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MEET THE NEW OPERATORS ON OUR CULTURAL SWITCHBOARD
BY MEG KAPPLER NCW ARTS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Atone of our early board meetings in 2022, we had a discussion about our organization becoming a “cultural switchboard” dedicated to connecting people. That might be an outdated metaphor for some of you younger readers, but the image has stuck with me. When I’m updating our website or adding events and opportunities from around the region, I often picture myself flipping switches and plugging in cords while chain smoking and saying things like, “Please hold while I transfer you,” and, “Won’t Thelma be excited to find out about this pottery class!”
Since the very beginning of this organization, I have had the immense pleasure of working with the most talented and dedicated folks who said “YES!” to the crazy idea to start the
NCW Arts Alliance in the first place. Fortunately, they were people who also jived with my particular brand of nuttiness and eventually decided to hire me. So, right off the bat, I’d like to share my most heartfelt gratitude to our outgoing board members who ended their terms in August of this year:
Emelia Chavez-Monreal
Natalie Dotzauer
Lindsay Breidenthal
Holly Thorpe
If you see these folks around town, give them an extra squeeze (with consent!) for the countless hours and dedication they have put into building the infrastructure of an organization that nurtures our region by uplifting and connecting artists and communities throughout North Central Washington. This organization quite literally would not exist without them.
It is my pleasure to now introduce you to our two newest board members, Pamela Farrington and Thom Kokenge
Farrington comes to us with a wealth of experience and expertise in graphic design, branding, illustration, and campaign ideation and execution, as well as having been the Creative Director for Amazon Freight and Amazon Go. Since moving to Wenatchee 12 years ago, Farrington has immersed herself in the local community and was excited to find out about the work NCW Arts has been doing to support the Arts community. We are thrilled to welcome her on board.
You may recognize our newest ad-
dition, Thom Kokenge (pronounced ko-kayn) from his decades as a beloved radio host for Northwest Public Broadcasting. In addition to interviewing hundreds of people from all walks of life, his experience includes several years of donor cultivation and fundraising efforts for non-profits as well as 30 years of audio production, radio hosting, music curation, programming and team leadership.
Last, but not least, I am excited to introduce our recently-installed executive team:
President: Marissa Collins Vice President: Jamie Howell
Secretary/Treasurer:
Laine Heikel
Having lived most of my life in North Central Washington, one of my greatest personal joys is being constantly surprised at the ways in which people show up for each other and for their communities. NCW Arts is just beginning to live into its potential as a centralized hub of information and resources that directly supports our “Art-repreneurs” and the local creative economy.
Stay tuned, or better yet get involved. I can’t wait to see what exciting connections we will collectively be able to make over the next few years. If you need information about anything in the local arts world, just visit our “switchboard” at NCWArts.org and we’ll hook you up, Doris!
To become a member or build upon your current membership, visit our website at ncwarts.org.
R.U. ARTSMART QUIZ
Can you guess the names of these leaders who have stepped up to guide and support the Arts across North Central Washington? To help, each of their initials are provided.
1. (P.L.) He is the executive director of Icicle Creek Center for the Arts in Leavenworth.
2. (K.G.) She recently stepped up to take on the role of interim executive director for the Numerica Performing Arts Center.
3. (N.C.) He waves his baton as conductor, artistic director and acting executive director for the Wenatchee Valley Symphony.
4. (R.W.) Author of “The Art of Community NCW”, he is the former publisher of the Wenatchee World and his family set up an annual Music and Arts Grant specifically to support local nonprofits and schools.
5. ( S.B.) He’s a Gonzaga grad who has led the Wenatchee Valley College Art Department since 2003 and was instrumental in the design and construction of the new MAC Gallery.
Monthly Magazine of the NCW Arts Alliance Co-editors: Jamie Howell and Meg Kappler Design: Ron Evans
ON THE COVER:
Oly Mingo is the award-winning photographer and cinematographer who founded
Heirloom Creatives in Wenatchee, Wash., where he and his creative team specialize in portraiture, wedding and commercial photography.
ANSWERS:1. Phil Lacey 2. Katie Grove 3. Nikolas Caoile 4. Rufus Woods
5. Scott Bailey
ON THE UPBEAT: BROTHERS IN FOLK
BY KRIS LAHD
Jackson Welter, 24, and his older brother Corban Welter, 27, perform their authentic take on folk music together under the name “The Welter Brothers.” Corban and Jackson are true scholars of this music from a “simpler time” and their passion for folk music runs strong not only when performing, but also when sharing their knowledge with others.
