Since its grand opening in September 2012, the Dekker Centre has brought a rich variety of entertainers to North Battleford鈥檚 premium performing arts centre.
The Dekker Centre Presents concert series includes 12 to 16 performances from September to June, selected to represent a variety of performance forms and genres.
Concert series-goers now have an incentive to arrive early to enjoy a pre-show performance in the Dekker Centre Atrium. Starting at approximately 7:15 p.m., prior to the 8 p.m. main show curtain, a talented local artist plays, strums or sings while guests visit, drink a glass of wine or simply sit and appreciate the music.
The Dekker Centre Showcase committee finds and schedules the performers. Responsible for producing the showcase On Stage at the Dekker Centre (last March鈥檚 production of Home was a big success), Dianne Gryba and JoAnne Kasper try to select musicians who will complement the main stage performer.
So far this season, the centre has presented the fiddling of Kanndece Quijada-Sawitsky, pianist and composer Sarah Whitbread and the choral stylings of the Sweet Adelines. Singer-songwriter Jeremy Grey will perform prior to the April Verch concert Saturday, Nov. 5, while Brent Nixon and the Beer League Band will get us in the mood for the Ray Charles Tribute Orchestra on Sat., Nov. 19.
Dekker Centre board chair Karen Ulmer notes that part of the Dekker Centre鈥檚 mandate is to encourage and foster local artists. When the Rawlinson family made a generous donation to the Dekker Centre in 2015, the funds were allocated to the creation of a showcase for performing artists from the Battlefords and area. The pre-show performances allow the Dekker Centre to introduce even more local musicians to a new audience.
Keep checking the Dekker Centre Facebook page or www.dekkercentre.com for more information on upcoming shows and pre-show performers, and join us for a great evening out.
