Vibrant Orange City, Iowa

Bella Ruse November 19
2011-11-19 20:00 - 22:00 (America/Chicago) | Old Factory Coffee Shop, 110 4th St SW, Orange City, 51041
Mark your calendars! Bella Ruse at Old Factory Coffee Shop in Orange City, November 19 at 8 p.m. Enter the video contest and win a $50 gift certificate to The Hatchery and a gig opening for Bella Ruse! Check out bellaruse.com/contest

Author and illustrator of children’s book to visit
2011-10-14 15:30 - 17:00 | Orange City Public Library, Orange City, IA, 51041, United States
The Juggler comes to town: Meet The Juggler. Actually, he's a wanna-be juggler, who can't seem to set aloft anything but cabbages. Jeanette Hopkins is the author, and along with her husband Bruce, will read and talk in local schools October 10-18. The work of Stormy Mochal, illustrator, will be on exhibit at the Orange City Public Library Oct. 14-28. An opening reception will be held Friday, Oct. 14 at the Orange City library, 3:30 to 5 p.m.

ORANGE CITY – The author and illustrator of a new children’s book, The Juggler, will be presenting their works in schools, a retirement community and the Orange City library in October.

A reception will be held Friday, Oct. 14 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the Orange City Public Library for Jeanette Hopkins of Sioux City, the author of The Juggler, and Stormy Mochal of Dubuque, the illustrator.

Hopkins and her husband Bruce, an environmental writer, will speak in schools October 10-18, and Mochal’s art will be on exhibit at the library Oct. 14-28.

The Juggler is a story about Henri, a young farmer who dreams of juggling almost everything, but is heart-broken at only being able to set aloft a few cabbages.

Filled with rhyme, rhythm and repetition, the story includes a visit to the circus, air-borne “piggies,” and colorful and detailed illustrations.

“Henri enchants as we dream with him, learn with him, overcome our fears with him, and find him sharing his gift with the world,” said Amy Robbins-Wilson, The Lullaby Lady, Amazon.

Hopkins, a semi-retired educator, wrote The LadyBug Waltz, which was published in 2009 by Ice Cube Press in North Liberty. The Juggler was published by Ice Cube Press this year.

Hopkins and her husband travel throughout the U.S. sharing insights about reading and writing with students of all ages. They’ve been in 150 schools since 2009.

The Juggler began when Hopkins purchased a print of a colorful juggler created by Mochal, and was inspired to write a story. “She creates wonderful and whimsical drawings of magical people,” said Hopkins. Both a children’s book and a relationship were born.

Mochal is an artist inspired by the country of Iowa: farmhouses, starry skies, birds, flowers. Art, she said, is her “connection to the inner child… a playful, not-so serious self.”

She studied painting and art history at Loras College in Dubuque, has taught art classes at NICC Community College and in her home studio, and has exhibited widely. She co-owns Outside the Lines Art Gallery in Dubuque, selling her own work, and the work of other regional artists..

The Juggler is her first children’s book.

Jeanette and Bruce Hopkins’ workshop schedule includes Landsmeer Ridge Retirement Community on Oct. 10, where Bruce will talk about his book, When Foxes Wore Red Vests, a blend of essays, poetry, drawings and photographs.

Other school and library sessions include Rock Valley Elementary Oct. 11, Ireton Christian Oct. 12, MOC-Floyd Valley Elementary in Orange City Oct. 13, Northwest Iowa Home Educators Oct. 14 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Orange City Public Library, and Northwest Iowa Reading Council at the Orange City library Oct. 18. The public is invited to the Oct. 14 session at the library.

“The children have loved The Juggler,” said Hopkins, “and they love learning the first step to juggling.” She leaves each student with directions and a bag of three colored balls.

All are invited to the reception Oct. 14. Refreshments will be served. Sponsor is the Orange City Arts Council. For more information, contact OCArts@orangecityiowa.com, www.orangecityarts.net, 712-707-6514.

Check out www.tracysilverman.com
2011-10-07 19:30 - 21:00 | Northwestern College Chapel, 601 Central Ave SE, Orange City IA 51041
A local couple won tickets to the October 7 Tracy Silverman concert. Winners were Pam and Loren Visser of D & L Plumbing and Heating. Their names were was drawn among donors to the Orange City Arts Council.
The concert, to be held Friday, Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Northwestern College Chapel, features electric violinist Tracy Silverman. His show is eclectic, featuring everything from jazz, rock, and contemporary to classical and Brazilian pieces. He will play a Led Zeppelin medley with “Stairway to Heaven,” his own version of Bach, and a Gershwin piece, “Bess, you is my woman now.” He will also play Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana, John Adams, Latin rock, Brazilian-style choro and several of his own compositions.
The show will also include one number performed with 28 students from MOC-Floyd Valley, Unity Christian and Western Christian high schools.
Tickets are available from Dove Christian Bookstore, Orange City Arts Council and town hall, and the Northwestern Music Department. Advance tickets are $9 for adults, $4 for students. At the door, tickets are $12 and $7.
Concert sponsors are the Orange City Arts Council and Northwestern College Music Department.
A feature story on Tracy Silverman was published in the Sept. 29, 2011 Sioux County Capital-Democrat: “Musical pioneer will take the stage in Orange City” by Crystal Snieder.

An evening with Tracy Silverman
2011-10-07 19:30 - 21:00
Electric violinist Tracy Silverman is in a class of his own, according to the LA Times. He performed with Jim Brickman at the Sioux Falls Washington Pavilion in December, and will perform with the Nashville Symphony in Carnegie Hall in May. His concert at Northwestern College's Christ Chapel will be Friday, Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m., sponsored by the Orange City Arts Council and Northwestern College.

ORANGE CITY – BBC Radio says he’s “the greatest living exponent of the electric violin.”

That’s Tracy Silverman. He graduated from the Juilliard School in 1980, then built one of the first ever six-string violins. Since then he’s been a musical pioneer – designing, building and performing on an instrument that did not previously exist.

And he’s coming to Orange City – October 7.

