The first Northwest Oklahoma Concert Series of the 2024 – 2025 season, “Helen Welch: The First Ladies of Song,” is scheduled for Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. in the Alva High School Auditorium.
Alva Public Schools is graciously allowing its space to be utilized as Herod Hall Auditorium at Northwestern Oklahoma State University is undergoing renovations.
Welch’s beautifully-arranged and entertaining shows have intimately engaged audiences and packed houses around the globe.
A native of England, Welch began her career on television’s “Romper Room.” Since her early success, she has headlined with world-class organizations such as the BBC Big Band, Glenn Miller Europe, Opus One and others at some of the United Kingdom’s most prestigious venues including: The Ritz, The Savoy, Blenheim Palace, The Grosvenor House Great Room, Claridges and many theatres in London’s West End. Additionally, she held starring roles in a variety of popular musicals including: “Hello Dolly,” “Barnum,” “Carousel,” “42nd Street,” “Calamity Jane” and “Oliver Twist.”
After a very successful run in the UK, Welch relocated to the United States to guest star in the Broadway musical “Smokey Joe’s Café.” Her immediate success landed her as a fronting vocalist for The Cleveland Orchestra, The Breckenridge Summer Orchestra, The Grant Park Symphony Orchestra (Chicago), The Florida Symphony and the Columbus Jazz Orchestra. Since that time, she has been producing her own shows for Cleveland’s Playhouse Square, The Akron Civic Theatre, The Chautauqua Institution and many other theatres and performing arts centers. In 2016, her musical release “Spellbound” was an entry for the Traditional Pop Category of the Grammy Awards.
Welch will be performing her big band program, “The First Ladies of Song,” celebrating the music of the greatest female phenoms of all-time including Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Karen Carpenter, Etta James, Judy Garland, Peggy Lee and more. Songs include: “At Last,” “Fever,” “Natural Woman,” “Over the Rainbow,” “Misty,” “Fly Me to the Moon” and more.
For more information on the Northwest Oklahoma Concert Series, contact Eduardo Moreira, assistant professor of music, by email at emartinsmoreira@nwosu.edu or call (580) 327-8192.
For more information about the Reichenberger Department of Fine Arts, contact Kimberly Weast, department chair and professor of theatre arts, at kkweast@nwosu.edu or call (580) 327-6462.
-NW-
CONTACT FOR RELEASE:
Sean J. Doherty, University Relations Specialist
sjdoherty@nwosu.edu | 580-327-8480