Sound the trumpets - We have a Grand Prize Winner!

Becky Foster is the Grand Prize Winner for our Artosphere Photo-a-Week Challenge! Becky submitted this photo the first week for our theme "Water."

photo by Becky Foster

Becky has won the following:

• 2 tickets to our "greenest" show next season - Shrek The Musical
• Giftcard to a local restaurant
• Inclusion in the 2013 Artosphere book
• Inclusion in an article to a local monthly publication
• A feature in our WAC Weekly email that reaches over 18,000 patrons

Thank you to everyone that participated in our first ever Artosphere Photo-a-Week Challenge. You all had some amazing photos, and you truly made the photo challenge FUN! We are already looking forward to seeing your submissions next year!

Artosphere Festival Orchestra rehearsal reported by an untrained ear

Hey everyone, Amanda Smith here! I just had the pleasure of sitting on stage while the Artosphere Festival Orchestra rehearsed, and all I can say is WHOA. I was in band (played the clarinet), and even played some concerts on the Walton Arts Center stage, but this was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.

Artosphere Festival Orchestra rehearsal. It's hard to be sneaky on stage!

First off, I love all the unspoken cues. As soon as Maestro Rovaris walks on stage, the musicians immediately sit up straight and give their undivided focus to him. I would have waited for him to say something like “Everyone, it’s time to begin” or, “Quit practicing and look at me!”, but that’s not the way it works when you’re a professional. And with the nod of a head, or the flick of a wrist, the orchestra knows exactly what Maestro Rovaris wants.

Maestro Rovaris during rehearsal

For me, sitting in with the orchestra while they practice was almost like going to a wine tasting. If you like to drink wine occasionally, like I do, you may not be able to pick up the different flavors and notes that distinguish a cabernet sauvignon from a pinot noir or a merlot. However; when you taste them all side by side, you can tell.

I’ve attended a few symphony performances over the years, and to be honest I couldn’t tell a great difference between them aside from the fact that they played different pieces. But sitting amongst the musicians as they rehearse, and seeing the tweaks that Maestro Rovaris gives them as they play the same piece over and over, I could actually pick up on the variances between the oboe and the violin playing the same notes, but not playing them the same, ending a note too soon, or a section not being “on the same page.”

While I know not everyone can come and sit on the stage while the orchestra practices, I suggest taking in more than one of the Artosphere Festival Orchestra performances over the next week and a half. You may surprise yourself by noticing something you never did before.

You can find the schedule, and purchase tickets, for the Artosphere Festival Orchestra here.

Artosphere Photo-a-Week - Weekly winner #4

We have reached the end of our first ever Artosphere Photo-a-Week Challenge, and we have to admit we're a little sad. It has been such a fun time seeing all of the submissions, and we are really looking forward to doing this again next year!

Our final winner is Pat Cortez! Her beautiful "Music" photo really captured our attention. Thank you Pat for sharing this!

Photo by Pat Cortez             We'll be announcing our Grand Prize winner soon, so stay tuned! 

Alley 38 - An interactive theatre experience

Have you heard about Alley 38 yet? It's described as "a theatrical walking expedition through uncharted places," but we didn't fully grasp the idea until we actually went on the walk. Whoa, you guys. This is such a fun performance!

Conceived and produced by Artist's Laboratory Theatre (ALT), Alley 38 is part of the Artosphere Festival. ALT received an Artosphere Partner Grant to help bring the idea to life.

Patrons meet at the corner of Block and Spring street in Fayetteville (free parking at the meters after 5pm), and without giving too much away, are divided into two groups. There is a guide in each group, and you remain with them throughout the evening. Winding through the alleys of downtown Fayetteville, a story develops along the way and you find yourself anxious to find out "What is happening next??"

Here's a map of the area covered in Alley 38. While there is a lot of walking, there is plenty of stopping to rest along the way (sometimes you even get a chair!). There is also a brief (about 10min.) intercession where free drinks and snacks are offered.

Alley 38 runs through Sunday, May 27, and all performances begin at 7:30pm. At only $12/person, this is a perfect way to spend a spring evening discovering art, theatre and Fayetteville!

Alley 38 starting point

Artosphere Photo-a-Week - Weekly winner #3

The first ever Artosphere Photo-a-Week Challenge is almost over. We are down to our final week, and the theme for this week is "Music." We are really enjoying all the photos you all have been submitting!

This week's winner, Kelly Leong, submitted this beautiful photo of her interpretation of last week's theme "Sticks."

photo by Kelly Leong

Congratulations Kelly! Once again, it was difficult to pick just one. They were all beautiful!

Get your "Music" photos in this week, it's your last chance to enter the Artosphere Photo-a-Week Challenge!