Kerrville Daily Times, Texas, Joseph Benham Column: Treasures Worth Noting

By Joseph Benham, Kerrville Daily Times, Texas

Jul. 16–A recent Daily Times special section recognized “Hidden Treasures,” folks who do a lot of good without attracting much attention.

Now, here are kudos for some who aren’t hidden, but deserve praise:

First, a tip of the Stetson to Eric Bowser. He and Symphony of the Hills Conductor Jay Dunnahoo convinced San Antonio’s Cactus Pear Music Festival leadership that this 13-year-old violinist is too good to turn away because their Young Artist Program had a minimum age of 14.

If that doesn’t impress immediately, consider: Despite its odd name, Cactus Pear is the preeminent chamber music program in this part of the country (more on that below). As a young artist, Eric played for and learned from top musicians from throughout the United States and Europe.

Since Eric is a veteran member of the Symphony of the Hills, we already knew that he’s exceptional, but it’s nice to see him recognized in the big city, as well.

Cellist Daniel Prislovsky has impressed in the Symphony of the Hills and Hill Country Youth Orchestras for a while, and showed fresh evidence last Sunday of how good he is.

Invited to play at First Presbyterian Church, he wrote an arrangement of “Just as I am” (no small feat in itself) and ordered an accompaniment — that never arrived. A church loaned him their arrangement, which proved to be for a choir. So, with improvised accompaniment by organist Tim Wilborn, Daniel played that great old hymn with feeling and depth, drawing applause and more than one “Amen!” as if everything was according to plan.

Speaking of the Presbyterians, kudos to those in charge for hosting Cactus Pear again. Founder and peerless violinist Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio brought her most eclectic group and program yet to Kerrville, performing everything from Bach to traditional Irish, American and Finnish music (would you believe a Finnish tango?) and from a cantata for soprano, strings and harpsichord to a Telemann suite on Cervantes’ classic “Don Quixote.” Stars included Mary Bonhag, whose soprano voice has a stunning clarity and tone, and dancers Julie Leven and Manuel Lopez Lobo, whose tango was so sensuous that it’s clear why church authorities tried to ban it back in Argentina.

“Wow!” describes the Fredericksburg Theater Company’s awesomely professional “Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

For years, I feared that this show and its companion, “Jesus Christ, Superstar” ridiculed the Good Book. OK, I was wrong. It isn’t the King James, Bach or Handel, but it tells the story in a form that may well reach people bored by traditional worship.

Thus, it surely isn’t offensive to the Lord. After all, the founder of The Salvation Army, Gen. William Booth, had no hesitation in putting Christian lyrics to popular tunes, saying that he saw no reason for the devil to have a monopoly on good music.

Narrator Jasmin Richardson was stunning — beauty and extraordinary talent combined — and William Vaughan as Joseph, Kenny Vaughan as Pharoah, Rhonda Mann as Potiphar’s super-sexy wife and J.T. Grumbles as Naphtali were other showstoppers.

Showstoppers also is the term for Austin Owen, Jake Asbury and Tara Pannell in Playhouse 2000′s “Singin’ in the Rain.” It took real courage to tackle roles synonymous with Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds, but they pulled it off nicely, ably teamed with Jessica Roberts, Brian Bondy and a good supporting cast. I admire Jeff and Heather Cunningham for tackling another revered story with Jeff’s play, “The Book of Ruth.” Next up: “Willie Wonka.”

Cheers, too, for Jerry Mertz, Ryan Batley, Roslyn Houghton, Graydon Vaught, Jeff Scott and Luke Cummings for “The Adventures of Robin Hood” and to the entire cast of “Quilters” at the Point. Disney’s “High School Musical” opens Friday.

Thanks are again due to the Bank of the Hills for another season of Second Sunday Summer Serenades, free entertainment in Louise Hays Park. The Frontier Brass Quintet played in June and Air Force Dimensions in Blue last Sunday, with Harry and the High-tones due Aug. 10.

Shakespeare lovers note: The Fredericksburg Company will do “The Merry Wives of Windsor” Oct. 10-26.

And remember the Cowboy Classic concert Aug. 2 at the Cailloux Theater, to fund Symphony of the Hills scholarships for Schreiner University music students.

Joseph Benham is a Kerrville journalist.

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