Bringing high-quality entertainment to the Flathead for nearly eight decades is no small feat, nor is continuing to do so at family-friendly, affordable prices. But that’s what Flathead Valley Live on Stage has done, and continues to do, going strong in its 75th season.
The final concert of the 2014 calendar year for Flathead Valley Live on Stage will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 19, when renowned pianist Matt Herskowitz plays his multimedia show at the Flathead High School auditorium.
“He’s fabulous,” Betsy Wood, president for FVLOS, said. “We’re really excited.”
Herskowitz is a jazz, classical, and world pianist, who has gained the acclaim from critics around the world for his power, artistry, and ability to transform the musical experience for the listener.
His latest solo album, “Upstairs,” is a wide-ranging work, which includes an original composition and Herskowitz’s arrangement of Bach’s Prelude in C Minor, which he titles “Bach a la Jazz.”
Bringing in such talent is one of the biggest reasons the Live on Stage organization keeps fresh and afloat in the Flathead, Wood said.
“The quality we bring in is so high, people are just amazed,” she said. “If you are a season member, it’s an incredibly wonderful value. It is such a high value for what you’re paying for the quality of entertainment.”
Flathead Valley Live on Stage started out in its inaugural 1939-1940 season as Community Concerts. There was a need for family-friend, inexpensive entertainment, Wood said, and these concerts certainly fit the bill. By 2006, the organization began rebrandding, and started the 2013-2014 as Flathead Valley Live on Stage.
Every show is fit for all ages, and the organization takes great effort to keep the entertainment fun and interesting. Last year, the group spent $10,000 renovating the Steinway grand piano it bought 20 years ago; the piano is stored at Flathead High School.
Herskowitz will be playing on this recently updated piano, and actually prefers a Steinway, Wood said.
It’s a testament to the dedication the group has for its mission, she said, as well as a show of faith that the Live on Stage concerts will continue into the future. Wood said the last 75 years would not have been possible without community support and the people who keep the organization running.
“The dedication of the hundreds of volunteers who have run this organization for 75 years without ever getting paid, that’s a major reason we’re still here,” Wood said.
Season tickets for the 2014-2015 lineup have been strong, Wood said, but there’s always room for more at the Flathead High auditorium, which seats 897 people.
With that in mind, Wood said the Herskowitz show will provide an opportunity for season-ticket holders to bring their friends to see the high level of talent on stage.
For the Nov. 19 show, a season-ticket holder can bring up to four friends, and each of those friends will gain admission for only $5.
“That’s a bonus for our members for the 75th season,” Wood said.
Following the Herskowitz performance, the organization takes a break during the holiday season, and comes back on Feb. 17 with Rob Verdi and SAXsational, a show that gives the audience look at some of the most unusual saxophones in the musical world, and will also involve student musicians from the Flathead.
In April, Alex DePue and Miguel De Hoyos take the stage with their electric show, mixing DePue’s master fiddler skills with De Hoyos’ talent on the guitar.
Wood said she is happy with the turnout so far this season, and hoped curious would-be audience members check out the preview videos of each performer on the organization’s website.
“It’s a sneak preview, and it shows you the quality of the entertainment and the reasonable price,” she said.
For more information, visit www.flatheadvalleyliveonstage.org.