From Bach to Basie, A Singin’ Affair

Mineral Area Council on the Arts, in association with the City of Farmington, is proud to announce that world-renowned baritone Wayne Pope will be the featured performer at a special concert event, “From Bach to Basie: A Singin’ Affair,” taking place at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17, at the Centene Center, 2 Black Knight Drive in Farmington.

Tickets are now available for purchase at the Centene Center box office for $10 adults and $5 students. They may be purchased by phone by calling (573) 756-0900.

Special guests that evening will be Ryan Jones on piano, Beth Kenady Pope on vocals and Mineral Area College’s Kicks Band under the direction of Dan Schunks.

The concert will feature music from the great classical masters and a swingin' set of tunes made popular by the stunning combination of Frank Sinatra and Count Basie.

“We’re pleased to be bringing this performance to the Centene Center,” says Arts Council Executive Director Danielle Basler, “Wayne is a popular vocalist at the Baby Boomer concerts each summer and this is an excellent opportunity for our community to hear the full range of capabilities of his voice. The audience should expect a stellar performance!

“Earlier this fall, Wayne and accompanist Ryan Jones visited with local high school and college students, offering advice and other pieces of wisdom gained from their experience at Western Kentucky University. His willingness to offer this outreach opportunity for young musicians is a testament to Wayne’s character and interest in supporting the development of future artists.”

Pope, a French Village, Missouri, native, has shared his “rich, clear baritone voice” throughout the U.S., Israel and Europe and has been featured on National Public Radio programs, including Performance Today. He was chosen to perform the title role in the premier of The Martyrdom of Saint Polycarp by JAC Redford at Rome, Italy’s Annual Oratorio Festival and has served on the board of directors for the National Association of Teachers of Singing and is professor of voice and director of Main Stage Opera at Western Kentucky University.

Pope can be heard in frequent performance as vocalist and bassist for the WKU Faculty Jazz Trio. Well versed in many musical styles, he is a charter member and annual performer at the popular Baby Boomer Reunion Concert. He and his wife Beth often collaborate in performance. They make their home in Bowling Green, Kentucky, while their daughter, Caitlin Miles (husband Luke) and their son Will, are active vocalist/performers who make their homes in Nashville, Tennessee.  

Pianist Ryan Jones hails from Muhlenberg County in Kentucky. Exhibiting prodigious musical and piano skills, Ryan began performing professionally at an early age. His high school credits include All-State Band and Jazz Band as well as All-State Percussion Ensemble. He is the recipient of the Piano Performer of the Semester Award and is a Senior Music Education Major at Western Kentucky University where he studies piano with Dr. Zach Lopes.

In addition to his role as pianist for the WKU Jazz Ensemble, Jones often joins the WKU Faculty Jazz Trio and is the featured pianist at The Derby Piano and Dessert Bar at The Kentucky Grand Hotel & Spa. He plans to attend graduate school in the fall of 2018 and pursue a career as a jazz pianist. Currently he and his wife Kristen, an elementary classroom educator, make their home in Bowling Green, Kentucky. 

Special guest vocalist Beth Kenady Pope grew up in Princeton, Kentucky.  Trained in piano, she soon emerged as a gifted singer and pursued collegiate voice study. She has performed throughout the US and abroad in multiple concert and recital appearances with groups such as Orchestra Kentucky, Nashville Opera, Leadville Music Festival and The Symphony at WKU. As a member of the Voice Faculty at Western Kentucky University she won the Potter College Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Member Award.

She has served on the music faculties of Kentucky Wesleyan College, Loyola University (New Orleans) Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist University. Highly regarded as a master teacher, her students are engaged in university and professional opera and musical productions. She is also a long-time cast member of the renowned Baby Boomer Reunion Concert.

The Mineral Area Council on the Arts receives financial assistance from the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. For more information on Arts Council programs, visit www.MineralAreaArts.org or call 573-518-2125.