The Electric Brigade, the Navy's premiere popular music ensemble, performs a free concert Friday at 7 p.m. in the Arvel Graving Theater in Minot High School-Magic City Campus.
Under the direction of chief musician Ritchie Smith, the group maintains a reputation for thrilling audiences wherever they perform, presenting a versatile and dynamic program bringing the best in Navy music. Members of the group include Smith, Ira Ostrowski, Brooke Knight, Rory Cherry, Ben Coker and Jason Broadwater.
Acting as the United States Naval Academy's musical ambassadors to the nation, Electric Brigade supports the Brigade of Midshipmen and is also involved with public relations for the Navy, supporting Navy Recruiting by acquainting young Americans with the Armed Forces.
Article Photos
Submitted Photo - - The U.S. Naval Academy Electric Brigade Band will perform a free concert Friday at 7 p.m. in the Arvel Graving Theater at Magic City Campus.
The event is part of an ongoing state tour for the Electric Brigade. During their time in Minot, group members plan to assist with flood cleanup efforts Friday and to meet with the public on Saturday as well. For more information, contact the concert information line at (410) 293-0263.
-----------------------
Chamber Chorale auditions set
The Minot Chamber Chorale starts rehearsals for its upcoming season on Sept. 11. To join the group, contact the conductor, Bob Demke at 721-4548 or rcdinvest@srt.com, for an audition.
The chorale performs four concerts per year. The Fall Pops Concert will be held at the Grand International Inn on Oct. 7. The Renaissance Feast will be at the Holiday Inn Coliseum Dec. 1-3. The Winter Concert will take place in Minot State University's Ann Nicole Nelson Hall Feb. 26 and the Spring Concert and Ice Cream Social will be held at Bethany Lutheran Church April 29.
-------------------------
Sixth annual ArtFest scheduled
WILLISTON The James Memorial Art Center hosts the sixth annual JMAC ArtFest 2011 "Celebrating Culture Through Art" Sept. 17 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Recreation Park.
The festival will feature art vendors with outdoor sculpture, American Indian handwork, jewelry, quilts and more. Also, there will be food vendors with mini-doughnuts, kennel corn, slushees and ethnic cuisine. There will also be free children's art activities including string art, "lots of dots" painting, alphabet magnets and more.
Also on deck will be live entertainment on the main stage including Minot's Gene Putnam, a fingerstyle guitarist, polka favorites by Morrill Hirsch and Williston accompanists, Elizabeth's Dance Studio of Williston, Williston's Jeb Black and West Virginia banjo picker Greg Theil.
A live art auction will be held at 2 p.m. featuring 20 pieces of art in a wide variety of media created by local and regional artists especially for ArtFest.
--------------------------
Chorale awarded arts grant
In support of their efforts to provide arts programming in their community, the Minot Chamber Chorale applied for and was awarded a $5,930 institutional support grant by the North Dakota Council on the Arts.
The grant will help to provide funds to The Minot Chamber Chorale to provide quality mixed-choir music to the Minot area.
"We are extremely grateful to be awarded this grant from NDCA," said Todd Mathistad, president of the Minot Chamber Chorale. "We have a great range of talent in our group and they are eager to perform for audiences in Minot and the surrounding area."
The North Dakota Council on the Arts is the state agency responsible for the support and development of the arts throughout North Dakota, and is funded by the state Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, log on at (www.nd.gov/arts).