Tonto Community Concert Association

Eric and Leigh Gibson grew up on a dairy farm outside of Ellenburg Depot, New York in the shadow of the Adirondack Mountains. It isn't the typical beginning for a bluegrass band, but sometimes things just come together. "My parents loved music but they didn't play," says Eric. "My father, I think, always wanted to play but he worked like mad from the time he was 9 years old. He was a dairy farmer. He'd go to an auction and come back with a fiddle, and they ordered a guitar and a banjo through the Sears Roebuck Catalog so we had instruments around the house, but nobody knew how to play them. When I was 12 and Leigh was 11, we came home from school and Dad said, ‘There's a guy giving lessons at Dick's Country Store, and I'd like one of you to play the banjo and one to play the guitar.’ Eric chose banjo and Leigh, guitar, and the die was cast.”

If you prize authenticity, time is running out.  It seems that most old-fashioned musical concerts these days present only tribute bands, younger folks playing and singing in the style of well known idols, and what's the difference, as long as the programs are sincere and accurate? The difference for Randy Sparks and most of the born-again New Christy Minstrels is extraordinary excitement on a nightly basis.  The surviving Beatles could only be, at best, a duo, but there are five original Minstrels in a presentation of The New Christy Minstrels these days, occasionally as many as seven. Randy invented the format and founded the group in 1961, recorded them on the Columbia label in 1962, won a Grammy for their first album in '63, and reached millions of people across the world via television and their hit singles and albums.

Hailed by The New York Times as "an artist of the highest caliber," Italian born pianist Cristiana Pegoraro has performed in some of the greatest concert halls in Europe, United States, South America, Asia, Middle East and Australia.  At her 10th sold out concert at Lincoln Center, she was honored with the “Circolo Culturale Italiano of the United Nations World Peace Award” for her support to the cause of advancing peace in the world. Cristiana received the “2007 President of Italy Award” in recognition for her achievements as a performer and composer. She is an Ambassador of the Right to Music and a testimonial of Umbria’s tourism campaign abroad.

At the current time, she is the first female Italian pianist to perform all 32 Sonatas for piano by Ludwig van Beethoven.

Celtic Blaze! Exciting! New! Fast-paced!   A show featuring a contemporary take on  Canada’s music and dance heritage told through dance, story-telling and (of course) music.  The production features the talents of world-champion tap dancer/fiddle/singer, Stephanie Cadman. 

Stephanie has more than twenty years of vast performance experience, including Ottawa Valley step dancing, classical and Celtic fiddling and international tap, jazz and musical theatre performances.  She blends her considerable talent with a quintet of piano, guitar, violin/mandolin, bass and percussion to bring audiences, young and old, a thrilling musical experience.

Jim Witter has been entertaining for more than 20 years. Whether it be country music, contemporary Christian, or the music of Billy Joel and Elton John, Jim’s versatility as an artist has allowed him the opportunity to reach out and share his music and his infectious personality with audiences of all ages across Canada and the United States.

Supported by bass, guitar, keyboards and drums, you’ll see and hear the soundtrack of your life during this multi-media “rockumentary”!  This, along with his rich, powerful voice and ease of manner at the piano, makes him a favorite with theatre goers everywhere.  He is the talented creator and performer of The Piano Men. 

Paul McDermand began his musical career as a free-lance percussionist in the Chicago area.  At the age of nineteen, he assumed the percussion duties in The Music Man playing in a downtown Chicago theater, starring David Copperfield.  In1981, Paul moved to the Phoenix area, lending his artistry to film scores, commercial jingles, symphonic productions and stage shows of every description.  

In 1993 he received an invitation from New York to join a revival tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ, Superstar. Upon his return to Scottsdale, Paul began to develop an assortment of instrumental arrangements built around the steel drums and marimba.  For nineteen continuous years he has proudly performed at the elegant Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa.

Since its founding in 1983 by Michael Levine, the Dallas Brass has become one of America’s foremost musical ensembles.  The group has established a unique blend of traditional brass instruments with a full complement of drums and percussion, which creates a performing entity of extraordinary range and musical challenges. 

The Dallas Brass’ repertoire includes classical masterpieces, Dixieland, Swing, Broadway, Hollywood and Patriotic music.  According to Mr. Levine, "A Dallas Brass concert is intended for the entire family.  Our ideal audience has a range in ages from 5 to 95.  Our goal is to entertain and enrich by playing great music, while showing our audience how much we enjoy what we do."