Eight years ago, Pulitizer Prize-winning composer John Adams’ electric violin concerto “The Dharma at Big Sur,” written for and with Silverman, single-handedly legitimized the electric violin. Adams called his work with Silverman “the closest thing to a genuine collaboration I’ve ever done with a performer.

“Tracy has developed his own unique style of violin playing – a marvel of expressiveness,” said Adams.

At the premier of the symphony, the LA Times raved, “Inspiring. Silverman is in a class of his own.” The Chicago Tribune wrote of Silverman’s “blazing virtuosity. You will be astonished that anybody can play a fiddle like that.”

Silverman has performed the piece everywhere from the Lincoln Center and the Walt Disney Concert Hall to the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Silverman performed with pop pianist Jim Brickman at the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls in December. He’s recorded with everyone from Roy Wooten of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones to Terry Riley, Zakir Hussein, Rachel Barton Pine and Daniel Bernard Roumain.

And, the Nashville Symphony commissioned a new electric violin concerto for him, which will be performed by Silverman and the Symphony at Carnegie Hall in May.

The Oct. 7 performance brings together new music with world and pop influences, Silverman’s reinventions of Bach, Hendrix and others, plus works by Adams and Riley.

The concert will be held at Northwestern College Christ Chapel Friday, October 7 at 7:30 p.m., sponsored by the Orange City Arts Council and Northwestern College. Tickets are $9 for adults and $4 for students, and are available at the Northwestern College Music Department, Dove Christian Bookstore and the Orange City Arts Council. At the door, tickets are $12 and $7.

Silverman will conduct a master class for MOC-FV and Unity high school strings players from 12:15 to 1:45 p.m. on October 7, at MOC-Floyd Valley High School. The students will join Silverman at the concert in “Blue Fire Fiddler.”

For more information on the concert or master class, contact the Orange City Arts Council, OCArts@orangecityiowa.com, www.orangecityarts.net or 712.707.4885. Read more and hear Silverman’s music at www.tracysilverman.com.

HARLEM STRING QUARTET TO PERFORM IN LOCAL SCHOOLS
2011-09-26 08:00 - 17:00 | MOC-FV Middle School & Unity Christian High, Alton & Orange CIty, IA, United States
Harlem Quartet to perform at MOC-FV Middle School and Unity Christian High: "Energetic, passionate, fun and… extremely musical." That's what the Kansas City Metropolis said of the Harlem Quartet. The Orange City Arts Council is sponsoring two school performances of the Harlem Quartet on Monday, Sept. 26. Pictured, left to right, are Juan Miguel Hernadez, viola, Paul Wiancko, cello, Melissa White, violin, and Ilmar Gavilan, violin.

ORANGE CITY – Panache: flamboyant confidence of style.

The New York Times used the word “panache” to describe the Harlem String Quartet’s recent performance.

Others rave on the Harlem Quartet too. Cincinnati.com said, “You haven’t lived until you have heard the Harlem Quartet play Billy Stayhorn’s ‘Take the “A” Train.’”

Kansas City Metropolis said, “Their program of rip-roaring all-string fare was energetic, passionate, fun and most importantly, extremely musical.”

The Harlem Quartet has played in the White House and on NBC’s Today Show. Their mission is to advance diversity in classical music while engaging young and new audiences through the discovery of varied repertoire. These performers/ teachers bring life to Ravel, Haydn, Wynton Marsalis and Chick Corea.

Quartet members are Ilmar Gavilan, violin, who began studies in his native Cuba at the Havana Conservatory; Melissa White, violin, who debuted with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra at age 14; Juan Miguel Hernandez, viola, who, in ’09, took the first prize at the 16th International Johannes Brahms Competition in Austria; and Paul Wiancko, cello, who, in ’06, was the only American to be invited to compete in the Lutoslawski International Cello Competition in Poland, winning second prize.

The Orange City Arts Council is sponsoring two school performances of Harlem String Quartet on Monday, Sept. 26. In the morning, the Quartet will do an assembly as MOC-Floyd Valley Middle School in Alton. In the afternoon, they will perform at Unity Christian High for strings students from Western Christian, Sioux Center Christian and Unity.

The Quartet will do an evening concert in Storm Lake Monday evening.

For more information, contact the Orange City Arts Council, www.orangecityarts.net, OCArts@orangecityiowa.com, 712-707-4885. Or visit the website www.harlemquartet.com.

AFRIZO is coming to Orange City and Sioux Center
2011-09-23 19:30 - 21:00 | Northwestern College Christ Chapel, 101 6th St SE, Orange City, IA, 51041, United States
Afrizo is coming!

On Friday, September 23, the African gospel-style music ensemble, Afrizo, will perform at Centre Mall in Sioux Center at 9:30 a.m., Dordt College Campus Center at 11 a.m., and Northwestern College Christ Chapel in Orange City at 7:30 p.m.

Afrizo, from Daystar University in Nairobi, Kenya, sings in English, Swahili and African tribal languages, worshiping the Lord in a unique variety of languages and styles. Director is Daystar faculty member Hellen Mtawali.

The September 1 through November 22 tour takes Afrizo members from Minneapolis to Rapid City, Portland and Missoula, next to the Midwest, New York and the East Coast, then to Nashville, Dallas, Albuquerque and Pasadena.

Daystar University was founded 35-plus years ago, and now has over 4,200 students from 20 African countries. The emphasis in the Christian liberal arts school is servant leadership, and Daystar trains students to work in government, business, media, community development, education and the church. Many return to their communities empowered to address difficult issues: HIV/AIDS, poverty, and civil strife.

The concerts are free, but donations will be received for scholarships for Daystar students. The full cost for tuition, room and board for one year is approximately $5,800.

Afrizo’s visit is sponsored by Dordt College, Northwestern College, the Orange City Arts Council and the Sioux Center Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact the Orange City Arts Council at 712.707.4885 or check the Daystar website: www.daystarus.org/. Hear music samples at http://www.daystarus.org/afrizo-music.html. See a music video at http://www.daystarus.org/afrizo-video.html.

