PO Box 121, Cimarron, NM 87714
SHORTGRASS MUSIC FESTIVAL 2009
Celebrating the fifth season
think globally
listen locally
AUGUST 6 and SEPTEMBER 17, 18, 19 2009
CIMARRON, NEW MEXICO
August 6
Download Brochure.pdf
MIAMI, NM—American tenor Charles Workman,
who debuts with the Santa Fe Opera this summer, will give a performance
Thursday, August 6, at the home of Landon Young in Miami, NM. An event two and a
half years in the making, the recital will combine the talents of Mr. Workman
and legendary pianist Landon Young for an evening of voice and piano to benefit
the ShortGrass Music Festival, now celebrating its fifth season of concert
weekends in Cimarron, NM. Heavy hors d'oeuvres following the program will be
served by the Miami Opera Guild.
Pianist LANDON YOUNG retired to Miami, NM,
after a career that took him all over the US, Europe and South America. He has
taught at Denison University, the University of California, St. John's College
and United World College in Las Vegas, NM, and is founder/director of the
ShortGrass Music Festival. His knowledge of the business, the music and the
musicians themselves have helped the ShortGrass Music Festival bring music of
all kinds to the schools, theatres and parish halls of northeastern New Mexico.
This is the second benefit held at his orchard home in Miami. The first, two
seasons ago, was a solo performance by Mr. Young in his music room-an open,
light, acoustically fine space big enough for a modest crowd but small enough to
close the gap between the audience and the marvelous sound of his piano.
CHARLES WORKMAN has performed with most of
the world's leading opera houses and orchestras. In 1995, after three seasons
with the Metropolitan Opera, Mr. Workman moved to London and began to work
primarily in Europe where he was quickly established as a highly regarded
interpreter of Mozart, Rossini and French opera.
He is also the younger brother of Miami
resident and endurance rider Susie Jones, who takes some credit for getting him
started. "I had to baby sit him a lot and taught him nursery rhymes and rounds."
She freely admits that Charles was the one with the talent. He sang in
elementary school, became interested in children's theatre and musicals and
performed in them through high school in Little Rock, Arkansas. With an eye on
Broadway, he went on to college as an actor interested in musicals until his
voice teacher encouraged him to concentrate on opera, where he found the outlet
for both singing and acting. His dramatic background gave him an advantage over
performers who had the voice and the range but needed coaching to make a role
come to life.
When Mr. Workman's dialogue with the Santa
Fe Opera began about three years ago, his sister told him about the ShortGrass
Music Festival. He was impressed that the organization strives to bring such a
variety of music to this rural area and offered to give a benefit performance
if/when he came to Santa Fe. Plans for the benefit began in earnest in late
2008.
The Miami Opera Guild was started after
Susie's friends and neighbors learned that the tenor would be coming to Santa
Fe. As she explains it, "It was at my Christmas party and started almost as a
joke - 'got an opera star coming, need a guild!'" She partnered with artist
Anne Wu and educator Ellen Butler, both Miami residents who share an
appreciation for opera, to form the Miami Opera Guild. Although it is a very
informal organization, Guild members are serious about the promotion and
enjoyment of great music. The Guild is looking forward to providing hors
d'oeuvres for the benefit.
The ShortGrass Music Festival depends
entirely on ticket sales, donations and benefits to pay for performers and
concert production costs, piano tuners, lodging and venues. This particular
program presents a marvelous opportunity to enjoy truly world-class music
performed live within the adobe walls of a private home right here in the short
grass country. Seating will be limited; it is recommended that tickets be
purchased as early as possible. Tickets are $35.00, include wine and hors
d'oeuvres, and are on sale now at Blue Moon Eclectics in Cimarron, or can be
reserved by telephone: 575.376.9040 or 888.222.4174 toll free.
An Evening of Voice & Piano • 7 p.m.
Thursday evening, 6 August 2009 • Miami, NM
Directions: Follow highway 21 from Springer
or Cimarron to Miami; turn south, toward the mesas, at Miami's single perfect
crossroads in the center of town; Landon's house is about halfway up the road on
the right, among the apple trees.
Sept. 17
Zuill
Bailey (Cello) and Nayah Perlman (Piano)
Zuill
Bailey's rare combination of artistr, technical finesse and engaging personality
has secured his place as one of the most sought-after cellists today.
Performing with him this evening will be Navah Perlman, a lyrical, poetic
pianist who partners with Bailey on many occasions.
7pm,
United Methodist Church, Cimarron, New Mexico
$20
General admission, $15 Seniors, $5 Students, $50 reserved
Sept. 1
Chuy
Martinez and Oti Ruiz
Chuy
Martinez is a guitarist, singer, song writer, folklorist with more than 30 years
of experience playing music, writing songs and doing theatre. He records
with harpist, singer and violinist Oti Ruiz who has played music since the age
of 13. His love for Latino folklore has taken him throughout Central and
Latin America.
7pm,
Sister Hildegarde Smith Parish Hall, Cimarron, New Mexico
$20
General admission, $15 Seniors, $5 Students, $50 reserved
Sept. 19
The
Buckarettes
Katie
Gill and D.J. Parker, harmonies; Susan Clark accordion; Amy Blackburn, fiddle;
and Jared Putnam, stand-up base--have been together since 1997, enjoying
regional success ever since. Their musicianship, harmonies, and magnetic
stage presence have stolen the hearts of delighted fans everywhere.
7pm,
Colfax Tavern, Colfax, New Mexico (near Cimarron along Route 64)
$10 Cover
charge, Must be 21 to attend
Season
Tickets $40 for all three performances. ($3.50 handling charge applies.)
Tickets are available now at Blue Moon Eclectic as well as other businesses in
Cimarron.
Please call 575-376-9040 or toll free at 888-222-4174 for further information on tickets,
reservations and festival updates.
About the Short Grass Festival:
Cimarron's ShortGrass Music Festival grew out of a wish to enjoy live music
without leaving town. It is now a nonprofit organization with a commitment
to bringing fine music to local venues for audiences of all backgrounds and
ages. Free community concerts and support for area schools through
interactive performance workshops and scholarships are part of this vision.
The
generosity of our contributors allows the ShortGrass Music Festival to offer
outstanding music performances in scenic Cimarron, New Mexico. It also
makes possible the performance workshop and scholarship program begun in 2007
for Colfax County students. Sponsors will be recognized in our concert
programs. All donations are tax deductable to the extent provided by law.
CIMARRON, NEW MEXICO
