Community Concerts take final bow

After 45 years, Carson City's Capital Community Concert Association will take a final bow.

The organization plans one final free concert at 7:30 p.m. June 3 before retiring the ol' piano.

Carson City soprano Maria Arrigotti, University of Nevada, Reno music professor James Winn, UNR student Justin Givens, teenage violist Molly Carr, Gardnerville's Milus Scruggs and the Sierra Highlanders will be on hand to say farewell.

Judy Harris said the organization will disband after the concert.

"It was nice, but we kept going downhill," Harris said. "It's better to quit while we're ahead."

While maintaining the number of volunteers needed to keep the association going was difficult, Harris said problems with a New York promoter used to attract national acts was the real problem.

"They booked the programs," she said. "We'd choose the acts and we got all of them we wanted. You have to have good ones to attract people. I feel very badly about it."

One issue the association has to deal with is parting with the Baldwin Concert Grand Piano purchased in 1976.

Harris said the association is going to turn the piano over to the Brewery Arts Center. Harris said she hopes the transfer will not be permanent and the community concert association will be revived some day.

Betty Anderson prepared a history of the association, which was formed May 29, 1957.

"You would be surprised at how many prominent Carson City names were involved in the association's founding," she said.

Among the founders were city councilman R. Lester Kelly and Nevada Appeal reporter Marilyn Pochop. Carson High School Music Director Al Saliman was the group's first vice president.

Among the Carson City residents on the first board of directors were Harriet Crowell, Dr. Richard Petty, onetime dean of the University of California at Davis Law School Homer Angelo, and shop owner Walter Wilson.

The first community concerts were held at the Civic Auditorium, which is now the home of the Children's Museum of Northern Nevada.

The Cristy Minstrels, Shanghai Acrobats and the Ballet Folclorico de Mexico are among the acts which have appeared in Carson City, thanks to the association.

A reception will follow the June 3 concert.

IF YOU GO

What: Free Capital Community Concert

When: 7:30 p.m. June 3

Where: Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St.