. Molesworth does most of her watercolor painting when she is hiking or backpacking.
The Golden West exhibit opens this Saturday (May 11) with a reception at 7:30 p.m. It will be on view through June 12.
Laramie Project at the Merc
A Readers’ Theater production of The Laramie Project by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project will be presented at the Merc Playhouse on May 24 and 25. Shows are at 7 p.m. A post-show discussion will be led by John Roth.
The play, directed by Mark Wenzel, is about the reaction to the 1998 murder of University of Wyoming gay student Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming. The cast features Ann Diamond, Jessica Dietz, Joe Marver, Peter Morgan, Patti Watson, Joseph Weaver, Rose Wegant, Mark Wenzel, Cricket Whittaker and Tom Zbyszewski.
For information call 997-7529 or email info@mercplayhouse.org.
Drama camps for kids
The Merc Playhouse in Twisp is again offering its Youth Drama Camps this summer, with a choice of either July 15-19 or Aug. 5-9.
Designed for kids ages 8 and up, the camps focus on performance, with training in acting, singing and dancing. Kids also have a chance to build and design set pieces and costumes. There will be student performance at the end of each camp. Megan Fox Hicks will be the camp director. Hicks appeared as Lucy in The Merc’s 2010 production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. She has a degree in theater education and teaches drama at Kalles Junior High School in Puyallup.
Cost is $200 per session. Camp hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Performances will be on Friday at the end of each session, at 4 p.m. at the Merc. Some partial scholarships are available. For information call 997-7529 or visit www.mercplayhouse.org.
Step up to the mic
Open Merc returns to the Merc Playhouse on May 31 at 7 p.m. The event is hosted by Egon Steinebach. Musicians and performers of all types are invited to take the stage in a casual, coffee house-style venue. No cover.
Beer and wine will be available for purchase. For more information, call 997-7529.
Confluence offers summer art camps
Kids get creative at art camps this summer, hosted by Confluence Gallery and Art Center in Twisp.
Every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., July 10 through Aug. 16, children ages 6-10 will explore a variety of art and craft techniques, get their hands messy, spend time at the park and by the river, tour the studios of professional artists, and have fun indoors and out.
• Session 1, July 10-12, is Wet and Needle Felting with instructor Bo Thrasher. Kids make wall hangings, masks, hats and other useful objects out of colorful wool.
• Session 2, July 17-19 is Secret Location Art Explosion with Laura Gunnip. Create environmental installations including a collaborative sculpture by the river and message flags in the park.
• Session 3, July 24-26 is Books and Buttons taught by Laura Gunnip. Kids make a variety of handmade books, buttons and stickers using printmaking and stamp techniques.
• Session 4, July 31-Aug. 2 is Garden Art with Sarah Fox. Create stepping stones and garden bells, and decorate rocks and driftwood to take home and display in the garden.
• Session 5, Aug. 7-9 is Jewelry Making Extravaganza with Sarah Fox. An introduction to bead making, felted jewelry, and creating jewelry out of recycled and found items.
• Session 6, Aug. 14-16 is Street Music Band with Danbert Nobacon. Kids learn songwriting, pop song composition, and musical arrangement culminating in a performance on the streets of Twisp.
All classes will be based at the Confluence classroom. Each session is $125, and campers must register in advance for one or more sessions.
Contact Confluence Gallery by June 28 to register, 997-2787.
Free showing of Half the Sky
A free screening of the film Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide will be presented at the Twisp River Pub next Tuesday (May 14) at 7 p.m. Doors will open at 6 p.m., with light food available. The movie is based on the book by the same name, written by New York Times reporter Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. After the film there will be a short conversation led by Florence Sawyer and Phyllis Daniels.
The program is the third in The Methow Naturalist human ecology series, and is sponsored by The Naturalist and the local progressive listserve Yipdoggies.
For information call 996-8296.
Test your taste at wine social
The Merc Playhouse will host a wine-tasting social on May 30 from 5:30-8 p.m. at Tappi, 201 S. Glover St. in Twisp. Participating wineries include Vin Du Lac Winery, Four Lakes Winery and Karma Vineyards from Chelan, Rockwall Cellars from Omak, and Lost River Winery of Winthrop. There will be a blind tasting contest.
The $20 cost includes wine tastings and appetizers. Tickets will be available at the door.
For information, call 997-7529 or email info@mercplayhouse.org.
