Nurturing for the Long Run

 Nurturing for the Long Run

By Sara Penny, CCAC Vice President, for Iron County Today

     Luke Heaton at Whittlesticks has a plant from his grandparents that likes music. It is over 70 years old.  The ten foot vines of the Wax Plant thrive in his shop where he makes and repairs string instruments. When he was in high school, he practiced string bass near this huge  hanging plant and it even flowered in the summer. While he was away for his violin making apprenticeship, it deteriorated. Now, it has music at the shop, and it is thriving again. 

      Our arts organizations need that constant care and encouragement to thrive. For 96 years, Cedar City Music Arts (CCMA) has brought musical professionals to Cedar City. I remember CCMA performances in the Southern Utah University Auditorium as a child. I was told that they used to use the old auditorium above the school district offices on 300 West and that the legendary violinist Isaac Stern played there. Sure enough, there is an article in the Iron County Record verifying his performance in Cedar City. Those of a certain age will remember that auditorium as "Safety City" where children were taught about safe walking and driving. Others will remember when the Orchestra of Southern Utah used the old auditorium for concerts and recitals before the Heritage Center Theater was built. 

     Accessing the newspaper archive led me on a journey into past concerts. 

     For example, the violinist Ricardo Odnoposoff played his rare Italian $33,000 violin in 1948 in Cedar City. The photo shows him with Leatha  Prestwich and Roy L. Halversen, who led Cedar City Music Arts at that time. The same 1735 violin, once played by Paganini, is now worth over $3 million.

      A personal favorite discovery in the archives was the appearance of Zara Nelsova, a celebrated Canadian cellist. She was born Sara Katznelson and changed her name for her musical career. Since my maiden name was Sara Nelson I think this is a hilarious new name, but it was more exotic for a concert artist. She was in the CCMA series in 1945. 

    Poetry was part of the 1946 season. Famed author Langston Hughes gave a reading from his work and also from his research into the poetry of Black Americans. 

     There were some stage plays included in the earlier seasons. Now we enjoy other organizations presenting theater.

     Over the years, vocalists from the Metropolitan Opera, instrumentalists from trumpet to harp, and many dance companies have performed in Cedar City. 

     In the early years, Prestwich and Halversen were regional leaders in helping establish the Utah Symphony as a state orchestra, instead of just for Salt Lake City. Many other prominent community members have championed the arts and helped invigorate our arts community. 

     The next CCMA performance is Wednesday, Nov. 12, at the Heritage Center Theater featuring the Kossler Guitar Duo and then the Kouzov Duo with piano with cello. 

     Thanks to everyone now involved in these efforts, as we continue to nurture new talent and share in many wonderful arts events.