Season ticket it a great deal

Look up the definitions for the word concert and you will get a better understanding of why the McCook Concert Association has had such a long and successful run of success.

Because -- in addition to being "a musical performance by one or more singers or instrumentalists" -- concert also means "to act together in harmony."

Looking back over the past 60 years, the harmonious description fits the local concert association to a t. Far removed from metropolitan areas, people in the McCook area realized as far back as the 1940s that they would have to improvise to bring outstanding pianists, violinists and vocalists to this less populated region.

And, so, they joined together, forming the concert association. "I remember attending concerts here in my childhood years," says Alice Harpst, who is acting as the membership chair for the 2005-06 concert series.

The dedication of the concert volunteers continues to burn brightly. "We have 50 people selling memberships throughout the area," Mrs. Harpst said. "We started the drive Sunday night with a gathering at my home, and we will continue to sign up members through the end of September," the drive chair reported.

They are striving to surpass the 500 mark, as that would put them near the same level as last season, when the McCook Concert Association had 428 adults, 47 families and 14 students as members.

One of the drawing cards is the price. An adult membership costs only $30, which averages out to $7.50 for each of the concerts on the 2005-06 schedule. That's half of what city residents pay for concerts of similar quality.

"The first concert alone is worth the full price of a membership," Mrs. Harpst said. She is referring to Piano 4, a piano quartet which will open the concert season Oct. 24 at the Fox Theater. The outstanding pianists bring their own Grand pianos, as well as their piano tuner, with them for their performances. The group, composed of two men and two women, plays selections ranging from Bach to Broadway.

This season's concert schedule also features Janice Martin, a violin virtuoso, on Nov. 17; the Tap Kids, a young dance troupe, March 4; and Kevin Roth, a storyteller in song, May 5. All the concerts will be at the Fox Theater, starting at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets will be available Sept. 20 through Sept. 23 from noon to 4:30 p.m. at Top Office Products, 319 Norris Avenue. Season ticket checks may also be sent to McCook Concert Association, P.O. Box 585, McCook, NE 69001. Season tickets for families are $65. The price of season tickets for adults is $30 each, and student tickets (both high school and college) for the season cost $10 each.

The concert series is an uplifting experience for residents of rural America. The concert association is making a valuable contribution by bringing outstanding performances to this region.