Panhandle Boys benefit concert, Herb Alpert and Lani Hall among this week's events

Panhandle Boys to raise funds for wildfire relief at Starlight Ranch concert

The Panhandle Boys will host a West Texas Wildfire Relief Concert benefitting the Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund on Sunday, March 24 at the Starlight Ranch, located at 1415 Sunrise Dr. in Amarillo. The concert will feature three Texas Panhandle natives, including Randall King, Kevin Fowler and Aaron Watson.

The event will feature live music, food trucks, beverage specials and more. In addition to the concert, the artists are slated to bring some autographed merchandise as well as fellow artists' signed material for a live auction benefitting the fund.

All proceeds from the concert will benefit the Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund, an initiative created by the Amarillo Area Foundation providing assistance to those affected by disasters in the Texas Panhandle region, offering immediate relief and long-term recovery efforts to individuals and families impacted by natural disasters, such as wildfires, floods, and severe storms.

Guests 18 years or younger must be accompanied by an adult. Doors are slated to open at 4 p.m. but may be announced to open sooner. The concert is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased and donations can be made directly to the Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund online at PanHandleBoys.com .

For more information or updates on this event, follow the Starlight Ranch on Facebook. For more information on the Amarillo venue and other upcoming shows, visit the Starlight Ranch website.

Herb Alpert and Lani Hall to perform March 28 at Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts

Music icon Herb Alpert & Lani Hall, will be making their first ever concert appearance in Amarillo at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday, March 28, with the show starting at 7:30 p.m.

Music icon Herb Alpert and his wife Lani Hall, Grammy-winning vocalist and former lead singer of Brazil 66 with Sergio Mendes, and their classic recordings, "Mas Que Nada", "Fool On The Hill", "Going Out Of My Head" and "Daytripper," will be heard live in concert during this tour.

Herb is celebrating his 61st year since recording his first hit song, "The Lonely Bull" in 1962. Herb, Lani and their incredible band, perform an eclectic mix of American standards, Brazilian jazz, some Beatles, some classic Tijuana Brass & Brazil '66 songs as well as many surprises. The shows are informal as Herb loves to answer questions from the audience about his and Lani's music careers, A&M Records and the many iconic artists they have both worked with over the past 50 years. The show features a giant video screen that displays hundreds of classic photos, videos, and various memorabilia from Herb & Lani's music careers.

Tickets are on sale now; patrons can purchase tickets online at panhandletickets.com, in person at the Amarillo Civic Center Complex box office, by phone (806) 378-3096, and participating area United Supermarkets.

Baltimore Chamber Orchestra violinist to perform for WT Distinguished Lecture Series

CANYON — Nationally renowned violin player Audrey Wright will offer an in-depth look at her instrument in the next installment of West Texas A&M University’s Distinguished Lecture Series.

Wright will present “Voices of the Violin” at 7:30 p.m. March 26 in the Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex Recital Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

This experience will not only showcase Wright’s talent through a recital but will also offer insights into the diverse aspects of the violin, said Evgeny Zvonnikov, member of the Harrington String Quartet and violin instructor at WT. “There is an amazing opportunity for students to hear this renowned artist,” Zvonnikov said.

Wright, a versatile solo, chamber and orchestral artist, serves as the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra concertmaster and has been a distinguished member of the New York Philharmonic since 2022. Wright has performed in venues around the world, from Carnegie Hall to London's Royal Albert Hall, and is a violin fellow in the New World Symphony. Her debut album, “Things in Pairs,” a collaboration with pianist Yundu Wang, was released in 2022.

Wright also will conduct a masterclass with WT students during her time on campus.

WT Scholarship Dinner set to honor longtime vocal music educator George Biffle

CANYON — Tickets are on sale now for a fundraising dinner helping establish a scholarship for vocal students in the name of a well-respected former music educator.

The George Biffle Memorial Scholarship dinner is set for 5 p.m. April 13 in Legacy Hall inside the Jack B. Kelley Student Center on WT’s Canyon campus. Tickets are $100 for general admission or $250 for Maestro-level admission, which includes a reserved ticket to a combined WT Symphony Orchestra and WT Choirs concert featuring Johannes Brahms’ “Requiem” at 7:30 p.m. April 13 in Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall.

Biffle was head of choral activities at WT from 1992 to 2003.

“In those 10 years, Dr. Biffle had a substantial impact on all of the students and colleagues with whom he worked,” said Matthew Oglesby, associate lecturer in voice and coordinator of vocal studies. “Whether as a mentor to the area choral directors or a trusted ear and vocal coach for numerous singers, Dr. Biffle was unmatched as a musician amongst his peers. It was his willingness to share his gifts that endeared him to so many.”

