The Maple Leaf Community Concert Series is returning for its 34th season, continuing a tradition of bringing professional musical artists to Monmouth.
This year’s four-concert lineup kicks off Thursday night with a performance by Alliance Brass, a Chicago-based brass quintet that performs a variety of pops and classical music all over the world.
Stan Jenks, co-president of the Maple Leaf Community Concert Series, said the series has always focused on affordable concerts featuring high-quality, professional artists.
“And we bring them right here to the Monmouth stage,” Jenks said. “I'll put these artists up against any of those that are performing in Peoria and the Quad Cities. They are professional. They are extremely talented people,”
All concerts are performed in the Louise Dubois Auditorium in Dahl Chapel on the campus of Monmouth College.
“The venue is tremendous. Not only is it acoustically one of the finest in the area, it's beautiful. So when the artists walk in, we get their ooh and aah,” Jenks said. “They think it's amazing. But then when we do the sound check, they're just blown away.”
Admission is $30 for individual concerts or $70 for the entire season.
Jenks said bringing quality performers to a smaller community like Monmouth is possible because of community support — and the quality and affordability of concerts that keeps people coming back.
“It's very much a tradition. It really is,” Jenks said.
Alliance Brass will perform “Made in America” at 7 p.m. Thursday. The program is a celebration of 250 years of American music, from Aaron Copland and folk songs to popular music and the marches of John Philip Sousa.
The second concert on Oct. 27 features renowned entertainers Erinn Dearth and Dan Beckmann performing the songs of legendary musicians like Johnny Cash and June Carter.
The season will return in the spring with a performance on April 7 by Will Martin, a vocalist and entertainer from New Zealand. It will conclude on May 3 with “The 70s Show,” a tribute to the decade’s music built around high school friends putting together a talent show.
Jenks said bringing quality performers to a smaller community like Monmouth is possible because of community support — and it's the quality and affordability of concerts that keeps people coming back.
“It's very much a tradition. It really is,” Jenks said.
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