Bringing The World To Our Stage!
– By Guest Contributor Ron Snow –
St. GEORGE, UT – Since 1958, professional performing arts at its best has been brought to our community through the Celebrity Concert Series of Dixie State University. Vocalists, orchestras, soloists and instrumental groups, dancers, magicians, and acrobats from around the globe have graced the stage of the Cox Auditorium to entertain, inspire and educate us. Many of the artists have bid us to reminisce, especially when we are invited to sing along on favorite tunes from yesteryear. Youth are exposed to exceptional talent, providing an incentive to develop their own talents. The cultural arts are every bit as important as other aspects of a well-rounded education. Our Dixie pioneer ancestors knew this well and supported the arts from the outset while taming this harsh desert environment.
Each year, the CCS Board, under the direction of Ginger Nelson and Karin Edwards strive to bring a smorgasbord of performers to our area. Acknowledging an occasional risk on new artists, all performing art forms are considered for this community arts program. Without the need to travel to major metropolitan areas, and at a fraction of the cost, CCS has consistently treated us to a remarkable variety of professional quality artistic presentations.
As a staple of the cultural calendar, past performances have included the Utah Symphony, Glenn Miller Orchestra, BYU performing groups, the Texas Tenors, Gentri, The Lettermen, The Kingston Trio, Nathan Pacheco, Lexi Walker, One Night in Memphis, Ballet West, the Repertory Dance Theater, St. Petersburg Ballet, Justin Flom, Bria Skonberg, Irish Christmas, Cirque Mechanics, Catapult, and various guest soloists with the Dixie State Symphony Orchestra, enhancing the experience for both the students and audience.
It has been an honor and privilege for me to serve on the CCS Board for the past ten years in association with some wonderfully talented folks. Few people recognize the tremendous amount of unsung work that goes on behind the scenes to make things happen. Communications and contracting, sound and lighting technicians, stage managers and custodial personnel are all necessary for a quality show. Selecting performers for a CCS season involved some hard choices between several outstanding possibilities, striving to stay within a budget. When a performing group was unfamiliar, my horizons were often serendipitously expanded and new appreciations of talent were formed. The sensation of a live, in-person performance added to the enjoyment, and greeting old friends at the door of the venue was a cherished bonus.
The CCS Season line up through December begins with the Utah Symphony and includes performances by the followed by Folk-Legacy Trio, BYU Ballroom Dance Company, The Sharpe Family Singers, William Joseph – guest piano soloist with the Dixie State Symphony Orchestra, and Irish Christmas in America. Information about the entire season can be found at celebrityconcertseries.com.
Single show tickets are available now and can be purchased online at dsutix.com, in person at the DSU Ticket Office, or over the phone at (435) 652-7800. Pandemic precautions are in place such that no one should be deterred from coming to the Cox Auditorium. Patrons are asked to wear masks, which will be available in the lobby, and observe accepted protocol to minimize COVID-19 risks.
