‘Evening With ...’ features JHS

An “Evening With Jamestown High School Music” kicks off the first performance of the season for the 15-year series that spotlights local musical talent.

The performance, which features vocal and instrumental music by JHS students, is at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Arts Center. Bruce Berg, Jamestown Performing Arts director, said he’s happy to start out with the “talented musicians” at Jamestown High School. “The Evening With …” performance will spotlight the JHS Show Choir and Vocal Jazz group as well as percussion pieces and a string bass solo. Vocal groups include a freshman ladies ensemble and a senior duet.

“It promises to be a very enjoyable evening,” said Cheryl McIntyre, who along with Brady Olson and Jennifer Michalenko, directs the students.

Vocalists include Jaime Kessler, Emily Engels, Jace Erickson, Laura Kraft, Jocelyn Meidinger, Rachel Mogck, Mikaela Walker, Sarah Muhs, Alec Nelson, Alex Kelstrom, Sterling Hubbard, Nick Bercier, Leah Entzel, Erica Derheim, Biz Entzel, Mariah Hiltner, Jessica Church, Dakota Kaplan, Brittany McIntyre, Kara Fix, Beth Jensen, Morgan Huber, Callan Elken, Katee Kunzman, Michael Syverson, Myriah Kobernick, Jana Lynch and Megan Kapp. The two groups feature solo performances as well.

“There is a lot of musical talent in this town and these students demonstrate that talent very well,” Berg said.

The “Evening With …” series began in October 1995 to provide local musicians with an opportunity to perform in a professional atmosphere. The ticket price of $8 for adults and $3 for students is normally split between performers, who may spend months preparing for their performance, and scholarships for JHS students.

“We won’t split it with the performers in this case because all the money will go back to them in the spring,” Berg said. “We were going to do this ‘Evening With …’ last year but we kept running into conflicts.”

Most of the last 14 seasons featured three and sometimes four performances. But in the last few years Berg has been slowing down the pace. Last year only one performance occurred in the series.

“I keep thinking I’ll phase out of this, but then someone calls wanting to perform,” he said. “I’m not that busy that I can say no. It’s something to do and kind of fun.”

The performances usually last between an hour and an hour and a half and are always held at the Arts Center. Berg said it’s a cozy venue, where performers don’t need microphones and can better connect with their audience.

“And some of the kids have raved about the acoustics in the Arts Center,” he said.

A second “Evening With …” performance is planned for later this month. And that will be it for the season. JPA will once again host the Last Annual Comedy Revue in March. The revue features local talent performing comedy routines. Although the “Evening With …” series may be waning, Berg said the revue appears to draw a bigger crowd each year.

Each year, Berg said, JPA donates between $1,000 and $1,500 to the Arts Center. Most of those funds come from proceeds of the Comedy Revue.

“JPA is not the Jamestown Fine Arts Association as many people seem to think,” he said. “It’s a sister organization that is supportive of the arts in Jamestown.”

Sun reporter Toni Pirkl can be reached at (701) 952-8453 or by e-mail at tonip@jamestownsun.com

Tags: diversions, performances, music, choir, jhs