The Amarillo Symphony Welcomes Over 8,000 Students to the 53rd Annual Greater Southwest Music Festival
AMARILLO, Texas—The Amarillo Symphony proudly hosts the 53rd annual Greater Southwest Music Festival (GSWMF) from April 25th to 27th. This celebrated event in downtown Amarillo, TX, will welcome over 8,000 talented student musicians from across Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
The GSWMF has been a longstanding pillar of the music community throughout the Tri-State area, providing students with invaluable opportunities for performance, feedback, and growth. Participants will compete in large ensembles (bands, orchestras, choirs), showcase their skills through Solo & Ensemble categories, and receive expert critique from renowned music educators and adjudicators.
Greater Southwest Music Festival is about to kick off our most exciting season yet with special events including a Thursday evening performance by the West Texas A&M Symphonic band, a Friday noon performance of the 77th U. S. Army Band, and a Saturday noon concert and masterclass by concert pianist Hyeree Roux,” said GSWMF President Eileene Moss. “Congratulations to all our many competing students and their teachers and directors and thank you to all our many sponsors for keeping this Festival alive and thriving for the students of the Panhandle and surrounding areas.”
Festival Highlights:
WTAMU Symphonic Band Concert: Experience a thrilling performance featuring trumpet soloist Sarah Viens (April 25, 7:30 pm, Globe-News Center, free admission).
The 77th Army Jazz Band: Listen to great jazz during lunch, 12:00-1pm, on Friday in the Civic Center Concourse
Piano Masterclass: Observe renowned pianist Hyeree Chung Roux as she coaches aspiring musicians (April 27, 12:00 pm, AC Music Building Concert Hall, free admission).
Free Ensemble Performances: Throughout the festival, attend an array of student performances (8:00 am—5:40 pm daily, Civic Center, Globe-News Center, AC Washington St. campus). See the full schedule at amarillosymphony.org.
“The Amarillo Symphony is committed to nurturing the next generation of musicians,” said Larry Lang, The Executive Director of the Amarillo Symphony. “The GSWMF is a testament to our mission and the power of music education.”
We thank our generous sponsors: Carol K. Engler Foundation, Amarillo Convention & Visitors Bureau, Wonderland Amusement Park, Street Toyota, Amarillo Symphony Guild, Conn Selmer, Tarpley Music, Texas Commission on the Arts, Education Credit Union Foundation, United Supermarkets, and the M.K. Brown Foundation.
There’s a lot going on at Mission Amarillo! First, we would like to announce that our annual spring fundraiser, FamFest will be Saturday, May 18 at Sam Houston Park. There will be around 30 vendors, food trucks, carnival games, and silent auction. It’s always a great time for the entire family and a great way to help us do what we do. Please mark your calendars for Saturday, May 18! We will be taking sponsorships for our Event Sponsors starting March 4.
Also, we are continuing to raise funds for our Be-Loved House project. We are making progress towards our goal and hope to begin renovations in the coming months. Residents at Be-Loved House will receive training in various life skills like using a bank, avoiding payday loans and rent to own, learning how to live on a budget, and how to build a credit rating. Ladies can stay in Be-Loved House for up to 2 years. Only 3 months of that will be training and the rest of their time there will be spent putting these lessons into practice. Once their 2 years are over, we will match any money they’ve saved in a savings account up to $2,000. Our goal for all our moms in Be-Loved House is that they will be able to live without the limitations of government assistance when they leave. If you’d like to donate towards renovations, follow this link. https://www.missionamarillo.org/be-loved-house
Last of all, our shoe deliveries are continuing to grow at an unprecedented rate. In past years, we typically deliver around 40-50 shoes a month in January and February. This year has been very different. In January, we gave away 120 pairs of shoes and so far in February we have given away 119 pairs! This unexpected demand has lowered our shoe inventory to far lower levels than we have ever experienced this time of year. As of this writing, we currently have 20 sizes with 10 or less in stock, several with fewer than 7. It doesn’t take long for these inventory numbers to drop to zero. If you would like to collect shoes for us, please follow this link and we will contact you with all the details! https://www.missionamarillo.org/forms/shoe-request
Thank you for supporting Mission Amarillo and for helping us love our neighbor and equip them for life!
NATIONAL DNA DAY
On April 25th, people across the nation recognize National DNA Day. On this day in 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick formally announced their discovery of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in a short letter published in the science journal
Repair Café is a neighborhood initiative that promotes repair as an alternative to tossing things out. Amarillo’s first Repair Café will be held June 1, 2024. Panhandle residents can bring their broken items to fix them on the spot with the help of voluntary repairers. But until then, Repair Café needs the help of handy volunteers in the area. Join us!
Amarillo Parks & Recreation Senior Services is looking for repair volunteers for our Repair Café event. We are especially looking for people who are handy with:
- Sewing/Clothing/Textile
- Bicycles
- Appliances
- Furniture/Wooden Items
- Computers/Electronics
- Sharpening Knives & Hatchets
- Or anyone who is simply handy
In addition, we are also looking for event volunteers. These volunteers welcome visitors and serve as a contact point for both visitors and repairers in the Repair Café.
