Press Release
For almost 70 years, volunteers from both sides of the border have worked hard to increase the appreciation of performance arts and bring its members world-class entertainment.
Using the Backus Auditorium as its base, the Border Concert Association has been dedicated to arranging and planning exceptional presentations for the communities of International Falls and Fort Frances, as well as the surrounding communities.
This year’s concert series begins next Tuesday (Oct. 22) at 7:30 p.m. and will consist of a fantastic musical duo.
The Abrams Brothers are fourth-generation musicians with musical roots reaching back to their great-grandparents.
Despite their age (early 20s), they have been touring together for more than a decade–and in the past few years, have become Canadian festival favourites.
The youngest Canadians to appear at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn., they’ve also toured Europe and several times have performed at the “Jacob’s Ladder Folk Festival” in Israel.
The second concert, slated for Nov. 21, will feature an amazing group called “Vocaldente.”
They have been described as audience favourites, award winners, globetrotters, vocal artists, entertainers, and just plain old “singers.”
Somehow all of these are fitting for “Vocaldente”—Germany’s most successful a cappella export!
Coming together in 2004 from their beginnings in the Hochschule fur Musik und theatre and the Boys Choir of Hannover, Vocaldente has developed over the course of only a few short years into an internationally-acclaimed and sought-after vocal ensemble.
On March 14, the series will continue with the award-winning music of Charlie Albright.
Winner of the prestigious 2010 Gilmore Young Artist Award and the 2009 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, Albright concluded the 2010-11 season of debuts to critical acclaim—hailed as being “among the most gifted musicians of his generation” by The Washington Post.
Although the fourth concert will take place April 1, the music of Mack Bailey certainly is no joke.
He has been hailed as “the next great singer in folk music” by no less an authority than Glenn Yarbrough, the original tenor in the world-renowned folk trio, “The Limeliters,” who Bailey now performs around the country with.
He also is a principal member of the reunited ’60s group, “The Hard Travelers.”
Bailey has a rich history of major concert appearances, and has opened for—or shared the stage with—stars including Randy Travis, Alabama, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gil, and The Oak Ridge Boys.
The closing concert of the season May 1 will feature the phenomenal Les Trompettes de Lyon.
Five prodigiously-competent trumpet masters—in no way starchy—will guide you with lightness, smartness, and brilliance through all ages, forms, and tones of their mascot instrument.
The ensemble was born in 1989 from the meeting of five musicians trained in the academies of music and universities of Lyon.
Today, this group of musicians continue to dazzle audiences around the world with their talent and love of music.
The Border Concert directors from both sides of the border hope people from across the area will continue to support this long-running series.
They work hard to bring you world-class entertainers and hope you will want to see more excellent concerts in the years to come.
Season tickets are available at the usual outlets or directly from any of the directors.
