Pride of the Prairie Orchestra will be the final program of the Western Plains Arts Association’s 54th season. The regional orchestra will feature “The Music of May” for their spring concert. The concert begins at 3 p.m. CDT, Sunday, May 5 at the Colby Community College’s Cultural Arts Center - Frahm Theater.
Admission at the door is $10 adults or $5 students, or by either WPAA or Pride of the Prairie Orchestra (POP) season tickets. Funding for this program is made possible by business, private and foundation support throughout the area including generous grants from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation and the Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation – Dane Hansen Community Grant for Thomas County.
The Pride of the Prairie Orchestra was organized as The Colby Community Orchestra in1979 by Bill Beck, a retired school music director. The name was changed to The Pride of the Prairie Orchestra in 1998 to better reflect the widespread membership of the group. The orchestra presently has members from throughout the area. Andrew Salvador is the present POP Conductor.
The orchestra is composed of volunteer musicians, ranging from school age to retired individuals. Nearly every Monday evening from September through early May, musicians gather to rehearse in Colby. At least three concerts are performed each year, according to member Janet Hopson.
Since area schools do not offer an orchestra program, this has met a need for students and adults who play a stringed instrument.
Pride of the Prairie Orchestra offers a cultural outlet that is often lacking in small communities for area musicians and audiences.
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