Place Description: Chris Stephens is a multi-instrumentalist like no other. It’s difficult to explain what he does with his instruments – the Arabic Oud, Persian Tar, Indian Sitar, and Chinese Pipa – but however you describe it, he’s crossing musical boundaries and fostering connections between distant traditions. A true master musician and innovator, his music is based on the historic music from the world’s oldest cultures. His specialty is in the family of instruments known as “lutes,” which are the ancestors of the guitar. Chris’ performances are both an homage to these classical traditions and an exploration in contemporary improvisation. His main focus is to share these historic art forms with new audiences and to engage those who are familiar with them by honoring the old traditional styles and compositions. Each concert creates an enchanted musical scenery never to be heard again. Performances can go from melodic and meditative to rhythmic and explosive at any moment creating a rich and unique tapestry of sound that all can enjoy. OPEN STRINGS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM: Chris Stephens is a multi-instrumentalist performer and educator with over 20 years of experience as an artist and educator. His music showcase, “Open Strings,” is a unique educational program that allows students to hear and learn about traditional musical instruments from the Middle East and Asia. This captivating performance blends music, history, geography, and language studies. Chris is known for his mastery of a diverse collection of historic stringed instruments from across the globe, including the sitar (India), oud (Middle East), saz (Turkey), tar (Iran), pipa (China), shamisen (Japan), and the American banjo. This program—part performance, part demonstration and participation—gives students a chance to experience some rare and underrepresented forms of music from around the world.  

Place Description: For 44 years, Brian Wendling has brought his high-energy mix of award-winning juggling, audience antics, and personable wit to almost every conceivable setting. An international Jugglers’ Association Team champion, Brian uses his incredible range of skills to create a personal relationship with his audience – whether it is with the Kansas City Symphony, a college visiting artists series, a nationwide school assembly tour or a renaissance festival. As one newspaper noted: “Give the skinny fellow three or more objects and he’ll juggle them. Add three or more spectators and he’ll make you wonder whether he’s juggling the objects or the people. Actually, he’s doing both…”

Place Description: Known from the Oscar-nominated 2011 film “Winter’s Bone,” their iconic mix has become finer with age. Their honey-sweet harmonies and tasty Ozark-style pickin’ is seasoned with poignant, hilarious celebrations of Ozarks unique music and culture. Singer Marideth Sisco is now accompanied by multi-instrumentalists  Bo Brown and Dave Wilson, and bassist George Horne, 3/5 of the legendary 1980s bluegrass band “The Undergrass Boys.” They and Sisco, a Missouri Master storyteller and host of the public radio series “These Ozarks Hills, offer an elegant mix of traditional Old Time Ozarks tunes and original works in contemporary topical folk music.

Place Description: A performing songwriter presenting a variety of sounds ranging from folk to roots rock, Beth can be booked in a variety of formats ranging from solo to full band. Think Joni Mitchell all the way to Neil Young. Past performances include the Whitaker Festival at Missouri Botanical Gardens, and multiple regional tours in the Midwest/East Coast. Music presented can include cover songs as well as original material. We will work with you to tailor a program to your needs. In addition to in person events, Beth is now offering virtual live streamed concerts featuring a top notch professional audio and video experience. “With her recent album, Evergreen finds a freshly invigorated Beth Bombara fronting a tight, taught band and performing her songs with the fortitude of an artists coming into her own after years touring the endless highway. Don’t let this one pass you by.” -American Songwriter Magazine.

Place Description: Ben Harris-Bandleader/Bassist – has recently performed with 2009 Grammy Award Winner for best Latin Jazz Album, Pianist, and composer Arturo O’Farrill. Ben also performed with Nichelle Nichols -Actress/Vocalist- who played Lt. Uhura in Star Trek. In the local area Ben Played  in the 2015  Leeś  Summit Symphony Winter Concerts.​​ Ben provides a highly entertaining performance with a rich soundscape of main stream jazz and blues, in addition to just enough funky jazz to keep your foot happy.