FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                    September 5, 2007

NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA CONCERT SERIES OFFERS VARIETY OF ATTRACTIONS

The popular Riders in the Sky will make a return appearance to kickoff the 2007-2008 Northwest Oklahoma Concert Series at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva.

The Riders, a multi-Grammy Award-winning quartet, will appear at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 2, in Herod Hall Auditorium. This season also will feature Oklahoma native Jimmy Webb on Nov. 12, the Ambassadors’ Concert Choir on Feb. 23, 2008, and the Glenn Miller Orchestra on April 14, 2008.

Riders in the Sky, Oct. 2 Jimmy Webb, Nov. 12 The Ambassadors' Concert Choir, Feb. 23, 2008 Glenn Miller Orchestra, April 14, 2008 Click on the photos to make them larger.

            All performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. instead of 8 p.m. as in the past.

            Riders in the Sky were a hit when they first appeared with the Concert Series in 1996. Then a trio comprised of Ranger Doug, Woody Paul and Too Slim, the group has added Joey, the CowPolka King. With their music grounded in the American tradition of cowboy singers, the Riders mix in a healthy dose of humor to keep the audience amused.

            Webb is perhaps best known for the numerous hits he wrote for Glen Campbell—“By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” “Wichita Lineman,” etc.—but he also wrote “MacArthur Park” and “Up, Up and Away” among other best sellers. While continuing his songwriting for other artists, Webb has honed his own performance skills.

            The Ambassadors’ Concert Choir is based in Oklahoma City and presents a wide diversity of styles from classical to gospel to Broadway and from traditional to contemporary and improvisational. It has performed before both state and national audiences.

            Glenn Miller disappeared in 1944 while flying from England to France, but the recognizable sound of his orchestra continues to live on, now under the direction of trombonist Larry O’Brien. The group continues to play Miller standards, but has a repertoire of more than 1,500 compositions.

            Season tickets now are available at Holder Drug, Schuhmacher’s, Alva Chamber of Commerce and Northwestern Bookstore or by calling (580) 327-8590. Adult season tickets are

$30 (a $40 value) and student season tickets are $15 (a $20 value). Tickets to individual performances will be sold on an “as available” basis at $10 for adults and $5 for students.

            Again this year, four different sponsorship packages are being offered that include season tickets, reserved seating and program advertisements.

            “Each year we strive to find high quality, exciting acts we think will appeal to our audiences, but quality performers are expensive,” said Dr. Mike Knedler, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and coordinator of the series. “We are building the series annually, but to continue our growth, we need the community’s support “Money raised through sponsorships and ticket sales enables the series to bring the best possible entertainers to Alva.

            “The concert series cannot survive without the continued support of the community.

Whether or not a person is able to attend all or none of the events, buying season tickets or one

of our benefit packages is a tangible way to support a valuable asset to the community,” he added.

            The sponsorship packages are as follows:

            Producers Circle, $100 to $299 Contribution—Three season tickets, seating in reserved section, name recognition in concert program.

            Directors Circle, $300 to $599 Contribution—Six season tickets, seating in reserved section, name recognition in concert program, quarter-page ad in concert program.

Composers Circle, $600 to $999 Contribution—Twelve season tickets, seating in reserved section, name recognition in concert program, half-page ad in concert program.

            Impresarios Circle, $1,000 or more Contribution—Eighteen season tickets, seating in reserved section, name recognition in concert program, full-page ad in concert program.

            The reserved seating section at each concert will be held until five minutes prior to the performance.

            Anyone interested in buying a sponsorship package should call Dr. Knedler at (580) 327-8590.

            The Northwest Oklahoma Concert Series is made possible with the assistance of the Oklahoma Arts Council, the National Endowment for Fine Arts and the Share Trust of Alva.

-NW-

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