The El Dorado Community Concert Association is kicking off its membership drive for the 2008-09 season.

The ECCA board members and campaign volunteers met March 6 to begin the drive. Carolyn Dwire, president, called it the “Pie Parley in the Parlor” because the volunteers were given a slice of pie and a cup of coffee to give them energy to canvas the community for new subscribers.

Dwire called attention to a complete list of artists who have presented concerts in El Dorado in the past 70 years, beginning with the 1938-39 season. The list includes such famous names as The Norman Luboff Choir (1964-1965 season), Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians (1971-1972), The George Shearing Quintet (1975-1976) and Floyd Cramer (1979-1980 and 1994-1995). In all, more than 260 artists and groups have performed on the ECCA stage over the years. This, Dwire emphasized, is a major contribution of the ECCA to the Fine Art of Living Well in El Dorado.

The list of artists stimulated reminiscences by the volunteers of concerts they had attended and artists they remembered with special fondness.

Shirley Longfellow, membership secretary, related a story about two new members who have joined: they had returned to El Dorado after years away from town and had been married for more than 50 years. On their first date, he took her to a community concert.

Then the volunteers were treated to videos and CDs and Dwire’s comments on the artists who will be performing in 2008-2009.

Daniel Narducci, a bass-baritone soloist, will open the season Oct. 26. His program includes arias from classical opera and show-stopping songs from Broadway. He has performed throughout North America, Europe and China. He has a rich, full range which can plumb the depths of pathos in “Old Man River” and bring the audience cheering to its feet with “The Impossible Dream.”

Pavlo is a dynamic composer, guitarist and singer, who deals with “Mediterranean Music,” ranging from Greek Bouzouki to Flamenco and Latin influences. His group consists of four equally energetic and talented musicians who add excitement and emotion to his concert. Pavlo has been playing the guitar since his mother gave him one at age 4, and his concert has the kind of high energy which leaves the audience walking on air and begging for more music.

According to Dwire, his presentation at the Nashville Showcase on Live On Stage drew one of only two spontaneous standing ovations last summer from the group of local representatives who attended from across the country. She added that Pavlo has recorded a PBS special which may be aired by KPTS, Channel 8 either this March or next fall. He will appear on Nov. 21.

The Side Street Strutters comprise a Dixie-Land band which is celebrating its silver anniversary season this next year. The seven-member band has performed in Canada, Mexico, Europe and throughout the U.S. For variety in the concert, they have big band arrangements as well as the jazz sounds of Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton and Fats Waller. They will present a student outreach matinee and concert Feb. 26.
Dwire emphasized the commitment to ECCA in bringing good music to the students of El Dorado.

Another student matinee and evening concert will be presented by Pianafiddle on March 11. Lynn Wright is a retired Episcopalian priest who plays the full range of piano music, from classical Beethoven sonatas to ragtime to all kinds of jazz. He has teamed up with Adam DeGraff, who trained as a classic violinist, but who can also drive the “Orange Blossom Special” down the track with any fiddler in the U.S.

According to Dwire, the piano and violin – as well as the artist – carry on a relaxed, witty conversation throughout the concert. She also stated that this duo received the other standing ovation at the Live On Stage showcase.

Dwire reminded the volunteers that anyone who joins the association on or before April 13 may also attend the final concert of the present season on April 13, which features the Limelighters, a folk trio which began in the late 1950s and continues to the present day. They have a unique blend of voices and present a joyful concert of comedy and toe-tapping folk songs. Dwire noted that, with this concert and the four next season, people can see five concerts at a cost of only $7 for each concert for adults.

New members can use the receipt stub to admit them to the Limeliters concert.
Another benefit of membership emphasized by Dwire is the reciprocal agreement which allows ECCA members to attend community concerts in Topeka, Chanute, Great Bend and Ponca City, Okla. Prices and types of subscriptions available are $35 for adults, $10 for students, $75 for a family of two parents or grandparents and all children 18 and under or $40 for a single-family, including one parent or grandparent and all children 18 and under.

Volunteers and board members attending the “Pie Parley in the Parlor” were Tassie Augustine, Ruth Ann Bolen, Lionell Butts, Betty Chapman, Dwire, Alice Farmer, Ruth Gray, Lou Harms, Phil Johnson, Sheila Johnson, Longfellow, Shirley Longfellow, Beverly Love, Steve Love, Jennifer McAllister, Carol McKenzie, Morgan Metcalf, Kathie Monroe, Amy Nickels, Karla Pringle, Marie Waltman, Mary Varner and Ray Varner.
Volunteers and board members who could not attend were Joan Clark, Sherry Clymer, Marietta Gann, Marsha Good, Anne Kling, Harold Kling, Norma Matthews, Susan McEwen, Keven Monroe, David Wagner, Nancy Wagner and Susan Zieman.

Kathie Monroe operated the PowerPoint presentation of the artists. Setting up the serving table with pies and coffee and cleaning up were Beverly Love and Steve Love.
Anyone wanting more information or to subscribe can contact any board member, association volunteer or call Shirley Longfellow at 321-6742 or Sheila Johnson at 321-9601.