The 2010 Des Moines Arts Commission’s Waterland Music Series continues with a performance by “Sirens Trio” of the Oregon Chamber Players at the Highline Community College Music Department at 7pm on Tuesday, Feb. 23rd.

The chamber music performance will be preceded by a very special performance by the Parkside Elementary School Orchestra.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Waterland Music Series featuring “Sirens Trio”

WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 23rd at 7pm

WHERE: Highline Community College (2400 S. 240th Street, Des Moines, WA) in the Artist-Lecture Center (Building 7).

COST: The entire evening of music is only $15/adult or just $5/student. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department, 1000 220th St. and Des Moines Florist, 721 S. 219th in Des Moines.  Tickets will also be available at the door.  Call the Des Moines Parks & Recreation at (206) 870-6527 for ticketing or concert information.

INFO: The venue is an intimate setting with ample parking.

The evening will begin with a short 15-20 minute program provided by the Parkside Orchestra from the Parkside Elementary School in Des Moines.  This concert is hosted by the City of Des Moines Arts Commission and the Highline Community College Music Department.

Single tickets are available for $15/adult and $5/student (elementary-college).  Group discounts are available.  For $30 patrons may request any combination of three tickets for the remaining Waterland performances.  Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department, 1000 220th St. and Des Moines Florist, 721 S. 219th in Des Moines.  Tickets will also be available at the door.  Call the Des Moines Parks & Recreation at (206) 870-6527 for ticketing or concert information.

The Sirens Trio was formed in 2005 by three professional musicians who loved performing together and bringing enjoyable and exciting chamber music to audiences.  The evening will delight you with the sounds of Rebecca Olson, flute, Victoria Raez, oboe and Maria Manza , piano.

These musicians have continued that tradition of delightful music-making in such diverse venues as The Old Church in Portland, the Brookings Chamber Music Series, The Magenta Theater, and Oregon State University.

Erin Sneller from Oregon State University writes:   “Thank you for performing on our Music à la Carte concert series. Your chamber trio delighted our audience! The repertoire you performed was an enjoyable mix of traditional and contemporary, and your interesting comments about the compositions really enhanced the experience for our listeners. I sincerely hope that the Sirens are up for a return engagement in the near future!   BRAVO! ”

Jaynie Roberts, the Artistic Director of the Magenta Theater Company says, “…I just wanted to tell you how lovely the concert was tonight. Such beautiful music floating through the air – it was just delightful! I have never heard our piano sound so lovely before! ….The ambiance you created in the auditorium was exquisite. So very, very charming… Thank you for a delightful evening! The Sirens are amazing!!”

The final concert in this series will be Cul An Ti (Celtic Music) on Tuesday, April 20, 2010.

Series information is available at www.desmoineswa.gov/artscommission.

Become a fan of the Des Moines Arts Commission on Facebook for Des Moines Arts updates!

More information, including audio samples, available at the Sirens Trio website here.

The first concert in the 2009-2010 Waterland Music Series will feature Seattle jazz musician Michael Powers, at 7:30pm on Tuesday, November 17th in an intimate performance at Highline Community College (2400 S. 240th St., Des Moines, WA) in the Artist-Lecture Center (Bldg. 7). The venue provides a cozy setting in which to enjoy music, with lively acoustics and ample free parking.

Single tickets are available for $15/adult and $5/student (elementary-college). Series and group discounts are available. For $30 patrons may request either one ticket per show or any combination of three tickets to Waterland Music Series performances.

Tickets may purchased in advance at Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department, located at 1000 220th Street, as wel as the Des Moines Florist at 721 S. 219th in Des Moines.

Tickets will also be available at the door.

Call Des Moines Parks & Recreation at (206) 870-6527 for ticketing or concert information.

Here’s some info on Michael Powers:

Michael Powers (www.michaelpowersmusic.com) was born in New York City in 1960, but grew up in the San Francisco Bay area. His musical career began as therapy, when at the age of 15 he took up strumming the guitar to strengthen his wrist after a skateboard accident. Following his graduation from Berkeley High School when he was 151⁄2, he moved to Seattle and frequented local jam sessions, keeping his fingers on the guitar strings and his mind on making his music reach a wider audience.

Michael says, “It’s hard to categorize my music, although it usually ends up in the Jazz record bins,” says Michael. “If I had to put a label on it, I would call it contemporary instrumental music. It’s a sound rooted in the Jazz tradition that keeps pace stylistically with Pop, R&B, and Blues; with Blues being at the core of my inspiration.”

“Michael Powers, the Seattle jazz guitarist, who gets better all the time.” – The Seattle Times

“There are TWO types of people. Those who love Michael Power’s music and those who have not yet heard it.” – The Review

Sponsored by the City of Des Moines Arts Commission and the Highline Community College Music Department, the series offers world-class entertainment at reasonable prices.

Other performances in the 2009-210 Waterland Music Series will include:

• Sirens Trio of the Oregon Chamber Players (Chamber Music) on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010
• Cul An Ti (Celtic Music) on Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Des Moines’ Waterland Music Series continues this coming Tuesday April 21st with live acapella music from The Main Attraction at Highline Community College.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Waterland Music Series featuring The Main Attraction

WHEN: Doors open at 7pm with the performance beginning at 7:30pm.

WHERE: Highline Community College’s Building 7, located at 2400 S. 240th St., Des Moines

COST: Advance tickets available at Des Moines Field House; Pricing: $30/series $15/show $5/students (elementary through college)

INFO: The Main Attraction are vocal musicians and this is co-sponsored by the HCC music department.