Biffle died in December 2023 after a lifetime spent in vocal music education. In addition to his decade at WT, he also taught at Austin Middle School, Amarillo High School, Amarillo College, McMurry University and the University of Western Alabama. The scholarship established in Biffle’s name is part of several ongoing efforts raise $2 million for vocal scholarship endowments to make the WT School of Music more competitive when recruiting promising singers.

The dinner will include an open bar and entertainment by Esquire Jazz. Reservations are requested by April 7. Call 806-651-2840 or email opera@wtamu.edu.

Art Force Piano Series for 2023-24 concludes with Journey to the East

Before the sun sets on Amarillo College’s 2023-24 Art Force Piano Series, concertgoers will be transported on a harmonious Journey to the East. The fourth and final installment of the Piano Series features the accomplished husband-wife duo of Dr. Alex Lee (violin/viola) and Dr. Sophie Hung (piano), both of whom serve on the faculty at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU).

Their presentation is dubbed Journey to the East and takes place at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 2 at the Concert Hall Theater on AC’s Washington Street Campus. Every concert presented in the Piano Series, which is sponsored annually at the College by Art Force Amarillo, is free and open to the public.

“Journey to the East features a pair of outstanding guest artists who will take our audience on a mesmerizing journey that evokes Eastern culture,” said Dr. Bruce Lin, artistic director for the Piano Series and director of piano at AC. “I know I’m not alone in my enthusiasm for what promises to be an outstanding evening of music, a tremendous punctuation for this year’s series.”

Additionally, both these exceptional artists will also be offering a masterclass for AC string majors during their time in Amarillo. That session will be from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in the Concert Hall Theater on the day of their performance.

World-class organist to play world-class organ at First Presbyterian Church in April

First Presbyterian Church of Amarillo invites the public to hear one of the world’s acclaimed organists on one of the world’s largest organs.

The concert will take place on Sunday, April 7, featuring world-traveled concert organist Ken Cowan. The free performance will be at 4 p.m. in the church sanctuary at 1100 S. Harrison St. A reception will follow the concert. Tickets are requested and may be acquired through: https://www.firstpres.com/pipe-organ .

According to his Rice University biography, Cowan is regarded as one of North America’s finest concert organists and is praised for his dazzling artistry, impeccable technique, and imaginative programming by audiences and critics alike. He maintains a rigorous performing schedule that takes him to major concert venues in America, Canada, Europe, and Asia.

Norman Goad, Director of Music and Organist for the church and owner of NEG Keyboard Services, is the builder of the organ, two years in its manufacturing and installation. According to Goad, based on its 117 ranks and 135 speaking stops, of the approximately 120,000 organs, this is among the 50 largest organs in the world, as well as one of the most technologically advanced. One can actually feel the 32-foot bass stops played by the organist’s feet. 53 of the ranks come through the 3,965 pipes. The remaining 64 ranks are digital and are computer-generated through 31 speakers in four chambers, via 14 channels of audio, sampled at 192 kilohertz – more than 4 times that of CD audio, a news release notes.

The console features E.M. Skinner architectural features, and designed to blend perfectly into the church’s Gothic sanctuary. The four keyboards have walnut sharps and satin finish naturals. The 158 drawknobs consist of walnut shanks with maple rings and ivory-colored engraved heads. The organ was made possible by a gift from the Allison family.

AMoA 20x20 Exhibition & Silent Auction being held March 22-28

Now in its 18th year, the Amarillo Museum of Art's (AMoA) 20x20 Exhibition & Silent Auction is scheduled to take place later this month. The annual fundraiser is designed to celebrate art and support AMoA’s innovative education programs as well as the local artist community.

This year, AMoA is looking forward to welcoming patrons to the museum for a 20 x 20 reception on March 28, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. This year’s exhibition will be installed for museum visitors to view in person at the AMoA for two days, March 27-28. Images of the artworks will also be featured on the AMoA website, where they can be viewed, and bid on, from the comfort of a home computer, smartphone, or tablet.

Artworks will be sold to the highest bidder, with bids starting at $150. All bidding will take place online. Bidding will begin at 8:30 a.m. on March 22 and end at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 28.

"The generosity and support shown by artists and art collectors is vital to our museum and greatly appreciated by the AMoA Board of Trustees, Alliance, and staff," a news release says. "Participation in this event enables AMoA to continue bringing first-class art programming to area schools."

