CoMMA bringing a little classical our way on October 16th

Prior to CoMMA's opening in 1986, just about the only professional touring artists, usually musicians, to be presented in Morganton arrived via the efforts of the Burke County Community Concert Association. Were it not for the gallant efforts of those dedicated few to keep the flame burning, I seriously doubt that I would be here or writing this column today.
The Community Concert Association hosted four to six musical stage acts each year. In most cases the performances were held in the old Morganton High School auditorium on College Street directly across from where CoMMA stands today. The series was under the wing of Columbia Artists in New York, and like similar communities, it offered Morganton and Burke County citizens the opportunity to see and hear world-renowned talent every month or two.
The concert association adapted with many others and was actually quite thrilled that once the lights came up on the new city stage stage, artists would have a quality arena in which to perform and the audience would benefit alike. Many of these concerts were chamber groups, light classical or soloists.
The reality of what new and emerging audiences wanted and would support became very evident during the late 1980s, not only here but nationwide.
Whereas entertainment and culture had been somewhat synonymous in the past, entertainment in and of itself was beginning to win out. Pop groups, oldies, Broadway, and specialty acts such as the acrobatics of cirque shows and magic act were quickly edging out that which we had always believed would be the roots and base of all others.
By the time the 1990s came along, small communities such as Morganton realized that concert performance was not going to continue as it had in the past — the demand for classical music would be relegated to larger cities or university environments with a base that could sustain it. And so it was that I received the call that the Burke County Community Concert Association could no longer survive with the drastically dwindling audience support that was occurring.
It then became the job of CoMMA to help revive the flame so that those who enjoyed this wonderful style of entertainment and culture could continue to do so. Frankly, we have not done a very good job of it.
There have been scattered classical and light classical artists, some new age musicians, and some that are a bit eclectic dotting the MainStage landscape, but not enough for us to claim any success. It certainly was not on intent, but you can bet many of the performance choices over the past 20 or so years have been based on their marketability.
Not that everything has to pay for itself or its way, but if we don't make it on Show A, Show B certainly has to pick up the slack.
My point is that we believe there is still a good base for classical music in Morganton and there is no doubt we have the venue from which it can be tastefully and successfully presented.
Our chance to relive those days, and hopefully put them back on the performance map, aill be on Oct. 16, with Festival of Four, 'two guitars, flute and mandolin.'
One review says, "Almost all of the music on the program was folk or traditional music from some spot on the globe. The only thing the works had in common was that they were all delightful."
"...the performance never lacked a sense of joy and a genuine love for the music. …(Festival of Four) proved that classical guitar recitals do not have to be grimly serious to be good."
The passionate sounds of flamenco guitar, a tour de force on flute, revolutionary performance on mandolin, and the strong tones coupled with solid rhythm guitar define Festival of Four.
Do we expect a sellout auditorium on Oct. 16? — Probably not. But for those who have the privilege to be there, the memories are what matter — not the numbers.
More detailed and specific information may be obtained by visiting their W/@ www.festivaloffour.com.
In the meantime, the beat goes on at CoMMA with "The Legend of Frankie Silver," on Oct. 9-11, as well as this upcoming Saturday evening's performance of "Four Celtic Women." All curtains are 7:30 p.m.