Southwest Colorado Concerts hopes to bring another year of high-quality music to Cortez, starting with The David Osborne Trio on Oct. 9.
David Osborne, known as “Pianist to the Presidents” because of his performances at the White House, now calls the Bellagio Resort and Casino his home, after 12 years at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.
The David Osborne trio will perform on Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Montezuma-Cortez High School. The trio also will host a master class during school hours for students.
“He will actually come in and set up a concert for the students,” said Jason A. Witt, president of the Southwest Colorado Concerts board. “He will do a little Q-and-A, teach them a little bit about music, sing some songs and tell some stories.”
According to Witt, SWCC hosts two master classes per season. This season’s will be conducted by the David Osborne Trio and Windsync.
SWCC’s goal is to bring affordable, high-quality bands to play in Cortez for an audience that may not have another opportunity to see them, according to Witt.
“A lot of our artists have played at big venues like Carnegie Hall and around the world,” Witt said. “If we did not have this concert organization that brings these musicians into our area, a lot of people wouldn’t be able to go, not necessarily geographically, but maybe financially.”
All performances will be held in the Montezuma-Cortez High School Ralph E. Vavak Memorial Auditorium.
Tickets can be purchased at the door or by contacting Witt directly for an order form. For tickets in advance, interested patrons can contact Witt at 970-570-9051 or jaywitt5514@gmail.com
There are also a few options for tickets: a $55 season ticket, a $25 single ticket for adults, and a $10 ticket for youths under age 18.
“The best deal is our season ticket, which is $55,” he said. “And that season ticket includes our four big headlining acts along with the Mancos Valley Chorus and the ‘Celebrate! Locals’ concert,’” Witt said. Fifty free student tickets will be available for each event.
“We actually get sponsors to pay for 50 free student tickets that are first-come, first-serve that we offer at every concert,” Witt said. “So every student that comes to a concert and shows us a student ID, their ticket is free because we really want to encourage the kids to come experience these cultural events.”
The LineupMonday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m.The David Osborne Trio includes romantic, classical, jazz, pop, inspiration, patriotic and Broadway show tunes. Osborne has performed for a half-dozen presidential administrations, including Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Osborne is also a regular performer in Las Vegas, having been at Caesar’s Palace for 12 years. He now calls the Bellagio Resort and Casino his Vegas home.
Sunday Nov. 19 at 3 p.m.National recording artist Images will be this year’s “Celebrate! Locals” concert, which will feature Mancos resident Lee Bartley, who co-founded the group with Rich Sallee. Their all-original “light jazz” music is composed by Bartley and other members of the band, written during their 16 years in Denver. The band will consist of two saxophone/flute players, drums, guitar, bass and piano. They recently sold out several concerts in Denver, in 2011 and 2017. All tickets for this “Celebrate! Locals” concert will be $10, and season ticket holders will be admitted free.
Tuesday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m.Mancos Valley Chorus, directed by Kriss Larsen and accompanied by Lee Bartley, begins the Christmas season with a heart-warming musical event to lift your spirits and put you in a holiday mood. This community chorus will sing their hearts out to you, with a variety of celebratory Christmas music including holiday favorites, swing and traditional.
Friday, Feb. 9, 7 p.m.WindSync is a hot young ensemble quickly broadening the appeal of the woodwind quintet by mixing familiar classical music, some familiar lighter tunes and interesting stage presentations, highlighted by the fact that these five virtuoso performers perform exclusively from memory.
Sunday, March 11, 7 p.m.Hot Club of Cowtown, one of the world’s top Western Swing groups, features a mixture of styles including Western swing, Country, cowboy ballads, Django Reinhart Gypsy jazz and an occasional original tune. “The timing, swing and chemistry of these three virtuoso musicians ... is a joy to behold,” according to Guitarist magazine.
Monday, April 2, 7 p.m.The world-famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, under the direction of singer and director Nick Hilscher, is one of the few full-time touring big bands today. The Glenn Miller sound is unique, featuring woodwinds in a special harmonic arrangement, plus, of course, the wonderful singing group the Modernaires.