Tell me how your musicianship came to be?
Corban: It happened in stages. Our parents made us take classical lessons. I picked guitar and I think you (Jackson) picked violin?
Jackson: Yep we had a choice of what instrument, but it didn’t stick for me. For him (Corban) it started sticking sooner.
Corban: I applied myself a bit more than Jackson did, but classical music didn’t appeal to me. I didn’t like the rigor of being “on the page” (learning to sight-read music) at the time. I also had a lot of other interests. I was obsessed with airplanes and thought I was going to be a fighter pilot and an aerospace engineer. At 13, we moved to Bahrain, just east of Saudi Arabia when our Dad was assigned there. I wasn’t allowed to learn how to fly because they didn’t allow any small craft aviation in Saudi airspace. So I was left with my guitar and a couple of folk songs my last classical teacher had taught me. I went way down the folk rabbit hole starting with the Carter Family - A.P., Sara, and Maybelle Carter.
Jackson: So, (I had a) a similar starting place, you know, classical violin and gui-
tar. But neither stuck. Once we moved to Bahrain and Corban started enjoying folk music, I listened, too, and became interested in the banjo. My parents said, “If you still want to play banjo by the next time we move, we’ll get you one.” I really got into something called the Child Ballads, which is a collection of 305 traditional folk ballads, anthologized by a man named Francis James Child who was a professor at Harvard University during the second half of the 19th century. (The Child Ballads) were my entrance way to getting obsessed with “tradfolk” (traditional folk music), which are songs that are passed down through oral tradition nobody knows who wrote; essentially open-source.
If we want to learn a traditional folk song, I have to go find out which version and under what title. There are like 40 versions and dozens of titles all cataloged by a guy named Steve Roud. Each song has what is called a “Roud Number” and includes all the versions and it makes folks songs easier to look up.
Corban: The melody can be different and the lyrics can be different for the same song, but generally it’s the same narrative. One given narrative arc could have like 10 different melodies associated with it.
Jackson: Some songs by the Carter family that Bob Dylan covered go way back to the 1600s. For example, “Black Jack Davey” is an American version of an old traditional English ballad that goes by several names. But the common names are “The Raggle Taggle Gypsy” or “Gypsy Davey.”
Corban: And there are big differences on different sides of the Atlantic, but the narrative is almost identical.
Jackson: Sometimes the endings are different with a weird twist.
Corban: And the music varies. “Raggle Taggle Gypsy” has a chorus, but Dylan’s “Black Jack Davey” doesn’t have a chorus and it’s all minor chords while the Carter family does it all in major chords.
What do people get when they attend a Welter Brothers performance?
Corban: So, we play tradfolk and we also do covers from the ‘60s and ‘70s which are songs that were written by people who had a lot of experience with the folk tradition and because it was a popular idiom at the time.
Jackson: Our performances counter a lot of peoples’ expectations, because they’re going to come and think we are playing bluegrass because it’s banjos and guitars - which is definitely a part of our background and we have that instrumental facility to play bluegrass ...
Corban: But we’ve really dived into the duality of the old school folk world of storytelling and dance numbers. Bluegrass music started with Bill Monroe and The Blue Grass Boys on the Grand Ole Opry
in 1946. It really was written for radio and recording. With our traditional cover song choices and our original music, either it’s a story told with words supported by the instruments or it’s going to be an instrumental song that is upbeat for dancing. Whereas with bluegrass, they play the instruments too fast to dance to generally and they are not very melody-focused.
To find out more about the Welter Brothers visit welterbrothers.com/
Upcoming Shows
10/05 - Watercore Cider, Wenatchee: “Is This Machine Still Running? - An Interactive Folk Music Odyssey” $20 cover.
10/11 - Plumb Cellars, Walla Walla, 7-9 p.m.
10/12 - Fall Fest at Cloudview Farm, Ephrata, 2-5 p.m.
10/19 - Twisp River Tap House, Twisp, 6-9 p.m.
10/25 - Birdsview Brewing, Concrete
10/27 - Doe Bay Wines/the Orcas Project, Seattle, 3-6 p.m.
The Welter Brothers
PM “Waymaking,” Grünewald Guild group art exhibition. Good Cause Coaster Art Project making session.
