Empire Wild is one of the groups set to perform in the Blue Earth Valley Concert Association’s upcoming season.

The Blue Earth Valley Concert Association (BEVCA), a nonprofit organization embarking upon its 46th season, is excited to be offering four unique concert experiences in Blue Earth in upcoming months.

BEVCA, which was organized in 1976 by a group of local citizens, seeks to bring quality entertainment to Faribault County.

“We want to bring a wide genre of concert experiences at an affordable cost,” Gail Ottesen, co-president of BEVCA’s board of directors, summarizes.

BEVCA books its variety of professional artists via Allied Concert Services; an organization which seeks to bring world-class artists to community concert associations in smaller cities and towns throughout the central United States.

“We hope people understand how professional these groups are,” Ottesen says.

Just this season, BEVCA will present performances by a Broadway vocalist, three Juilliard-educated musicians, a group of talented Twin Cities jazz musicians and an award-winning artist from Nashville. And, all of the concerts will occur right here in Blue Earth.

Ottesen and Gary Olsen, another co-president of BEVCA, purposefully seek to fill each season with a balanced range of artists.

“We try to have a variety of styles,” Olsen says.

Though BEVCA is based in Faribault County, its audience extends far beyond those borders.

“We serve 19 cities in our county,” Ottesen says, adding BEVCA also has regular members from Amboy, Mapleton, Mankato and Fairmont.

From near or far, those who purchase tickets for the upcoming season will be treated to a variety of engaging and seasoned performers at Blue Earth Area High School’s Performing Arts Center.

Jeremy Stolle, a recording artist and concert singer, will kick off the season on Wednesday, Oct. 19.

When he’s not performing as the Phantom on Broadway, Stolle enjoys singing with orchestras, including the Indianapolis Symphony, Springfield Symphony and Music Theater Wichita. As a veteran of the musical theater stage, Stolle’s specialty is Classic Broadway with a pop flair.

Shortly after Stolle serenades Blue Earth with some ‘Music of the Night,’ Empire Wild, a genre-bending crossover trio, will bring their exploratory sounds to the Performing Arts Center on Sunday, Nov. 13.

Ken Kubota, Brandon Ilaw and Mitch Lyon - all classically-trained musicians - met at Juilliard. They fuse the sounds of pop, folk, Broadway and more into their songwriting and performances via Ken and Mitch’s creative bowing, plucking and chopping technique on the cello and Brandon’s varied vocal and instrumental skills.

“I think they’re really going to bring a youthful presence,” Ottesen predicts.

The new year will bring The Travis Anderson Trio on Sunday, Feb. 12. The Minneapolis-based ensemble gives a modern twist to classic jazz and pop favorites.

Fleet-fingered pianist Travis Anderson will lead the ensemble through fan-favorites, such as themes from 60s television programs, and Disney and pops jazz standards. Steve Pikal’s bass and Nathan Norman’s percussion will round out the ensemble’s smooth sound.

The season will close with How Sweet It Is on Sunday, May 7. The program, performed by Nashville-based Steve Leslie, brings the beloved music of James Taylor to audiences via an authentic and spellbinding concert event.

Apart from the exciting lineup of performers scheduled in Blue Earth, season ticket holders will have the opportunity to attend additional concerts in St. James.

Although BEVCA used to enjoy reciprocity with the Fairmont Concert Association, the latter’s recent disbanding meant that BEVCA was initially left partnerless this season.

However, the Watonwan Entertainment Association and BEVCA have now established a new partnership, which means BEVCA’s members will be invited to four concerts in St. James’s Armstrong Auditorium.

The Watonwan Entertainment Association’s concert series will feature Copper Street Brass on Thursday, Sept. 15, classical pianist Jeeyoon Kim on Thursday, Nov. 17, and the Dan Miller Cowboy Revue on Sunday, Feb. 26. Audiences will also have a second opportunity to see How Sweet It Is on Monday, May 8.

BEVCA sells season tickets exclusively, and does not offer individual concert tickets for purchase. However, affordability is one of BEVCA’s central goals, and season tickets, which offer access to a combined total of eight concerts in Blue Earth and St. James, are well worth the cost.

A regular season ticket costs $50. K-12 students, however, may purchase a season ticket for just $10. A family season pass is also available, which allows the entire household access to the concert series for $110.

Ottesen explains season ticket holders can share their tickets with other music enthusiasts if they find there are one or two concerts they will not be able to attend themselves.

All of these opportunities to enjoy music in the area are made possible by a grant from the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council, which is thanks to legislative appropriation from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund. The BEVCA board is also thankful to those who participate in its Financial Support Program.

Ottesen and Olsen note that each show will cost BEVCA between $3,950 to $5,850 this season, and the budget remains similar to mount concert series each year.

“Our budget is paid for by the purchase of season tickets, sponsors and donations, as well as a grant from the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council,” Olsen says.

Both he and Ottesen hope more people will take advantage of the seasoned performers who will visit Blue Earth when the 2022-23 season commences.

“When you look at the size of Blue Earth, it’s remarkable that it has a concert association and community theater,” Ottesen says. “That says something about what the community values.” 

Questions and requests to purchase tickets may be directed to Gail Ottesen at 507-854-3233.