Norman Foote
October 23, 2011
4:00pm
Hobson School
October 24, 2011
9:00am
Stanford School

Pam Drews Phillips
February 12, 2012
4:00pm
Hobson School

Calle Sur
March 18, 2012
4:00pm
Hobson School
March 19, 2012
9:00am
Hobson School

Judith Arts Society
Announces 2011-2012 Season

Information shared by Vicky McCray, Judith Basin Press News-Editor

The 2011-2012 Performing Arts Season began on August 27 at the Utica Community Hall.  A few years ago, the board opted to offer Pub Night in Utica, an evening of good music, refreshments and hors d'oeuvres. This year headlined Blaze and Kelly, two guitar-playing gals from Idaho.

The next performance, scheduled for
October 23rd in the Hobson School multipurpose room, offers the wit of Canadian Norman Foote. He is best known for his songwriting, outrageous props and off-beat sense of humor in children's music. Nominated for four Juno Awards, he has written for Walt Disney Records, Shari Lewis (of Lamb Chop fame) and Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's syndicated show, "Scoop and Doozie." The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements.

Foote's songs are witty and humorous, taking a small aspect of life and turning it into something worth singing about. He has been playing the guitar since age 11 and combines light jazz, pop, and folk music to create his inimitable style.

He recorded his first two albums, "FootePrints" and "If the Shoe Fits," with Disney and won the 2010 Juno Award for "Best Children's Album" with his most recent album, "Love My New Shirt."  Foote has a passion for puppetry and slapstick comedy.

The third concert of the season brings Pam Drews Phillips to the Hobson School on February 12. She will perform on the JAS piano. A jazz pianist, conductor and composer, Phillips does it all – classical, Broadway, New Age, pop – but she does it best with jazz. She will definitley tickle the ivories of the piano.

Phillips has performed in many Broadway shows and has even done some film work. She has conducted Broadway companies of "Crazy for You" and "Jerome Robbins' Broadway," the national company of "On Your Toes," and the national and Scandinavian companies of "Evita."

She has performed with the American Symphony, New York City Ballet Orchestra, American Ballet Theater, American Theater Orchestra, and the Grand Teton Festival Orchestra.   Phillips composed and recorded her own CD, "Open Country," inspired by Native American legend.

Her jazz playing includes performances with Lainie Kazan, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Betty Buckley, and the Manhattan Rhythm Kings. Phillips' style ranges from ragtime to her original work, which is fun and full of personality.

On March 18, 2012, the final concert of the season, Calle Sur (Kah-yeh Soor) will perform music from all over Latin America on a large variety of instruments. Karin Stein of Colombia and Ed East of Panama bring to life the rich diversity of Latin American music. At the same time they challenge cultural and ethnic preconceptions and lift their listeners' spirits with musical energy and beauty.

Outstanding musicians, Stein and East sprinkle their concerts with warmth and humor.  According to their biography, Calle Sur is what happens when you combine man and woman, Black and White, urban and rural. The duo has traveled nationwide, has composed the soundtrack for three internationally broadcast documentaries, and has appeared on a variety of television and radio shows. They share their expertise on a number of instruments including Bolivian panpipes, a Venezuelan cuatro and a large selection of Latin American percussion instruments including congas, bongos, timbales, maracas and güiro.

This season promises to be a good one.