DAKOTA BAROQUE & CLASSIC COMPANY to perform in Orange City
2011-09-13 19:00 - 20:30 | Northwestern College Christ Chapel, 101 6th St SE, Orange City, IA, 51041, United States
ORANGE CITY – Step back to the 17th century to a European city. Enter a king’s court and be treated to chamber music written by the greats. Enjoy period instruments: a fortepiano, a viola, a classical clarinet, a natural horn.

The Dakota Baroque and Classic Company presents music written by and for people in the 17th and 18th centuries. The four-person ensemble comes to Orange City from the National Music Museum on the University of South Dakota campus in Vermillion, a museum which houses 14,000 American, European and non-Western instruments.

Their performance will be Tuesday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Northwestern College Christ Chapel.

The characteristic soft, clear sound of the period instruments gives a new perspective to the music of the 17th and 18th centuries. Arian Sheets will perform on an historic viola. Susanne Skyrm, Deborah Check Reeves and Gary L. Reeves will perform on authentic copies of original instruments – fortepiano, classical clarinet, natural horn.

The concert will feature solo works, duos and trios, along with commentary about the instruments, composers and music… with explanations on the differences between early instruments and their modern counterparts.

Following the program, the audience will have the opportunity to view the instruments closely and ask questions.

Dakota Baroque has been featured on PBS nationally. Skyrm, professor of music at the University of South Dakota, has appeared as a recitalist in England, Scotland, Belgium, Italy and across the States. Her acclaimed CD features music recorded on the National Music Museum’s rare Portuguese fortepiano.

Deborah Reeves, curator of education at the National Music Museum, has taught in colleges and universities in Alabama, Oregon, Michigan, Utah and S.D. She is an active recitalist, chamber musician and soloist on the classical six-key clarinet.

Gary Reeves teaches at the University of South Dakota, and is principal horn of the Northwest Iowa Symphony Orchestra and the South Dakota Brass, and participates each summer with the Page Five Woodwind Quintet in Marquette, MI.

Curator of stringed instruments at the National Music Museum, Sheets has played with the Chicago Civic Orchestra, Chicago Opera Theater, Classical Arts Orchestra, Sioux City Symphony, Northwest Iowa Symphony Orchestra and the South Dakota Symphony.

The performance in Orange City is free, but donations will be received. Sponsors are the Orange City Arts Council and Northwestern College Music Department. Workshops demonstrating recorders through the years will be held in local schools.

For more information, contact the Orange City Arts Council: 712-707-4885 or OCArts@orangecityiowa.com.

Recorder workshops in five local schools & the OC library, thanks for Deborah Reeves from the National Music Museum.

Mariachi band to perform in Orange City
2011-08-25 19:00 - 20:30
Mariachi band to perform in Orange City: Mariachi Ameca from Hawarden is returning to Orange City for the second year, as part of the Onstage Orange City performance series in Windmill Park. The concert is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25. (Photo courtesy of the Sioux County Capital-Democrat)

ORANGE CITY – Onstage Orange City will get a musical taste of Mexico again on Thursday, August 25. Mariachi Ameca, the lively and colorful family band from Hawarden, will perform at the Orange City Windmill Park at 7 p.m.

Mariachi Ameca is the final performance of Orange City’s 2011 Onstage Orange City summer concert series. There is no charge to attend.

AdvancePierre Foods is sponsoring the band’s appearance. Concessions will be available.

A drawing will be held for a bicycle given by The Bike Store of Orange City. Adults and children may sign up for a chance to win, and the winner will be able to select a specific style and size of bike.

Bring lawn chairs or blankets. Rain location is the Orange City town hall. For more information contact the Orange City Arts Council at OCArts@orangecityiowa.com or 712-707-4885.

Dancing to the music: Children loved the beat of Mariachi Ameca last August… and took over the Orange City bandshell's grassy lawn as a dance stage. The Hawarden mariachi band will perform at 7 p.m. August 25 in Orange City's Windmill Park. (Photo courtesy of the Sioux County Capital-Democrat)

Award-winning San Francisco acoustic pop artist to perform in Orange City… plus motorcycle show & film
2011-08-18 08:00 - 17:00
San Francisco-based artist to perform in Orange City August 18: Megan Slankard has appeared on TLC's "What Not to Wear." She's performed with Dire Straits founding member David Knopfler. Her CD "Freaky Little Story" earned her a spot on the Top-10 Rock Bestseller List on CDBaby.com. And she's performing for Onstage Orange City Thursday, August 18 at 7 p.m. in Windmill Park. Sponsors are D & L Plumbing & Heating, and Community Bank of Alton & Orange City. The evening also includes a motorcycle show, a fundraiser meal for Big Brothers Big Sisters, free ice cream and a family film.

ORANGE CITY – “She forges a distinctive sound with her smooth and courageous vocal dynamics, intelligent and diverse song styles, and sheer infectious enthusiasm.”

That’s Megan Slankard, San Francisco-based acoustic pop artist. She’s coming to Orange City Thursday, Aug. 18. Slankard recently won the People’s Choice Award in the 10th annual Independent Music Awards for her song, “The Happy Birthday.” In ’09 she earned the Top 5 artist in the Famecast.com Competition and in ’07 was selected as a semi-finalist in Discmaker’s Independent Music World Series and in the International Songwriting Competition.

Though only in her 20s, Slankard has independently sold over 25,000 CDs while performing across the U.S. and Europe.

The free concert will begin at 7 p.m. at Orange City’s WIndmill Park, part of the Onstage Orange City series. Sponsors of the evening are D & L Plumbing & Heating, and Community Bank of Alton & Orange CIty.

Slankard self-produced her first CD at age 18, and recently finished her fourth CD with help from David Bryson (Counting Crows) and Jerry Becker (Pat Monahan). The new release, “A Token Of The Wreckage”, is an edgy alt-rock recording, brimming with Slankard’s stories and unique perspectives.

Megan and her music have appeared on TLC’s “What Not To Wear”, which generated purchases by TV viewers that placed her CD “Freaky Little Story” on the #5 spot on Amazon.com CD sales charts and on the Top-10 Rock Bestseller list on CDBaby.com.