7. Mela 5-8
1. MAC Gallery 5-7 PM “Sanctuary,” Linda Lyons, cameraless photographic works.
8. Tumbleweed 4-6:30 PM Marsha Baerlocher of Stupid Stitch, textile artist, handmade clothes.
2. LynnArt Gardens 1-7 PM “Minions,” metal art group show and contest. Complimentary food and beverages.
9. Norwood 5-10 PM Sarah Sims, Suzie Walker, Faith Merz, artists. Popup flea market featuring art, supplies, vintage clothing and more.
3. Visit Wenatchee Tasting Room 5-7 PM Elaine Eagle, live music.
PM Susan Steinhaus Kimmel, artist. Sage Hills Trio, live music. Beverages and hors d’oeuvres by donation..
10. Pybus Art Alley 5-7
4. Class With A Glass 5-8 PM Instructor Artists Gallery Show, featuring seven local artists. Pen & ink, stained glass, block prints, and mixed media. Complimentary glass of wine.
11. Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center 4-8 PM Celebrate the anniversary of the world’s first transPacific flight. Showing of Voortex Productions film, “Miss Veedol.” Free admission. Beverages for sale.
5. Lemolo Café & Deli 4-7 PM Should have “Ruby Koski, watercolor Artist.
6. Two Rivers Art Gallery 5-8 PM Brent Petersen and Marilynn Weaver, artists. Paul Graves, guitarist. Local wines.
6. Cave Noire 4-10 PM Enjoy a complimentary glass after any wine tasting flight.
7. Bellas Artes Imports 4-7 PM Hot sauce tasting from Guero y Maria with locally sourced produce from Quincy, WA. One complimentary margarita
1. Horan Estates Winery 3-7 PM $2 off glass pours.
2. Crayelle Cellars 3-6 PM $2 off glass pours.
3. Stones Gastropub 3-9 PM $10 specialty cocktail.
4. Watermill Winery
On The Ave 3-8 PM Wine specials.
5. Steam Panda 4-9 PM Buy one noodle soup, get 2nd noodle soup $5 off when you mention First Fridays. Dine in only per guest.. 8. South @ Pybus 5-9 PM Sangria del Muralista special, inspired by the legacy of Mexican muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros.
SHOP DOWNTOWN
4. Firehouse Pet Shop 3-6 PM Pet photos: fall selfie spot for World Smile Day! 5. Woody’s Classic Man 3-8 PM Happy Hour pricing on all beers and ciders. Extended hours.
1. American Shoe Shop 5–7 PM Extended hours 2. Mercantile All Day $10 day pass for First Fridays. 3. The Original Children’s Shop 3-5 PM 10% discount on all merch when you mention First Fridays.
OKANOGAN VALLEY ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS SHARE ‘STORIES’
By Kristen Acesta
Stories come in all forms. As we journey through life, we are both the storytellers and the stars of our narratives. Every choice we make adds a vibrant new thread to the tapestry of our lives. So, where do we find ourselves in this intricate web of tales? Are we the heroes, the guides, the adventurers, or the dreamers? What story are we living and, more importantly, what story do we aspire to tell?
In this season of Stories, the Okanogan Valley Orchestra and Chorus (OVOC) invites its audiences to explore these questions. The upcoming concert season celebrates the narratives that shape us, challenges the stories we’ve been told and thoughtfully crafts new tales that reflect the joy, growth, and potential within us all. Through music, theater, and the written word, they aim not just to tell these stories but to live them with creativity and intention.
OVOC is the primary, communitybased performing arts group in the Okanogan Valley - a region that stretches from Chelan to Oroville. The orchestra and chorus are open to all, whether beginners or seasoned musicians. They also offer a year-round brass band (Brassworks), a seasonal swing band (Okanogan Valley Big Band), youth outreach (The OK Band), and an annual Broadway musical production. Each of these ensembles offers a unique space for community mem-
bers to come together, create, and share their passion for the arts.
At OVOC, a core belief is that music is more than entertainment. It’s a language—a way to unite, uplift, and inspire community. This year’s theme, Stories, takes that concept to heart with a repertoire that reflects the diversity of human experience, from fantastical journeys like The Lord of the Rings to powerful works like Carmina Burana that embody the triumph and trials of life.
