A string of musical delicacies

By Mikael Kenoyer

The curtain goes up on the third Pacific Arts Association (PAA) season next week and it promises to be even more successful than past years.
The star-studded season kicks off with A String of Pearls July 19, a collection of internationally-known musicians who will be in town for the Blaine Jazz Festival for Teens. PAA president Sandy Wolf invited the musicians, most of whom she worked with in Fairbanks, Alaska at a fine arts camp, to staff the July 18 – 20 workshops. It seemed a shame, she said, to have such talent in town and no public performance, so she arranged for the artists to put on a show.

Concert-goers will be treated to a variety of musical styles, as the musicians are trained in jazz, blues, ragtime, and pop. Some may recognize trombonist Alastair Kay, lead trombone of the Grammy-winning Boss Brass, from his visit as soloist with True North Brass in last year’s PAA season.

Wolf expects the concert to be a raging success. Artrain will be in town, and she said hopes are high that art lovers will embrace both media.
Attending the concert should be easy; getting to it will be the tough part.
The Blaine PAC is surrounded by renovation work that makes parking and entering the building tricky. Ticket-holders will need to park along the street and use the main entrance to the middle school.

Wolf is considering adding a sixth concert to the schedule in future years. “My expectations of the audience have been exceeded,” said Wolf. There has been such support, through better attendance, member donations, and local sponsorship, that the PAA has been able to attract bigger acts to Blaine.

In October, Stardust, a nostalgic female vocal trio comes to Blaine. Inspired by the Boswell Sisters, the Andrews Sisters, and the McGuire Sisters, the group treats classics from the 20s to the 60s with unique harmony, glitzy choreography, and vintage costuming.

December will bring Winter Harp again to the PAC. The PAA has seen such enthusiastic response to the three-time holiday guests, that they are calling it “Blaine’s Nutcracker.”

The Angelo Piano Duo, a husband-wife team from San Francisco, will visit in February. The duo has found success worldwide, from the Pacific Northwest to England to Russia. They play classical and romantic pieces, as well as contemporary works.

The season will be capped of in May by Trio Con Voce, the nationally famed piano, violin, soprano group. Also playing a wide range of music, they will perform the arrangements of pianist Brian Suits, from Mozart to Gershwin.

A String of Pearls begins at 7:30. Tickets are $7.50 for students, $15 for adults. Season tickets are available for $30 students, $60 adults, and may be purchased at Village Books in Fairhaven, the gift shop at Resort Semiahmoo, Steamers, and the Visitors’ Center in Blaine. Credit card orders can be placed by calling 332-6484. .. .
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