Slankard also co-wrote and performed on the title track of Dire Straits founding member David Knopfler’s new record. She has toured three times through Germany and England, as support for Knopfler, and performed at the international festival InGuitar in Zurich.

According to Acoustic Guitar Magazine, her vocal style “is so distinctive that simply naming influences (Ani DiFranco, Alanis Morissette) doesn’t do it justice. Her vocal melodies are immediately arresting, she uses hip-hop phrasing and whisper-to-roar dynamics like a pro, and she never lets her impeccable technique eclipse the emotion she pours into her performances.

“Nearly everyone who encounters this attractive and sophisticated singer-songwriter agrees that she has ‘star’ written all over her.”

The free concert will be held at 7 p.m. at Orange City’s Windmill Park, sponsored by the Orange City Arts Council.

The evening will include a motorcycle show from 6 to 8 p.m. and a meal of hot dogs, pop and chips, beginning at 5:30, sponsored by the Orange City Chamber Merchants. A freewill offering will be received for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

The Orange City Area Health System and Sanford Health will provide free ice cream treats in honor of community appreciation day.

At dusk – approximately 9 or 9:30 p.m. – the Orange City Park and Recreation Department will show the movie Yogi Bear.

Concessions will be available during the concert and the film. Bring blankets or lawn chairs. Rain location is the Orange City town hall.

For more information, contact the Arts Council at OCArts@orangecityiowa.com or 712.707.4885. Slankard’s website is www.meganslankard.com.

Folk traditions: Indiana musicians to perform for Onstage Orange City
2011-08-11 08:00 - 17:00 | Windmill Park, 200 Central Ave NW, Orange City IA 51041
Grey Larsen

ORANGE CITY – Grey Larsen and Cindy Kallet will bring their Irish flute, tin whistle, guitar and more to Orange City Thursday, August 11 for an evening of original and traditional tunes rooted in folk traditions of America, Ireland and Scandinavia.

Sponsor of the evening is Klay Law Firm.

Indiana musicians Kallet and Larsen perform everything from traditional Irish music, Scandinavian fiddle duets and old-time guitar tunes to their own vibrant new music. Most of their music is deeply rooted in folk traditions, and, according to Kallet, “interwoven with the renaissance and baroque counterpoint” in which they were immersed as children.

They perform vocal duets, guitar, Irish flute, Irish alto flute, tin whistle, concertina, harmonium, and do duet fiddling, and add a few stories to put the music into a personal context.

Scott Alarik of The Boston Globe calls Kallet “…one of folk music’s most respected songwriters… provocative, heartwise, and original …a brilliant guitarist”. Mike Joyce of the Washington Post calls Larsen “… a gifted multi-instrumentalist who consistently demonstrates his melodic finesse,” while The New Mexico Daily describes his playing as “positively spellbinding”. Both have appeared on National Public Radio‘s “Weekend All Things Considered” and “Prairie Home Companion.”

Traditional Irish, Scandinavian fiddle duets, old-time guitar tunes… It's all part of Cindy Kallet and Grey Larsen's show. They perform with guitar, fiddle, Irish flute, Irish alto flute, tin whistle, concertina, harmonium, voice and more. Their show will be part of the Orange City Arts Council's Onstage Orange City series, Thursday, August 11 at 7 p.m. at Windmill Park. Sponsor is Klay Law Firm.

In 2007, Larsen and Kallet released their widely-praised first duo recording, Cross the Water.

The free concert will be held at 7 p.m. at Orange City’s Windmill Park, sponsored by the Orange City Arts Council. ATLAS’s “Last Blast of Summer” has been cancelled for 2011.

Concessions will be available. Bring blankets or lawn chairs. Rain location is the Orange City town hall.

For more information, contact the Arts Council at OCArts@orangecityiowa.com or 712.707.4885. The websites are www.greylarsen.com, www.cindykallet.com and www.orangecityarts.net.

88improv to perform in Orange City August 4
2011-08-04 08:00 - 17:00 | Windmill Park, 200 Central Ave NW, Orange City IA 51041
Smart. Clean. Comedy…. Meet 88improv. They're a unscripted family-friendly entertainment, and funny. Nate Schoenfeld, Steve Hydeen, Sarah Kennedy and Tim Schoenfeld (left to right) make up the Omaha-based ensemble; Steve and Nate will perform in Orange City on August 4, in the Onstage Orange City series.

ORANGE CITY – The Omaha-based comedy ensemble, 88improv, will perform in WIndmill Park in Orange CIty Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. It’s the next in free entertainment on Thursday nights – Onstage Orange City.

The 88improv four describe their work as “hilarious unscripted improv comedy.” All former Northwestern College theatre students, Steve Hydeen, Nate Schoenfeld, Sarah Kennedy and Tim Schoenfeld began 88improv with a performance at the Stage Right coffee shop in Omaha. Now they do Tuesday evening shows at the Pizza Shoppe Collective in Omaha.

They’re named after interstate 88, which runs through Chicago.

And they’ve done shows for everyone from Qdoba Mexican Grill to First National Bank to Lockheed Martin… plus Earth Day Omaha, the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, and a show with Comedy Xperiment at Stoner Theatre at the Des Moines Civic Center.

Hydeen is an Orange City boy, and will perform August 4 along with Nate Schoenfeld. They’ll step in front of the audience with no lines memorized and no jokes pre-planned. They’ll get a little help from the audience and go!

In fact, said Hydeen, trying to replicate a successful routine is bound to end up floundering. “The spontaneity of the moment, the drive, are completely gone.”

One of the 88improv routines is “paper chase.” Quotes are gathered from the audience and written on slips of paper, but performers don’t read the quotes until inserting them into the scene. Then the actors must justify the lines into the story.

What’s crucial is a level of trust, love and respect between the actors, said Hydeen. Everyone works hard to get the job done, he said. Everyone is fully attentive, and listening to his partners… present in the moment.

And, of course, they enjoy themselves.