Music isn’t just something to listen to—it’s something to be a part of. Community music groups like OVOC are essential for fostering social engagement, building connections, and challenging ourselves. They offer a place where anyone, regardless of skill level, can step into a role, find their voice, and contribute to a collective goal. Whether you’ve never played an instrument or you’re dusting off a flute that’s been in the attic for decades, OVOC provides a welcoming space where anyone may join in.
Being part of a community music group offers more than just the chance to play. It’s about connecting with others, building friendships, and strengthening the social fabric of communities. It’s about pushing oneself, learning something new, and finding fulfillment in the process. Through performances, rehearsals, and the shared experience of making music, participants feel a sense of accomplishment and belonging that is hard to replicate in other settings. Music has a unique power to bridge divides, and in our in-
creasingly disconnected world, opportunities like this are more important than ever.
OVOC has committed to keeping the heart of music alive in its surrounding communities. Whether you want to come to a performance, volunteer, or get involved as a musician, they welcome one and all to be part of the story they are creating together. Participation doesn’t just help sustain the organization; it also enriches the lives of everyone involved. Their goal is not to just preserve the art of performance, but to build opportunities for people to connect, learn, and grow. Their concerts are more than just events; they are celebrations of the sto-
ries, talents, and creativity that make their communities vibrant and alive.
Whether you’re an audience member, a performer, or a volunteer, OVOC invites newcomers along on their journey, celebrating stories, creating connections and ensuring that music thrives in the Okanogan Valley. They strive to weave the stories that will shape the future of their communities, one note at a time. To find out more about OVOC, please visit ovocmusic.org.
Kristen Acesta is a naturopathic physician and registered herbalist with Mission Health & Wellness in Wenatchee. She is also a director on the board of the Okanogan Valley Orchestra and Chorus.
Okanogan Valley Symphony and Chorus
KUDOS
HEIRLOOM CREATIVES
Kudos to Oly Mingo and his team at Heirloom Creatives in Wenatchee for their recent award of a $10,000 Backing Small Businesses Grant presented by American Express in partnership with Main Street America. They were one of only 500 award recipients nationally. They’re already putting the funds to good use, making investments in the business, hiring a business coach to assist with their transition into the high-end wedding photography market, rebuild-
ing their website and other collateral. They’ve also introduced a new client gallery experience.
Keep your fingers crossed for them as the award puts them in the running for an additional $30,000 to be awarded to just 25 of the original 500 grant recipients.
To find out more about Heirloom Creatives, check them out on Facebook at facebook.com/heirloomcreatives or on Instagram under heirloom_creatives.
FEATURED OPPORTUNITY:
BEAUTY OF BRONZE (for Adults!)
More than just an art class, the Beauty of Bronze program is presenting an opportunity you won’t want to miss this month. It’s a chance to connect with Wenatchee’s rich artistic heritage while giving back to the community. Participants will be provided with all the materials (plus a glass of wine) needed to craft their very own bronze sculpture. In addition, the registration fee will sponsor one local fifth grader’s participa-
tion in the Beauty of Bronze program, helping to foster a love of the Arts in our community’s youth.
The event will take place at the Visit Wenatchee Tasting Room. Choose from two dates, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on October 11 or October 18. No artistic experience required. Registration is $90 and tickets are available at numericapac.org.
Oly Mingo in the field.
Every registration sponsors one fifth grader to take part in the annual Beauty of Bronze program.
EXPLORE THE HEALING POWER OF THE CREATIVE ARTS FEATURED EVENT:
“Art connects with people. It can bring joy, thoughtfulness, peace, and I believe art can heal. Not only the viewer or receiver of the art, but the artists themselves,” according to Thom Kokenge, moderator of the upcoming Creative Arts Therapy panel discussion being presented by NCW Arts in conjunction with Pybus University on Tuesday, Oct. 8, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
A panel of experienced professionals will speak to both personal and clinical applications for therapeutic uses of the Arts (music, drama, visual arts) that can drive personal growth and healing.
The panel will include artist and musician Sarah Sims; artist and cancer survivor Heather Wendeborn; Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Executive Director of NCW Arts Meg Kappler; and artist, performer and teacher Amanda Jacobs who earned her doctorate in educational psychology with an emphasis in creative and non-traditional learning environments.
LocalTel Event Center at Pybus Public Market October 8, 7-8:30 p.m. Free admission
Thom Kokenge Sarah Sims
Heather Wendeborn
Meg Kappler Amanda Jacobs