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Barry County, Missouri, is not the first place I think of when you think of “The Arts.”
I came from Salt Lake City, Utah, which has a major symphony orchestra, a professional opera company, professional ballet company and dozens of theater companies.
Earlier in my life, I also lived and worked in the New York area, which is a world wide center of artistic endeavors.
Sure, we aren’t that far from Springfield, Kansas City or St. Louis, and I have taken advantage of that through the years and am very grateful. However, I have discovered that there are so many opportunities to experience great art so much closer to home, and I want to highlight a few of those.
The United Methodist church sponsors a handbell choir, directed by Judie Starchman, that is very good. I had the privilege to play with them for a few years and fell in love with handbells. They mostly play for worship services a few times a year, but if you ever get a chance to hear them, I highly encourage you to listen.
Hopefully, with some community support, they could expand their offerings and perform for the general public in the future.
Shell Knob in the Spotlight (SKITS) was formed around the same time I moved here. They are a volunteer community theater based in Shell Knob that performs two or three theatre productions per year. Even though they have mostly done plays, they have recently started to venture into musicals, as well.
I am so impressed with the community involvement they have, and everyone always seems to have such a good time, both in participating and in watching. On April 11-13 they will be presenting “The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza.”
The Ozark Festival Orchestra is a full volunteer symphony that has been based in Monett since 1980. They give four concerts for the public each year, one of which annually puts a focus on young musicians as soloists with the orchestra.
Through the years, dozens of young people have been able to experience this incredible opportunity. Mark your calendars for March 23 at 3 p.m. to hear this year’s young artists at the Monett Performing Arts Center.
If you think quilting is not an art form — you have never seen the quilts made by members of Ozark Country Quilters. This is a group that meets regularly for fellowship and free quilting lessons. I went to their quilt show last April and was blown away by the absolute beauty that was in the quilts presented there.
The craftsmanship and dedication of many of those involved equals that of any “professional” artist. Additionally, they make quilts for needy children and families in our community.
In 2019, I started the Cassville Arts Council, in order to help promote the arts in the area. Our first projects have been musical theater presentations, mostly because that is where the majority of my experience lies, and my own children wanted opportunities to perform musical theater. We have presented four full musicals since that time and will continue to produce at least one major musical each year.
It has always been my goal with the Cassville Arts Council to expand the types of arts programs that we offer. In February, we were able to bring a touring artist to perform here. Thanks to a grant from the Missouri Arts Council and accommodations provided by Four Seasons Inn and Suites, Ronald Radford, a world class flamenco guitarist gave a riveting concert.
Additionally, he performed for various students in the area during the week he was here. We are working with the Missouri Arts Council to fund additional types of programs, including visual arts, poetry, dance, etc.
There are so many other artists and groups in the area that could be highlighted, and that doesn’t even mention the great work that is being done in our schools. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, the arts are alive and well in our little corner of the world — and it’s nothing to shake a stick at.
If you are aware of other artists, please let me know at cassvillearts@gmail.com.
Trent Oliphant is the Founder and President of the Cassville Arts Council. He may be reached at cassvillearts@gmail.com.