Sponsors of the evening are Orange City Area Health System and CIVCO Medical Solutions.

The event is free. Concessions will be available. Bring blankets or lawn chairs. Rain location is the Orange City town hall.

For more information, contact the Orange City Arts Council at OCArts@orange cityiowa.com or 712.707.4885. Or check www.88improv.com.

Pet Costume Contest and Orange City Area Community Band featured July 28
2011-07-28 | Windmill Park, 200 Central Ave NW, Orange City IA 51041
ORANGE CITY – Onstage Orange City continues July 28 with a pet costume contest and the Orange City Area Community Band performing everything from John Lennon and Paul McCartney to Louis Armstrong and Irving Berlin. It is music in Windmill Park again, on Thursday nights.

Music in the Park: The Orange City Area Community Band performed July 14, and will give its last concert of the summer July 28 in Windmill Park at 7 p.m. Prior to the concert will be Revival Animal Health's annual pet costume contest, at 6:30. (Photo courtesy of Sioux County Capital-Democrat)

Revival Animal Health of Orange City is the sponsor of the event. All pets and pet owners are invited to attend, with the pet costume contest beginning at 6:30 p.m. The prizes will be fun, the judges funny, according to Chris Namanny of Revival.

Revival is also sponsoring a raffle – with proceeds going to the Red Cross. First prize is an iPod Touch, second prize, $75 in Orange City Chamber dollars. Tickets may be purchased at Revival Animal Health’s office in Orange City between July 25 and 28, or at Windmill Park Thursday July 28 between 6:30 and 7 p.m. The drawing will be held at 7.

Following the pet costume contest will be the Orange City Area Community Band performing a variety of hits, including Let it Be by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. A Tribute to Louis Armstrong will include What a Wonderful World, When the Saints Go Marching In, St. Louis Blues and Hello, Dolly!

Glee Showstoppers come from the 20th Century Fox Television Series – including Jump, Total Eclipse of the Heart, The Safety Dance and Dream On.

And the band will perform an Irving Berlin portrait, including There’s No Business Like Show Business, Alexander’s Ragtime Band, White Christmas and God Bless America.

Carla Van Beek will direct the band in its final concert of the summer.

The director, Carla Van Beek: Carla Van Beek has directed the Orange City Area Community Band for 15 years, and will lead the ensemble July 28 in everything from John Lennon and Paul McCartney to Irving Berlin and Louis Armstrong. Revival Animal Health is sponsor of the Onstage Orange City event. (Photo courtesy of Sioux County Capital-Democrat)

The event is free. Concessions will be available. Bring blankets or lawn chairs. Rain location is the Orange City town hall.

For more information on this Onstage Orange City event, contact the Orange City Arts Council at OCArts@orange cityiowa.com or 712.707.4885.

Glee Handbell Choir of Tokyo to perform, give workshop
2011-07-26 19:30 - 21:00 | Northwestern College Christ Chapel, 101 6th St SE, Orange City, IA, 51041, United States
Handbells perform classical, Christian music… and a Beatles medley: One of Japan's leading handbell choirs will perform in Orange City Tuesday, July 26 at Northwestern College's Christ Chapel, part of the choir's biennial tour. The public is invited to this free performance. A workshop is also planned for handbell choir members and directors.

ORANGE CITY – The Glee Handbell Choir of Tokyo, Japan – one of Japan’s leading handbell choirs – will perform in Orange City Tuesday, July 26.

The choir, which tours the States every other year, has performed to enthusiastic audiences in the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove CA, at the Handbell Exploration in Phoenix, and on television and radio in Japan and elsewhere.

From Meiji Gakuin Higashimurayama High School and Meiji Gakuin Junior High School, the choir has been part of the school’s Christian program since 1978. This year’s 17-member handbell choir is touring the Twin Cities, Omaha, Waterloo, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania and California. The ensemble plays Christian music, classical music and more – including a Beatles medley. One piece will be performed with the violinist Kazuyoshi Inagaki.

Directors of the choir are Mr. Takanobu Onoda and Mr. Kazuyoshi Inagaki.

The choir has visited Sioux Center in recent years, but this year will add Orange City to its schedule. Rev. Nori Odate, the tour director, is an alum of Northwestern College in Orange City.

A handbell workshop will be held Tuesday, July 26 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Northwestern College’s Christ Chapel in Orange City. Those interested must register by July 16 by calling Janet at 712-722-0327 or Janine at 712-707-4885, or emailing jbrenes@mtcnet.net or OCArts@orangecityiowa.com.

A concert for the public is planned for Tuesday, July 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Northwestern’s Christ Chapel (not the DeWitt Theatre).

No admission will be charged for the workshop or concert, but donations will be received.

The event is sponsored by the Orange City Arts Council and Northwestern College Intercultural Affairs.

A 1986 youtube performance can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4gXLxlU2Oc

SUMMER SUITES TO FEATURE WORK BY LOCAL ARTISTS
2011-07-25 08:00 - 17:00 | two gardens, one art gallery, Orange City, 51041
Natural Balance by Rein Vanderhill

ORANGE CITY – Several area artists will exhibit works as part of the evening of music and flowers, sponsored by the Orange City Arts Council.

It’s Summer Suites 2011, scheduled for Monday, July 25 at 6:30 p.m. The “progressive concert” divides patrons into three groups, and those groups travel to two Orange City backyard gardens, and the Northwestern College Korver Visual Arts Center.

The Not-Yet-Famous Bassoon Band will perform at Gregg and Sue Korver’s garden, Rob Meerdink will sing pop classics at Gary and Laura Malenke’s, and Joel Westerholm will play finger-style jazz guitar at the art center.

A God of the Details by Barbara McGee

The juried art exhibit, “Flora of our Place: Interpretations,” will feature 13 area artists’ work that interprets our natural world. Jurors Matt Drissell and Joan Brower will choose “best of show” and “honorable mention” awards. Following Summer Suites, at 8:45 p.m., ticket-holders are invited to return to the art center for the announcement of the “people’s choice award,” to be determined by attendees.

