Alva Review-Courier -

Northwest Oklahoma Concert Series (NWOCS), an organization that seeks to bring cultural performances and entertainment to northwest Oklahoma, will begin its 2016-17 season in October, and the advisory board has begun selling season tickets to its four scheduled acts.

This year’s schedule includes Ball in the House, Oct. 25; Link Union, Nov. 29; Enid Symphony and Northwestern’s University Chorale, March 7, 2017; and Bella Donna, April 25, 2017. All four concerts will take place at 7 p.m. in Northwestern’s Herod Hall Auditorium.

Ball in the House, Oct. 25, 2016

Ball in the House will start the concert series on Tuesday, Oct. 25. Ball in the House is an R&B, soul, pop a cappella group based out of their hometown of Boston, Massachusetts. With their extensive tour schedule – nearly 150 shows a year—Ball in the House has performed all over the country at theaters, clubs, schools and festivals.

The group has performed with such artists as The Beach Boys, Fantasia, The Jonas Brothers, Gladys Knight, Lionel Richie, Jessica Simpson, Blondie, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, KC & The Sunshine Band, and numerous others. For six years Ball in the House members were the voices behind the Kraft Cool Whip commercials. The group has appeared on The TODAY Show, America's Got Talent, The Daily Buzz, and the Philadelphia 4th of July Parade.

The Boston Globe says of the group, “Ball in the House has everything you would expect to find in a successful pop/R&B band ... the one thing it doesn't have is instruments.”

Band members include vocalists Monty Hill, Dave Guisti, Wallace Thomas, Ben Detty, and drummer Jon J. Ryan.

Link Union, Nov. 29, 2016

Second in the series line up will be Link Union on Tuesday, Nov. 29. Since 2002, Link Union, multi-award winning band from the Ozark Mountains, has performed together as a family in more than 2,000 venues across the United States and Canada, entertaining thousands with their fusion of old-time musical instruments, stunning vocals, modern beats, and emerging with a fresh new style.

Link Union is a synergy of the elements of bands such as Mumford and Sons, Alison Krause, and The Avett Brothers; creating an authentic connection with their audience. Whether it’s ancient tunes or their original songs, they never forget where they came from and stay true to their roots.

The group is made up of Rachel Link as the front woman who plays the mandolin, cello and penny whistle; Kyle Link, a multi-award-winning fiddler and lead male vocalist; Ashley Link, who plays the fiddle; Ben Link, who plays banjo and vocals; Aaron Link, lead guitarist and vocals; John Link, bass player; and Becky Link, vocals.

Enid Symphony and NWOSU Chorale, March 7, 2017

The Enid Symphony Association was established in 1971 to foster the Enid Symphony Orchestra, which was founded in 1906. In 1983 Douglas Newell became the first full-time music and executive director of the Enid Symphony Association.

The mission of the Enid Symphony Association is to maintain a symphonic ensemble that will enrich the quality of life in the Greater Enid area and serve as a cultural ambassador to the region and state. This is to be accomplished through the presentation of predominately classical symphonic music to an ever increasing audience representative of the diverse population of the constituent community.

Performing with the Enid Symphony will be members of Northwestern’s University Chorale, the premiere large choir on campus. The Chorale performs a wide variety of masterworks and contemporary choral works of many styles and genres. Although many of the students in the ensemble are not music majors, all student singers in the ensemble benefit from a generous participation scholarship created from Alva sales tax and the University’s dedication to the arts.

On special occasion, alumni and community members are invited to perform as members of the Chorale. Concert traditions include the Holiday Gala Concerts with the Northwestern Concert Band, and spring masterworks concerts. Members of the University Chorale and Singers will be touring Austria and the Czech Republic this summer.

Bella Donna, April 25, 2017

Bella Donna is influenced by the Ozarks, the creak of tree limbs in the winter, and the summer sounds of cicadas. The traditional music that flows through the hills and hollows of the area the group was raised in helped them form their sound called “Ozark Jazz.”

“As one may expect from the namesake, Bella Donna comes to your ears with a mysteriously intriguing and seductive sound. Rooted in jazz, the ensemble plays with a beauty and darkness that melodically winds itself around your ear drums and sensually sways you into submission,” stated one review from feedbands.com.

Bella Donna has been busy playing shows through the midwest and parts of the east and west coasts over the past six years. They are currently recording their second full-length album that will be available in early 2017. Bella Donna is composed of Liz Carney on vocals and guitar, Matt Guinn as lead guitarist, Mike Williamson on bass and cornet, B.J. Lowrance on drums, and Jeremy Chapman on the mandolin.

Season tickets, as well as individual performance tickets, may be purchased online at https://nwocs.ticketbud.com or from Holder Drug or Graceful Arts Center. Anyone interested in buying a contributor package or tickets can contact Kimberly Weast, chair of the Department of Fine Arts, at [email protected] or 580-327-8462.

This year, seven different contributor packages are being offered, each including season tickets, reserved seating and program advertisements. The sponsorship packages are as follows:

• Member, $150 to $249 contribution – three season tickets, seating in reserved section and name recognition in concert program.

• Partner, $250 to $349 contribution – five season tickets, seating in reserved section and name recognition in concert program.

• Friend, $350 to $499 contribution – seven season tickets, seating in reserved section, name recognition in concert program and a quarter-page ad in concert program.

• Associate, $500 to $749 contribution – nine season tickets, seating in reserved section, name recognition in concert program and a quarter-page ad in concert program.

• Sustainer, $750 to $999 contribution – 11 season tickets, seating in reserved section, name recognition in concert program and a half-page ad in concert program.

• Patron, $1,000 to $4,999 contribution – 18 season tickets, seating in reserved section, name recognition in concert program and a full-page ad in concert program.

• Benefactor, $5,000 or more contribution – 25 season tickets, seating in reserved section, name recognition in concert program and a full-page ad in concert program.

The reserved seating section at each concert will be held until five minutes prior to the performance.

Stay up to date with NWOCS by liking the Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/NorthwestOkCS/ or on Twitter at@NorthwestOkCS. Keep an eye out for the hashtag #NWOCS.

The Northwest Oklahoma Concert Series is supported by Northwestern, the Oklahoma Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Charles Morton Share Trust.