From The Main Attraction’s website:

“Four of the brightest vocal entertainers to come together on any stage, any where, the group has been recognized by the Northwest Area Music Association (NAMA) 3 consecutive years as the Northwest’s Best Vocal Group.

The unique a’ cappella style of The Main Attraction can be heard on stage, radio and television. Appealing to all ages and all types of music fans. The Main Attraction has opened for such diverse acts as Smokey Robinson, The Four Tops, Gladys Knight, Eddie Murphy, the Nylons, Natalie Cole, The Charlie Daniels Band, Jack Jones, Helen Reddy, and B.B. King. They’ve toured the college market, have performed at Mardi Gras, and have toured Japan when time permits. They had the honor of performing for Bill and Melinda Gates’ wedding reception, as well as the opportunity to star on the ABC hit mini series, “The Commish.”

The Main Attraction has been performing together for 23 years!”

The Des Moines Arts Commission tells The Waterland Blog that they are looking for sponsors for the last performance in the Waterland Music Series.

The series is currently supported by the following sponsors:

• 4Culture/King County Arts Commission
• Des Moines Drug Store & Hallmark
• Kent/Pacific Highway Fred Meyer
• Landmark on the Sound
• Furneys Nursery
• Corky Cellars
• Des Moines Florist

The 2008-09 season will conclude with the performance by vocal musicians The Main Attraction on April 21st at 7:30pm at Highline Community College in building 7.

Your $100 solo sponsorship includes:

• Individual/Business name in the program at ONE performance (your choice)
• Two tickets to the same performance
• Your name or logo listed on the evening’s sponsor recognition at the performance stage

If you or your business want to participate, contact Nic Lind recreation coordinator at the Parks and Recreation Department 206-870-6582.

From left to right: Des Moines Arts Commissioners Anita Corby, Jeanne Serrill, Katherine Caughey, Vice Chairman Jim Langston, Clark Snure, Chairman Dennis Steussy, and Staff Liaison Nic Lind.

The Des Moines Arts Commission was resurrected in 2006 by the City of Des Moines as a result of the 2005 Mayor’s Leadership Summit which brought together community leaders for the betterment of Des Moines. Through a citizens initiative, the Des Moines Arts Commission Steering Committee was formed. The Committee worked with the Mayor and Council preparing policies and procedures for the reauthorization of the City’s Arts Commission. The outcome was that the Des Moines Arts Commission was re-established and the Steering Committee members were formally appointed to the Commission.

The 2007 Arts Commission budget was funded in the amount of $19,000 and the 2008 Arts Commission budget increased to $48,000 utilizing funds appropriated by City Council and funds received by ticket sales and granting organizations. Due to an economic downturn, the 2009 budget has been reduced significantly, however, the commission has worked admirably to be able to provide our community most if not all of the services afforded in 2008.

Some upcoming Arts Events in 2009 include:

Summer Concerts:
Summer 2009 will feature more noteworthy FREE performances at events on July 4th & 18th, and the summer concert series.

The evening concert series will be moved to Wednesday evenings from 7-9pm/July 22-Aug 19.

Notable artists performing include:

• The Paperboys
• Handful’ of Luvin,’ (both of whom perform March 17th at the Showbox)
• Boulder Acoustic Society

Waterland Music Series:
With support from the Highline Community College Foundation & Music Dept, the Arts Commission has developed the Waterland Music Series, a fall/winter series of three indoor concerts. The 2008-09 series will conclude with a performance by vocal musicians The Main Attraction on April 21st at 7:30pm at Highline Community College in building 7.

Here’s the poster – mark your calendars for April 21st:

Previous performances have included:

• Jazz vibraphonist Susan Pascal
• Acclaimed piano trio Finisterra
• Classical guitarist Michael Nicolella
• Classical Latin pianist Geisa Dutra and more!

The 2009-10 series will open with Seattle jazz legend Michael Powers on Nov. 17th, 2009.

Comedy Night in Des Moines:
2008 was the Arts Commission’s initial Comedy Night in Des Moines. It was a surprise hit! Playing to a near capacity audience at the Des Moines Field House, Dax Jordan & headline act Kermet Apio had the audience in stitches with family friendly humor last October.

For only $10 in advance or $15 at the door, comedy lovers – or anyone needing a laugh – will be treated to more yucks at the second annual event on October 9th, from 7-9pm. Artists will be announced shortly, and tickets go on sale in August. Patrons are encouraged to attend Spaghetti Night at the Des Moines Activity Center for dinner before coming to the show. Guests showing their Spaghetti Night receipt will be afforded the pre-sale ticket price of only $10.

Waterland Childrens Arts Festival:
The Arts Commission has collaborated with the Farmers Market to provide an accessible “hands on” arts event specifically for elementary age children held in June 2007 and June 2008 at the opening day of the Farmers Market at South Marina Park.

In September 2009, the festival will be run by the recreation department as a stand alone event at Des Moines Field House with project and volunteer contributions from the Arts Commission.

From their website:

The Des Moines Arts Commission has had a significant impact on the community in a short time frame, as evidenced by the tremendous increase in its program offerings and operating budget in just over two years of existence.

The Commission has achieved increased community support, including public compliments from high ranking city officials including the mayor and city manager.

The Des Moines Arts Commission continues to improve upon program offerings, while providing quality and effective marketing strategies to increase public awareness of artistic opportunity in the greater Des Moines community.

We continue to strive to offer quality arts and entertainment at an affordable price our resident’s back yard – the parks and venues of Des Moines.