WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Members of the Portland Cello Project will bring their vast musical repertoire to the West Plains Civic Center stage for a 7 p.m. performance April 23.
Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door for this event sponsored by the Missouri State University-West Plains University/Community Programs (U/CP) Department. Tickets can be purchased at the civic center box office, 110 St. Louis St., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays or by phone at 417-256-8087. Children age 13 and under and Missouri State-West Plains students with a BearPass ID will be admitted free.
Since the group’s inception in late 2007, the Portland Cello Project – or PCP as their fans affectionately call them – has wowed audiences all over the country with extravagant performances, according to information on the group’s website, www.portlandcelloproject.com. Their venues have ranged from the radio show Prairie Home Companion to parties on loading docks in New York City, from symphony halls to punk rock clubs. As a result, the group has built a reputation by mixing genres and blurring musical lines and perceptions wherever they go.
With a repertoire number over 1,000 pieces of music – both expected and unexpected for cello – no two shows are alike. The group works to build bridges across musical communities through collaborations and educational outreach. Their collaborations have ranged from high school and university programs to such entertainers as the Dandy Warhols, Garrison Keillor, Trampled by Turtles, Corin Tucker, Maya Beiser, Ben Sollee, Zoe Keating, Howe Gelb, just to name a few. The group’s current U.S. tour pays homage to singer/songwriter Elliot Smith.
“We are thrilled to host the Portland Cello Project in West Plains and give our audiences a chance to experience live music as rarely heard in our part of the country,” said U/CP Theater and Events Coordinator Emily Gibson. “This is a unique experience that will bring genre-bending music to a whole new level for our audience. Anyone who considers themselves a fan of music will find something to love about this show.”
For more information about the Portland Cello Project’s April 23 performance, call the U/CP office at 417-255-7966. For more information about U/CP programs, visit the department’s website at wp.missouristate.edu/ucp.