The evening includes a variety of rich desserts, featuring chocolate, lemon, and fresh fruit.

Sponsors of Summer Suites 2011 are Pizza Ranch, corporate sponsor, and the Orange City Arts Council and the Northwestern College Art Department. Other donors are Sodexo and Orange City Floral.

Rain location for gardens is the DeWitt Theatre Arts Center at Northwestern College.

Advance tickets are necessary, at $7.50 for adults, $5 for students, and $22 for families, and will be available July 14 at the Orange City Arts Council office, Orange City town hall, and Dove Christian Book Store. After July 21, ticket prices increase to $10, $7 and $30. Maps and schedules are provided to ticket purchasers.

Summer Suites 2011 features not only music, gardens and rich desserts, but also an art show, "Flora of our Place: Interpretations." Entries have been received by a variety of local and area artists, including Glenda Drennen of Le Mars. Advance tickets are necessary.

For more information, contact the Arts Council, 712-707-4885 or OCArts@orangecityiowa.com.

Orange City Arts Council’s Summer Suites to feature gardens, music and art
2011-07-25 | two gardens and art gallery, Orange City, IA, 51041, United States
ORANGE CITY – The Orange City Arts Council’s annual celebration of flowering gardens and music – and irresistible sweets – is coming soon. The 2011 Summer Suites will be held Monday, July 25 in two backyard gardens. This year the evening will also include an art exhibit, “Flora of our Place: Interpretations,” a juried art show featuring works by area artists at the Northwestern College art gallery.
The evening begins at 6:30 p.m.
The “progressive concert” will feature Joel Westerholm on guitar, vocalist Rob Meerdink and the Not-Yet-Famous Bassoon Band.
Westerholm will perform at the Korver Visual Arts Center at Northwestern College, following a few words by one of the exhibit’s jurors. Patrons will be able to view the art, or sit and listen to Westerholm’s finger-style jazz, featuring works by Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Billy Joel and others.
Westerholm, who teaches English and guitar at Northwestern College, began guitar at age 12 in Waltham, MA. He’s self-taught, but, has “stolen from many guitarists over the years.” He plays varied guitar styles, from classic rock with The Usual Suspects to the Sunday School opening at Faith Lutheran Church. He also leads music at Taize worship.
Meerdink, tenor/ baritone, and his accompanist Mary Reinders, are having a great time working on a variety of pop standards for their performance, they said. They will begin with standard love songs, then the “lively stuff”: “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square,” “Always,” “High Hopes,” “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” “God Bless America,” “Happy Days are Here Again.”
Meerdink, who works with Orange City Area Heatlh System, is a frequent church soloist, and has performed in 11 Tulip Festival night shows, playing Adam in “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.” He and Reinders will perform in the garden of Laura and Gary Malenke.
And the Not-Yet-Famous Bassoon Band is a group of a dozen bassoon players from Sioux City, Sioux Falls, Sheldon, Le Mars, Lawton, Winnebago, Vermillion, Remsen, Ida Grove and Orange City. They range from high school and college students to a graphic designer, an administrative assistant and an accountant. Some play in the Cherokee, NW Iowa, or Sioux City symphonies or area community bands; others teach. Lorrie Thomas began the band, inspired by the Boulder Bassoon Band.
The group has been together for four years, and plays familiar American tunes, a madrigal, marches, a Michael Jackson tune, a “golden oldie,” some classical, some Latin American music and a Chinese lullaby. “We play something for everyone,” Thomas said. It’s fun; “most people have never seen so many bassoonies together in one place.”
The bassoon band will perform at the garden of Gregg and Sue Korver.
The Orange City Arts Council sponsors Summer Suites, this year in conjunction with the Northwestern College Art Department. Pizza Ranch is the corporate sponsor.
Advance tickets are necessary, at $7.50 for adults, $5 for students, and $22 for families, and will be available July 14 at the Orange City Arts Council office, Orange City town hall, and Dove Christian Book Store. After July 21, ticket prices increase to $10, $7 and $30. Maps and schedules are provided to ticket purchasers.
For more information, contact the Arts Council, 712-707-4885 or OCArts@orangecityiowa.com.

Rob Meerdink to sing at Summer Suites: Rob Meerdink, tenor/ baritone, is having a great time choosing pop standards to sing at the Orange City Arts Council's Summer Suites July 25. He and accompianist Mary Reinders will perform in a backyard garden for the "progressive concert." Advance tickets are necessary, 707-4885.

Guitarist Joel Westerholm to perform in art gallery: The 2011 Summer Suites will feature Joel Westerholm playing finger-style jazz guitar, in Northwestern College's Korver Visual Arts Center. New to the garden/ music/ dessert night is "Flora of our Place: Interpretations," an exhibit featuring area artists' work.

The Not-Yet-Famous Bassoon Band: These "bassoonies" had a little fun before a recent performance in Sioux City. These eight, and four others, will perform for Summer Suites. Pictured are (left to right) Kelly Jacob of Winnebago, Lois Estell of Orange City, Lorrie Thomas of Vermillion, Elise Gerhart of Sioux City, Kay Derby of Remsen, Karson Kingsbury of Lawton, and Anya Shorey and Rick Lacy, both of Sioux City. Not pictured are Amy Morrison of Sioux Falls, Linda Gude of Sheldon, Adam Curry of Le Mars, and Emily Meinecke of Ida Grove.

The SchoolHouse Company to present Shakespeare in the park
2011-07-21 08:00 - 17:00 | Windmill Park, 200 Central Ave NW, Orange City IA 51041
ORANGE CITY – Shakespeare in the park – that’s what’s on the schedule for Onstage Orange City July 21.

The SchoolHouse Company is in charge – a theatre troupe founded in ’08 by recent Northwestern College theatre grads. Their show in Windmill Park Thursday, July 21 is “The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged).”

Shakespeare in the park: "The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged)" – that's the Onstage Orange City show in Windmill Park Thursday, July 21. The SchoolHouse Company is presenting this "high speed hilarity," and the cast is Dan Sikkema, Greta Floding and Jacob Ahlers. (Photo courtesy of Doug Calsbeek, Sioux County Capital-Democrat)

It’s “high-speed hilarity,” said Lindsay Westerkamp of The SchoolHouse Company, “an outrageous distillation of the Bard’s timeless words.”

