By: Representatives of DCCA
Few may know that the Von Trapp Family Singers were featured at the first concert of the Beaver Dam Community Concert Association. The concert was held in the Wayland Gymnasium on November 26, 1947, thanks to the efforts of a group of music lovers who felt the need to provide good music at a reasonable price for the Dodge County area. They had met at the Elks Club on June 20, 1947, to form an organization that could arrange for 3 or 4 concerts by artists of metropolitan, radio or TV fame and a membership campaign. October 20-25, 1947, was set aside to solicit sponsors for the concerts, and 74 people met on November 3, 1947, at the Hotel Rogers for dinner and to plan with a representative of Columbia Concerts, Inc. of New York for a membership drive and the first program under the name of the Beaver Dam Community Concert Association. The campaign was held November 3-9, 1947, with headquarters at the Elks Club. The cost of memberships was $5 plus $1 tax for adults and $2.50 plus $.50 tax for students. A budget of $2,300 was established (budget today is over $20,000). Since the entire Dodge County area was invited, the organization’s name was soon changed to the Dodge County Community Concert Association.
The Christmas music of Austria highlighted the program at that first concert to the delight of an audience of 1,000, the largest attendance at any concert presented. Over the years, a small group of volunteers has kept this association alive, arranging to bring wonderful music and entertainment from throughout the country and around the world to audiences in Beaver Dam. Many different tastes in music have been satisfied through the years with artists such as the Indianapolis Symphony, the Guy Lombardo Orchestra, the New Christy Minstrels, the Roger Wagner Chorale, Bob Crosby’s Bobcats and the St. Olaf Symphony Orchestra. Last season, the concerts in Beaver Dam included Mexican brass, a Julliard piano duet, a husband and wife bass/cello and family bluegrass & old time music. A virtuosic brass quintet, an Irish pianist/singer and music from the salons and coffee houses of Europe are included in the 5 concerts for the 2012-2013 series. A reciprocity agreement with the Concert Association in Watertown includes 4 more concerts. The London Quartet, bluegrass with spark and sizzle, elegant German coffee house music and a pianist ala Victor Borge are scheduled for 2012-2013 in Watertown. The Beaver Dam series is held at 7:30 p.m. in the Beaver Dam High School Auditorium, and Watertown concerts are held in the Watertown High School Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Admission to all concerts is by membership only.
The Dodge County Concert Association is a non-profit organization whose sole purpose is bringing unique and special entertainment from around the world at the lowest possible cost to residents of Dodge County. The association is always looking for new board members to help in the selection of artists, helping with mailings, ushering, passing out programs and seating on concert evenings in Beaver Dam. In September, board members meet with a representative from Allied Concert Services from Minnesota to select talent for the next concert season. The representative presents brochures, CD’s and audios/videos to aid the Board with their selections. Artists travel the country and are available in our area during specific times only. After discussion and a voting process, artists are selected during that meeting. Dates for the concerts are finalized at a later time, taking into consideration the availability of the high school auditorium and the artists.
Letters and information about the concerts for the 2012-2013 will be sent out in March. Early Bird sales begin in March and end in May. Memberships may be obtained after that time at a slightly higher cost. The membership limit is set at 580. Patron memberships are also available. Patron members are listed in program inserts and receive complementary tickets according to their giving level. Patron designation (donation) levels are Sponsor ($1000 or more) up to 8 tickets, Conductor ($700-$999) up to 6 tickets, Concert Master ($450-$699) up to 4 tickets, Section Leader ($200-$449) 2 tickets, First Chair ($75-$199) 1 ticket and Donor ($25-$74).
Memberships are available from Membership Chair Harlan Becker at 920-485-4195. Membership levels include adults at $45, students at $20 and a family membership at $110. The family membership includes 2 adults and 2 children or grandchildren under the age of 18. Extra tickets for children can be purchased at the student price of $20.
The Dodge County Concert Association has brought live affordable music to the Dodge County area for more than 64 years! The 65th season begins with Rodney Mack’s Philadelphia Big Brass on Monday October 1, 2012, and concludes on Tuesday April 23, 2013, with Two on Tap, tapping and singing aka Fred and Ginger, with additional concerts on October 25, 2012, February 2, 2013, and March 18, 2013, in Beaver Dam.
Contact Membership Chair Harlan Becker at 920-485-4195 to become a member and enjoy the concerts of the 65th season of the Dodge County Concert Association.
