Tehama Concert Series – Uplifting, Positive & Feel-Good

Ask anyone who’s watched the 1965 musical film, “The Sound of Music,” and you’ll hear the words uplifting, positive, feel-good, and, of course, “do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do.” The movie is an adaptation of the 1959 stage musical of the same name, with music by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.

The original Von Trapp Family Singers.

Music acts like a magic key

Based on Maria von Trapp’s 1949 memoir, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers, the movie’s musical delights and visual splendor made it an instant classic. The soundtrack of the music was one of the most successful albums in history and has sold more than 20 million copies. Speaking of her family and their life in song, Maria von Trapp said, “Music acts like a magic key, to which the most tightly closed heart opens.”

Morae Arthur, president of the board of directors for the Tehama Concert Series, agrees that the positive take-aways from such musical experiences are the motivation behind Red Bluff’s Tehama Concert Series. Morae encourages families to “get dressed up, go out to dinner, attend a concert and make lasting memories with your children.” She still remembers what a big deal it was when, as a child in the 1950s, she attended one of the concerts at the old, beautiful Red Bluff High Auditorium.

Debbie Deem of Red Bluff has attended the concerts with her parents and children for many years, and says,“I have loved the opportunity to share so many varieties of live music with my kids. When I took the older boys to the Presidio Brass concert, they were reluctant to go, but the opening piece was the Star Wars theme and they perked right up. They loved the concert full of movie themes and we bought a CD and the performers autographed it for them. It was a fun night. And the boys were more willing to try out other concerts later and have grown to appreciate even the ‘dead German guys’ music,” as one son puts it. Nearly the whole family seems to agree that the Christmas concerts were the most fun.”

The Tehama Concert Series, held at Red Bluff’s State Theatre, is a welcome fall and winter tradition for many families. Debbie Deem is looking forward to making more memories with her parents and children at this year’s concert series.

A new appreciation for the performing arts

The Tehama Concert Series, founded in 1938, was a result of a nationwide effort to bring live, professional-quality performing arts to smaller communities. The effort began in Chicago in 1920 with Community Concerts, a simple system of membership associations that helped fund concerts in cities across the country.
As the Tehama Concert Series website explains, “Families who had been indifferent to ‘highbrow’ single concerts were attracted to a whole season with varied offerings at a reasonable price. A new appreciation for the performing arts, deeply rooted in community spirit, steadily developed across North America, contributing to the growth of local symphonies, theatres, and dance companies.”

World War II and the Covid-19 pandemic have been the only disruptions in the yearly Tehama Concert Series, now held at Red Bluff’s State Theatre. Each year the series features five concerts with a wide variety of musical genres.

To select performers each year, the board of directors sends delegates to Arts Northwest, a booking conference in Spokane that brings in performers to “audition” for potential gigs. Each delegate brings back audio and visual samples from their favorite performers so the full board of directors can make selections for the year.

Five annual concerts bring great variety

Of the five annual concerts, three always feature classical music, and audiences can look forward to great variety, such as the tap-dancing group that drew large crowds one year. During the 1946-46 season, right after World War II had ended, Red Bluff concert goers were treated to a performance by The Von Trapp Family Singers, the inspiration behind “The Sound of Music.”

This year the series will feature The Diamonds, a classic rock ’n’ roll group; The North State Symphony Winter Chamber Concert, Trick & Alderighi playing four hands jazz piano, classical brass by Buzz Brass, and Bridge & Wolak, whimsical clarinet and accordion performers.

The Tehama Concert Series also organizes a yearly special performance for area fifth graders with the generous support of one anonymous donor. This year, the North State Symphony plans a spectacular concert which includes educational packets to prepare students for the experience. This event is held in the State Theatre with two performances to accommodate all students.

Tickets keep the cost low – season starts October 15

In addition to single, family and season tickets for the concert series, there are patron membership opportunities to help in this wonderful contribution to our community and to keep the cost low. A family season ticket costs $175, which is comparable to taking a family to the movies five times in the year, with the concert series benefiting children in ways beyond just simple entertainment.

In a recent study of 574 children, between the ages of 8 and 10, who took part in a chamber orchestra workshop, a majority of the children expressed feelings of positivity and calm while listening to the music. Following the workshops, most of the children’s teachers also noted that the workshops had helped the children improve listening skills and concentration.

This season’s first concert in the Tehama Concert Series will be held on October 15, featuring The Diamonds. For more information please visit their website, http://www.tehamaconcertseries.org.