It’s an hour-long show, including comical, “speed” interpretations of “Romeo and Juliet,” “Othello,” and “Hamlet,” with some great audience participation opportunities, said Westerkamp. “It should be a lot of fun!”

Directors are Cody Bauer and Hannah McBride, with Sarah Chipman as stage manager. Acting in the show are Dan Sikkema, Northwestern student from Hospers, Greta Floding, a 2011 Northwestern grad now from Orange City, and Jacob Ahlers, an Iowa State grad living in Remsen.

The cast is performing a slightly longer version of the show in a dinner theatre setting July 15-16.

The SchoolHouse Company is the same theatre company that brought “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Almost, Maine,” and “Proof” to Orange City.

The free July 21 show will be held at 7 p.m. in Orange City’s Windmill Park. Orange CIty Arts Council is sponsor of the evening, with the support of a variety of local businesses and individuals.

Concessions will be available. Bring blankets or lawn chairs. Rain location is the Orange City town hall.

For more information, contact the Arts Council at OCArts@orange cityiowa.com or 712.707.4885. The websites are www.theshc.org and www.orangecityarts.net.

Don't miss The SchoolHouse Company July 21! Dan Sikkema (top) stars with Jacob Ahlers and Greta Floding. (photo courtesy of the Sioux County Capital-Democrat)

Concert to feature Tom Forkenbrock and the Orange City Area Community Band
2011-07-14 07:00 - 20:00 | Windmill Park, 200 Central Ave NW, Orange City IA 51041
ORANGE CITY – Tom Forkenbrock is returning to Orange City to perform with the Onstage Orange City series Thursday, July 14.

Forkenbrock, who played trumpet with the U.S. Army Band for nine years, will solo at the 7 p.m. concert with the Orange City Area Community Band. Featured will be Forkenbrock in Chuck Mangione’s “Land of Make Believe” and Ed Huckeby’s “Intrada, Recitative and Rondo.”

The Orange City native graduated from M-OC High School in ’82, then enlisted in the U.S. Army. He has performed for two sitting presidents, Ronald Reagan and George Bush Sr., plus Prince Charles and other dignitaries from around the world. He also played for the Pan American Games and the ’88 Olympics in South Korea.

Since leaving the Army, Forkenbrock has performed with big bands, wind ensembles and other performing groups in the Chicago area, and with artists including Bill Watrous, Dick Oatts, Joe LaBarbera, Chuck Findley and Bill Porter. His bands have opened for Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich, Ramsey Lewis and Count Basie’s Big Band.

Forkenbrock also plays French horn, baritone and tuba, but his first and most enduring love, he said, is the trumpet, which he has played for over 35 years.

After rave reviews last year, Forkenbrock is again performing with the Orange City Area Community Band, directed by Carla Van Beek. The program will include “St. Louis Blues” by W.C. Handy, “Semper Fidelis” by Sousa and the “National Emblem March” and “Coat of Arms March.” The band and Forkenbrock will also perform “On a Hymnsong of Lowell Mason” by David Holsinger, based on the hymn by Mason, “My Faith Looks up to Thee.”

The free concert at Windmill Park is sponsored by the Orange City Arts Council and City of Orange City. Concessions will be available. Bring blankets or lawn chairs. Rain location is the Orange City town hall.

For more information, contact the Arts Council at OCArts@orange cityiowa.com or 712.707.4885.

Former Army Band trumpeter performs in Orange City July 14: Tom Forkenbrock, who performed for two sitting presidents, the '88 Olympics and Prince Charles while part of the U.S. Army Band, will return to Orange City Thursday, July 14. He will be featured in the Orange City Area Community Band concert at 7 p.m. at Windmill Park, part of the Onstage Orange City series.

Rockin’ Jake to return to Orange City
2011-07-07 19:00 - 21:00 | Windmill Park, 200 Central Ave NW, Orange City IA 51041
The Rockin' Jake Band got a taste of the town when they visited Orange City in July, 2010.

ORANGE CITY – The Rockin’ Jake Band wowed the crowd in Orange City last summer, so they’re coming back. They’re part of the Onstage Orange City series, performing in Windmill Park at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 7.

Rockin’ Jake plays harmonica like you’ve never heard before. Jake – Lawrence Jacobs – is a five-time winner of Off Beat Magazine’s “Best of the Beat,” for best harmonica player.

Originally from the East Coast, Jake was hit early by the “blues bug.” He’s primarily self-taught, but studied briefly with Jerry Portnoy, harmonica player for Muddy Waters. Based in New Orleans for many years, he played with Coco Robicheaux, Little Freddie King, Eddie Bo and many others. He’s been heard on the soundtrack of “The Big Easy” TV series and the theme for the “Mike Ditka Show.”

Hailing from St. Louis, he was nominated in April as the St. Louis Riverfront Times’ Best Blues Artist. Jake tours with his band from Coast to Coast, playing a hybrid of blues, zydeco, second line and swamp funk.

According to one reviewer, the band “rocks the stage with a first rate high energy performance.”

Sponsor of the evening is Northwestern State Bank. There is no charge for the show.

Bring lawn chairs or blankets. Concessions will be available. Rain location is the Orange City town hall.

And take note: beginning and advanced harmonica players can learn from Rockin’ Jake. Jake’s harmonica workshop – from 4-5 p.m. July 7 at Orange City town hall – is for students and adults. Cost is $5 before July 1, and $8 after July 1. The first 24 people to register will receive a free G Hohner harmonica and a how-to booklet, sponsored by the Arts Council.

Those who attended the workshop last year also have the opportunity to win a special prize.

Register by emailing the Orange City Arts Council, OCArts@orangecityiowa.com, calling 712.707.4885, or sending $5 to the Arts Council at P.O. Box 202, Orange City.