Want to sign up as a volunteer? Follow the Active Adult 50+ link on the Parks & Recreation website: www.amarilloparks.org. You can also reach out to us at jeff.whitsell@amarillo.gov or call (806)378-4290.
See you soon at the Repair Café!
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WALMART AND SAM’S CLUB FIGHT HUNGER. SPARK CHANGE. CAMPAIGN RETURNS TO THE TEXAS PANHANDLE TO HELP PEOPLE FACING HUNGER
Taking place in stores and online, the 11th annual campaign supports local hunger relief efforts
AMARILLO, Texas, April 1, 2024 — Everyone needs nutritious food to thrive, and in every community in America, people are working hard to provide for themselves and their families. Yet in 2022, 44 million people— 1 in 7 individuals —faced food insecurity in the U.S.
Those are the highest numbers in a decade, underscoring the need for more charitable food assistance in the Texas Panhandle and beyond.
Now, for the 11th straight year, all U.S. Walmart stores and Sam’s Clubs are launching the Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign, with the goal of providing people facing hunger with access to the food and resources they say they need to thrive. Since its inception in 2014, the campaign has generated over $186 million and helped secure nearly 1.9 billion meals* for the Feeding America® network of local food banks.
“The Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign comes at a crucial time, when 1 in 8 of our neighbors are struggling across the Panhandle,” said Zack Wilson, executive director for High Plains Food Bank. “This, coupled with the many natural disasters we have experienced over the past eight months, has led to a tremendous need.”
The campaign will run in stores and online from April 1-April 29, with three ways for shoppers to participate:
– By donating at check-out registers in stores or clubs or rounding up purchases made at Walmart.com and within the Walmart app.
– By purchasing participating products in-store or online at Walmart.com or SamsClub.com. For every purchase of a participating product, the supplier will donate the monetary equivalent of at least one meal ($0.10) on behalf of a Feeding America partner food bank at Walmart and five meals ($0.50) at Sam’s Club, up to applicable limits. See specially marked packages for full details.
– By donating at Feeding America’s Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign donation site at either www.FeedingAmerica.org/Walmart or www.FeedingAmerica.org/SamsClub.
“Serving communities and expanding access to affordable, healthy food lies at the heart of Walmart and Sam’s Club’s purpose to help people live better,” said Kathleen McLaughlin, executive vice president and chief sustainability officer at Walmart and president of the Walmart Foundation. “Our annual Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign is a way to invite our customers, members, and suppliers to fight hunger alongside us. The funds raised through this campaign go toward local Feeding America food banks, meaning we can all make a difference in our own neighborhoods.”
The 20 participating suppliers for Walmart include: Bush Brothers & Company; CELSIUS® Essential Energy Drink; The Coca-Cola Company; Conagra Brands; Dole Packaged Foods; Ferrara; Ferrero; General Mills; Hain Celestial; Hershey Salty Snacks; Hidden Valley Ranch; Kellanova; W.K. Kellogg Company; Keurig Dr Pepper; Kodiak; Kraft Heinz; Monster Energy; Pepsi-Cola Advertising & Marketing, Inc.; Red Bull North America; Unilever
The eight participating suppliers for Sam’s Club include: General Mills; W.K. Kellogg Company; Kraft Heinz; Nestlé; Nissin; Nongshim; Palmetto Gourmet Foods, A Borealis Foods Company; and Unilever.
For more information or to donate, visit www.FeedingAmerica.org/Walmart or www.FeedingAmerica.org/SamsClub.
*Currently, $1 helps provide at least ten meals secured by Feeding America® on behalf of local partner food banks. Locally High Plains Food Bank can provide 9 meals with every $1 donated.
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About High Plains Food Bank
Since 1982, High Plains Food Bank has strived to alleviate hunger in the Texas Panhandle. Currently, 1 in 8 neighbors, including 1 in 6 kids, experiences food insecurity. HPFB and more than 140 partner food pantries and meal programs provide access to healthy food, education, and other resources across 29 counties to help neighbors establish food security, improve their health, and thrive. In 2023, HPFB distributed 7.8 million pounds of food through the network. In addition to providing increased vitality, food banking decreases waste by distributing food that would otherwise go uneaten to people who need it.
*High Plains Food Bank is an equal opportunity provider.
About Feeding America
Feeding America is committed to an America where no one is hungry. We support tens of millions of
people who experience food insecurity to get the food and resources they say they need to thrive as part of a nationwide network of food banks, statewide food bank associations, food pantries, and meal programs. We also invest in innovative solutions to increase equitable access to nutritious food, advocate for legislation that improves food security, and work to address factors that impact food security, such as health, cost of living, and employment. We partner with people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, organizations, and supporters, united with them in a movement to end hunger. Visit FeedingAmerica.org to learn more.
Walmart
Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Approximately 230 million customers and members visit more than 10,500 stores and clubs each week under 46 banners in 24 countries and eCommerce websites. With fiscal year 2022 revenue of $573 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.3 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy, and employment opportunities. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting https://corporate.walmart.com, Facebook at https://facebook.com/walmart, and Twitter at https://twitter.com/walmart.
Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club®, a division of Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT), is a leading membership warehouse club offering superior products, savings, and services to millions of members in nearly 600 U.S. clubs, including Puerto Rico. Now in its 39th year, Sam’s Club continues to redefine warehouse shopping with its highly curated assortment of high-quality fresh food and Member’s Mark items and market-leading technologies and services like Scan & Go™, Curbside Pickup and home delivery service in select markets. To learn more about Sam’s Club, visit the Sam’s Club Newsroom, shop at samsclub.com, and interact with Sam’s Club on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
Please let me know if you have any questions and thank you so much for your continued support.
Z
Zivorad Filipovic | Director of Marketing and Communications
806.374.8562 main
806.350.1427 direct
806.477.0168 mobile
1910 SE 8th Ave., Amarillo, TX 79102
Panhandle Eye Group is bringing Mission Cataract back this year!
The goal of Mission Cataract is to eradicate blindness due to cataracts in our community and bring as many people as possible from blindness to useful productive lives. We want to make sure every vision impaired person in Amarillo and the surrounding areas without insurance or financial resources learns about this remarkable program.
To qualify for this free community service, applicants must have: poor vision, due to cataracts uncorrectable with glasses, which interferes with activities of daily living, no Medicare, Medicaid, or third-party insurance coverage, and no other means to pay for cataract surgery. Free cataract screening will take place on Saturday, June 15th.
To receive an application package, email Janet Tarr, Executive Assistant, at janet.tarr@paneye.com or call 806-331-4444.
Janet Tarr, CAP
Executive Assistant
Panhandle Eye Group, LLP
7400 Fleming Ave.
Amarillo, TX 79106
806-331-4444 Business
806-356-0014 Fax
American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum: Take in “Ranching Remudas,” on view through July 27. (2601 E. Interstate 40; 806-376-5181)
CANYON, Texas — More than 50 West Texas A&M University alumni are featured in a new art exhibition opening April 1.
WT’s first art program alumni exhibition will hang through April 27 in the Dord Fitz Formal Gallery inside Mary Moody Northen Hall. An opening reception will run from 5 to 7 p.m. April 4.
The art program received nearly 170 submissions from 75 artists. Guest juror Deana Craighead, curator of art at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, selected 53 works to hang in the show—one each per artist chosen.
Three alumni will receive cash prizes ranging from $500 to $1,500, to be announced at the opening reception.
“We are incredibly proud of these alumni, who represent graduates from the 1970s to just last year,” said Jon Revett, art program director and Doris Alexander Distinguished Professor of Fine Arts.
“The art program has been part of WT’s identity since its establishment in the 1910s, when none other than Georgia O’Keeffe served as its leader,” said Dr. Amy Von Lintel, professor of art history. “Our exhibition will demonstrate that the legacy of quality art education begun by O’Keeffe continues on the campus to this day.”
Craighead said she was impressed with the quality of the entries and wanted to include as many artists as possible in the show.
“In choosing works for the exhibition, it was important to illustrate the rich history and depth of the art program and the quality of graduates that have continued to make art, both professionally or as a hobby,” Craighead said.
Selected artists include Dárē Akinwole, Dick Archer, Mariah Aytch, Adrian Ballesteros, Amanda Barnett, Kendra Barth, Jacob Bautista, Stephanie Boyd, Jarys Boyd, Tiahna-Dawn Brecheisen, Brittany Busch, Ann Callen, Kayla Cantu, Sawyer Crane, Blake Cripps, Loc Dao, Renea Dauntes, Ana Davila, Elba Duron, Sage Edsall, Emory Elliott, Amanda Fitzgerald, John Flatt, Helené Gagneux, Arash Ghahari Kermani, Victor Granadoz, Mandy Gregory, Evarista Herrera, Brent Hilliard, Kegan Hollis, Ixchel Houseal, Joshua Jinkens, Ruthie Landelius, Miguel Lares, William Lebeda, Brooke Locke, Delores Maldonado, Mark Martin, Joey Martinez, Chasely Matmanivong, Michael Merriman, Megan Moore, Patrick Ponce, Justin Rogers, Benjamin Selby, Brian Singleton, Sara Spaulding, Clayton Spaulding, Julia Strait, Aaron Taylor, Marcia Tippit, Phuc “May” Truong, Rayan Turner, Slayden Watson, Barbara Williams and Traci Winter.
Fitz Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and by appointment Fridays and Saturdays. Email jrevett@wtamu.edu.
Fostering an appreciation of the arts and cultivating strong relations with alumni are key goals of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.
That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised nearly $160 million.
About West Texas A&M University
WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of about 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs and more than 40 graduate degrees, including two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.
Aaron Watson & Walker Montgomery are taking over the Starlight Ranch main-stage on Saturday, June 15th!
Set your alarms- tickets go on-sale Friday, February 9th @ 10am http://tinyurl.com/ya97h56e #Amarillo #LiveMusic