music & the Arts

Inspiring Bartlesville through art and music

by glenn minnis

One of the most important parts of an area’s culture is its art and music, and Bartlesville has a healthy dose of both, with its Bartlesville Community Concert Association and the Bartlesville Art Association.

Over the years, The Bartlesville Community Concert Association (BCCA) has become as celebrated for long-standing traditions as it has its awe-inspiring debuts.

Since opening its doors with a simple sales pitch of “excellent family entertainment for reasonable prices” nearly a century ago in 1935, BCCA has regularly introduced such artists to the Bartlesville masses as Victor Borge, Guy Lombardo, Ranson Wilson, Peter Nero, The Canadian Brass, The Chicago Symphony, The Colorado Children’s Chorale, Gus Giordano Jazz Dance, Chinese Golden Dragon Acrobats, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Wanda Jackson, Bryon Berline, Grady Nichols and other top performers.

Along the way, the venue has also paid tribute to the music of such legends as John Denver, Abba,and the Beach Boys, all while offering an uplifting assortment of Educational Outreach Programs, Master Classes and Matinee Performances to students in the area.

All the headlining acts and life-changing opportunities are made possible through donations from supporters and grants from various corporations and foundations.

Currently, BCCA is once again offering free ticket vouchers to regional youth nonprofit groups (e.g., Girl Scouts, school band and music classes, Big Brothers and Sisters, private music instructors of youth, etc.) for each of the season’s upcoming concerts.

“It is always exciting to see the ‘next generation’ experience the music through our youth outreach,” BCCA officials said on the organization’s website. “While not all of them will become professional entertainers or musicians, most of the young people visibly enjoy the concerts. Perhaps there are a few new budding vocalists or instrumentalist in the crowd.”

With the Community Concerts are billed as a great way for the area’s young people to enjoy an evening out filled with live entertainment and the chance to learn more about music, performers are also selected based on their lively stage presence and audience interaction.

“In addition to the outreach program, we are working to enrich our entire youth community through mini-concerts, master classes with our performers and other activities geared toward aspiring musicians in our community,” BCCA added on its website.

Association officials add the opportunities are open to all with the only requirements from the groups being each youth be at least 8 years old, each student be involved in some form of performing arts, each group have proper adult supervision and each group give the Outreach Coordinator one day’s advance notice prior to each concert as to how many tickets for that concert are needed and each.

After selecting which concerts they may want to attend, interested groups are advised to contact Outreach Coordinator Warren Neff at the email address outreach@bccamusic. org (or by phone at 918-335-2274), and give him a list of students & chaperones planning to attend.

Widely dependent upon the efforts of its member volunteers, the Bartlesville Art Association touts as its mission supporting and encouraging the visual arts by artists and art appreciators across the area, assisting in and encouraging education in the visual arts with an emphasis on youth art education, and organizing and promoting volunteer-operated events that offer a forum for public presentation of member artwork.

As part of an effort to encourage membership from anyone with an appreciation for the arts and who wants to help promote it across Bartlesville, in 1965 the name of the organization was changed to the Bartlesville Art Association. While still an all-volunteer

At left: Unnamed by BAA Board Member Amy Jenkins. Above: Dormant Reflections by BAA Board Member Amy Jenkins.

Circe 1955 by BAA Board Member Amy Jenkins

organization, BAA is now flourishing on the strength of being home to art activities nearly every day.

“We have partnered with civic organizations and our local schools to provide arts education and promotion of the visual arts,” the group said on its website. “Bartlesville is recognized as one of the top arts communities in the state.

2022-23 SEASON

BARTLESVILLE COMMUNITY CONCERT ASSOCIATION

Sunday, Oct. 9, 3 p.m.

How Sweet It Is - The Music of James Taylor

Nashville-based Steve Leslie is an award-winning singer-song writer guitarist. In “How Sweet It Is!”

Steve Leslie performs the music of one of his greatest influences, James Taylor, in an authentic and spellbinding concert event. Steve’s warm baritone and exceptional guitar technique will have audiences singing along to James Taylor’s incredible catalog of songs.

Monday, Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m.

David Osborn - Pianist to Presidents

Known as the “Pianist to the Presidents,” David

Osborne’s career highlights are many. He has performed at the White House well over 50 times for the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan,

George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack

Obama, and Donald Trump. David has performed at

Jimmy Carter’s birthday party for over 30 years and entertained at Jimmy & Rosalynn’s 75th wedding anniversary in July 2021. He is the resident pianist at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. His music includes romantic, classical, jazz, pop, inspirational, patriotic, and

Broadway show tunes.

Sunday, March 12, 2023, 2 p.m.

Backtrack Vocals

Backtrack Vocals is a 5-person a cappella singing group that transforms familiar pop, funk, Motown, standards, and Broadway songs with all-new vocal arrangements. Capitalizing on their fresh sound, BTV began its musical journey by launching a YouTube channel. Their unique music videos featured new arrangements of familiar songs, bringing BTV millions of new fans.

Sunday, May 14, 2023, 7:30 p.m.

Beginnings - The Music of Chicago

Beginnings is the Ultimate Chicago Tribute Band.

Guitar riffs, hopped up vocal melodies and the famous brass section all make for American music that stands the test of time. Beginnings is a band of great musicians who grew up listening to Chicago and developed a love for bringing that music to life!

Beginnings transports audiences through more than five decades of Chicago’s extensive catalog of gold and platinum recordings.

All Concerts take place at the Bartlesville Community Center. Season tickets are available at bccamusic.org

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