The Rockin' Jake Band is coming back to Orange City. They're the band whose high energy consistently brings audience members to their feet. Rockin' Jake will perform in Windmill Park at 7 p.m. July 7, sponsored by Northwestern Bank and the Onstage Orange City series. Jake's harmonica workshop is at 4 p.m. at Orange City town hall July 7; register with Orange City Arts Council, 707-4885.

Music, Art and Ice Cream in Windmill Park
2011-06-30 06:00 - 20:00 | Windmill Park, 200 Central Ave NW, Orange City IA 51041
ORANGE CITY – Toy Story. Up. Cars. And Phantom of the Opera.
Music from Pixar movie classics and from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera will all be part of the Orange City Area Community Band’s performance Thursday, June 30 at 7 p.m. at Windmill Park, Orange City.
But it’s not just music Thursday. Come at 6 p.m. for the Orange City Arts Council’s annual ice cream social, featuring two-dip sundaes with hot fudge and butterscotch toppings, plus banana splits. Plus children, from 6-7 p.m., will have the opportunity to try their hands at artsy projects, organized by Sheila Van Den Brink. Puppeteers from Dover Avenue Alliance Church – Family & Friends Puppetree – will perform. Bethany Dykstra, MOC-FV student, will entertain with her fiddle. And anyone and everyone may make orange pinwheels.
The community band concert – part of the Onstage Orange City series – will offer music for everyone, not just children. Several marches are on the program, plus Down by the Riverside and Give My Regards to Broadway: A Cohan Salute, including Yankee Doodle Dandy.
Community band members are some of the finest instrumentalists in the area, directed by Carla Van Beek, who is beginning her 15th year as the band’s director, and her 15th year as the band director at Unity Christian High.
Bring lawn chairs or blankets, and some spare change for ice cream sundaes, popcorn and beverages. Art activities and music are free of charge, sponsored by the Orange City Arts Council and the City of Orange City.
Rain location is the Orange City town hall.

Thursday, June 30 is the children's night of Onstage Orange City – featuring arts activities for kids, plus entertainment and food for all ages: puppets, fiddle music and ice cream sundaes, all beginning at 6 p.m. At 7 p.m. at Windmill Park, the Orange City Area Community Band will perform a concert featuring marches, movie music and more. Shown is a young man from the 2009 art fest.

It's Onstage Orange City on June 30 – featuring the community band, plus art activities for kids and ice cream for everyone.

South Dakota Jazz Orchestra, Frank Sinatra impersonator coming to Orange City
2011-06-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Windmill Park, 200 Central Ave NW, Orange City IA 51041
ORANGE CITY – “Come fly with me, let’s fly, let’s fly, pack up, let’s fly away” back to the era of Frank Sinatra. The South Dakota Jazz Orchestra will be performing at Onstage Orange City Thursday, June 16. This 18-piece big band has prepared a variety of jazz selections from jazz masters such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Oliver Nelson and Stan Kenton. Joining them for the event is Frank Sinatra impersonator, Steve Shininger of Omaha, for a recreation of the landmark ’66 concert with Count Basie, “Sinatra at the Sands.”
The South Dakota Jazz Orchestra is a non-profit group bringing high quality jazz to all ages. They perform weekly on Mondays at Skelly’s Pub in downtown Sioux Falls. Conductor Dr. Corliss Johnson is a devoted teacher, clinician and performer of jazz. He has received his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Colorado, and he has been an adjudicator for the South Dakota All State Jazz Ensembles for many years.
The sponsors for this Onstage Orange City event are Diamond Vogel Paint and the Orange City Arts Council.

Bring your lawn chairs or blankets. The free concert will begin at 7 p.m. at Windmill Park’s bandshell in downtown Orange City. Refreshments will be available for purchase, and patrons may register to win an adult or child’s bicycle. Rain location is the Orange City town hall.

Sinatra in the Park: The South Dakota Jazz Orchestra, with vocalist Steve Shininger, will present “An Evening with Frank Sinatra” Thursday, June 16 at 7 p.m. at Windmill Park in Orange City. Part of the Onstage Orange City series sponsored by the Orange City Arts Council, the show will feature the music of the Count Basie Orchestra and the jazz classics of Frank Sinatra.

Local talent to take the stage
2011-06-09 19:00 - 21:00 | Windmill Park, 200 Central Ave NW, Orange City IA 51041
ORANGE CITY— Singing, dancing, juggling, dog whispering? Come to Windmill Park Thursday, June 9 for the next event in the Onstage Orange City series: “Orange City’s Got Talent.” Auditions have been held, and the top talent has been selected from Orange City and beyond. Be ready for a great evening!
Masters of Ceremony for the evening will be Lois Estell and Laird Edman. The 10 performers include vocalists, a break-dancer, and unicyclist/ jugglers. Prizes will be awarded to top performers.
Sponsoring this Orange City Arts Council event are Iowa State Bank and Pizza Ranch Restaurant.
Before the talent show begins at 7 p.m., make sure to head downtown for the city’s Customer Appreciation Picnic, with dessert provided by the Tulip Festival steering committee as a thanks to the community. Serving begins at 5 p.m.
Bring your lawn chairs and blankets, and plan to stay for the whole evening. There will be an announcement of Orange City’s new branding, plus door prizes given at the end of the evening.
Rain location is the Orange City town hall.

Coming soon: Orange City’s Got Talent!
2011-06-09 19:00 - 21:00 | Windmill Park, 200 Central Ave NW, Orange City IA 51041
ORANGE CITY – June 9 is the day. Windmill Park is the place. It’s Orange City’s Got Talent!
Local performers of all ages may audition to be part of the upcoming talent show. Auditions will be held May 31, June 1 and 2, for the June 9 performance. Starting May 2, audition appointments can be made by calling 737-4208 Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Each group or individual auditioning must have two pieces prepared, each four minutes or less.
Prizes will be awarded.
For more information, contact Janine at the Orange City Arts Council, OCArts@orangecityiowa.com or 712.707.4885.
The Onstage Orange City Talent Show is sponsored by Iowa State Bank and Pizza Ranch Restaurant, with the support of local contributors.
