Celebrating Women in More Ways Than One

By Krista Thom
Contributing Writer

The event is basically a concert, but it also includes an awards ceremony in which seven high school girls will be presented with awards for their achievements in the arts. Two of the award winners will be performing at the show.

Deb Jenkins, who came up with the idea for Celebration of Women and their Music, and who still runs the show, said she was first inspired to organize the event because of her daughter, who was studying music. “I just wanted to show young women that you can do all these different things,” said Jenkins. “I wanted to show them that there are people in the community who are willing to support and help. And I wanted to show them that anything is possible through music and art.”

The event has proven popular among musicians, as well as among members of the community. Some musicians travel across the country in order to spend 7-10 minutes performing. Jenkins says that speaks to the support people have for the underlying cause. “That’s exactly what’s cool about the show,” she said. “You have people who do this for a living, and they’re coming to Fargo in the middle of February because they believe in the mission of mentoring young women. That’s what the show is. It’s a wonderful night of music with these beautiful women.”

Lindsay Mac, a cellist known for playing her instrument like a guitar, is one performer who makes it a point to come whenever she can. Mac has performed at the event three times, even though Fargo is over a thousand miles away from her home in Boston. Mac says she keeps coming back because she loves the atmosphere of the city. “There are a few places where, even if they’re out of the way logistically, we always try to go when we can,” said Mac. “These are places where people are open-minded and enthusiastic about the music. Fargo has that. And everyone’s been really great to us in the past.”

This year, Jenkins is expanding the program to include more than a solitary concert. There will be several other performances held around town in the days leading up to the show. And on Sunday, Mac will be hosting a master class and mini concert.

The master class is significant because it represents a new collaboration between Celebration of Women and their Music and the newly christened Bluestem Center for the Arts in Moorhead.

Bluestem, which is best known for hosting Trollwood productions, was looking for ways to expand its educational offerings. They heard that Mac had done a similar program in the past, and were interested in bringing the idea to Moorhead.

Members of the community can sign up to participate in an impromptu orchestra, which will practice performing Mac’s songs. At 2:30, the orchestra will perform with Mac and her band in a mini concert, which is open to the public.

The class is free, but participants are expected to register in advance. This allows them to receive their music early and practice in advance. Likewise, audience members are encouraged to make reservations because of limited seating.

There is room for about 50 players in the orchestra, and Katie Phillips, Bluestem’s Director of Programs and Events, says she’s been impressed with the initial response. “I got a flurry of emails right away,” Phillips said. “I’m very pleased with the reactions we’ve been getting.”

Jane Capistran, who will be conducting the orchestra, says this class will expose people to styles of music outside the classical vein. Capistran, who is an Assistant Professor of Music at Concordia, as well as the conductor of the FM Youth Orchestra and a coordinator for the FM Symphony Orchestra, says students often deal very heavily with classical music, and experiences like this help to broaden their horizons.

She also says many of her students in both high school and college are looking forward to the class. “Some of my students don’t know much about Lindsay, and they’re very intrigued by her style. But some of them are very familiar with her, and they’re the ones that are pumped to be playing these songs.”

Phillips says this is the ideal event for Bluestem to offer. “It’s the perfect use of the space. It’s a learning experience with an incredibly talented artist, there’s unique subject matter,” (Mac wrote, and for the most part arranged, all of the music) “and it gives the community the opportunity to come together and experience this in an intimate, creative setting.”

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IF YOU GO:
What: Celebration of Women and their Music
When: Sat, Feb. 19, 6:30 pm
Where: Fargo Theatre, 314 Broadway
Tickets: $15 Adult, $10 Student, reserve by calling (800) 514-3849 or visit www. tickets330.com
For more information: http://www.debjenkins.com/celebrationofwomen.html

What: Lindsay Mac Master Class and Community Performance
When: Sun, Feb. 20, Master Class starts at noon, Community Performance at 2:30
Where: Bluestem Center for the Arts, 801 50th Ave SW, Moorhead
Tickets: Free; call 218-477-6537 to reserve
For more information: http://www.bluestemcfa.org