For more information, call (806) 371-5050, or email amoa@actx.edu. The Amarillo Museum of Art is located at 2200 South Van Buren on the Washington Street campus of Amarillo College. Museum hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.

Amarillo’s first ever drone show at Hodgetown set for June 7-8

The Amarillo Sod Poodles are excited to announce the addition of back-to-back drone light show performances at Hodgetown on June 7-8. The Sod Poodles have partnered with Sky Elements to bring 200 drones to light up the Amarillo sky and pay homage to Sod Poodles baseball and other iconic Amarillo history and imagery.

“We could not be more excited to bring our hometown the first-ever live drone show,” said Sod Poodles President & General Manager, Tony Ensor. “Our staff is constantly pushing to bring the biggest and best experiences possible to our deserving fans and this drone show fits in perfectly. These will be two can’t-miss nights that people will be talking about for a long time, so please get your tickets early. This major event would not be possible without great partners like Rush Lasik, Amarillo National Bank, Amarillo Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Sky Elements, who stepped up to make this happen. We cannot wait for our fans, most of whom will be seeing this futuristic technology for the first time, to enjoy the sky over Hodgetown being animated in a way never seen before.”

Sky Elements, based in Fort Worth, is the leading drone light show provider in the United States. Their experienced team has brought the art of drone light shows all across the country for community events, sports teams, businesses, artists, and major brands alike. The company set the Guinness World Record for the largest aerial sentence formed by multirotor/drones during their Fourth of July weekend performance last year in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The shows will take place on Friday, June 7, and Saturday, June 8 when the Sod Poodles host the Tulsa Drillers (Double-A, Los Angeles Dodgers). Games are set to begin at 7:05 p.m., with gates opening at 6 p.m.

For more information on promotions and other news, follow the team on social media @sodpoodles on Facebook, X, and Instagram. For questions and more information, call 806-803-7762 or email info@SodPoodles.com .

Dali's Wonderland exhibition opens at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum

The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum (PPHM) recently debuted its newest exhibit, "Dali's Wonderland."

PPHM is excited to welcome this new exhibition in its Bugbee Gallery. Originally published by Lewis Carroll in 1865, the dream-like world of "Alice in Wonderland" is a natural match for the surrealist art movement. A hundred years later, Salvador Dali, surrealism’s most important figure, illustrated a version of the story that incorporated his iconic melting clocks and other avant-garde imagery. Featuring a limited edition copy of the book from the personal library of Sybil B. Harrington, it was a gift from her daughter Sally. This book came into Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum Collection in 2022 through the help of the Harrington House and Jessica Mallard at WT. "Dali’s Wonderland" explores the relationship between art and literature.

“Dali is one of the most recognizable artists of the 20th Century and the most known surrealist artist. I think it is important to highlight the significance of those kinds of movements and how they connect to our collection, here at PPHM. I think that this exhibition really connects our part of the world to the rest of the world. It also gives us the opportunity to take about art, literature and the connections between them, specifically Wonderland and Lewis Carroll’s iteration of Alice in Wonderland, to the surrealism movement which was heavily involved in literature, and poetry, etc,” said Deana Craighead, Curator of Art at PPHM.

"Dali’s Wonderland" is in partnership with the West Texas A&M University Information Technology Department. Thanks to this partnership, the exhibition will feature a virtual flipbook of Dali’s works. In the coming months, IT will also be working with to create an artificial intelligence and augmented reality aspects to this exhibition. The museum will offer some special programming this summer around the exhibition and those details will be announced soon.

Located on the campus of West Texas A&M University, PPHM offers visitors a chance to step into Texas Panhandle history with special exhibits, a permanent collection, special events and more. For more information about PPHM, visit www.panhandleplains.org.

Baby Shark’s Big Broadwave Tour swimming to Amarillo Civic Center Complex on April 21

Baby Shark’s Big Broadwave Tour will have two shows at the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium, 401 S Buchanan St. at noon and 4 p.m. Sunday, April 21.

Tickets for the performances may be purchased online on the tour's site, www.babysharkontour.com. Tickets start at $25 (while supplies last - additional fees and taxes may apply) and are also available at the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Box Office and panhandletickets.com. Prices are subject to change.

Nickelodeon, The Pinkfong Company and VStar Entertainment Group present Baby Shark’s Big Broadwave Tour!, a brand-new interactive live stage show featuring characters from the globally beloved preschool property. This tour brings the underwater world of the hit animated series, Baby Shark’s Big Show!, to life through an all-new original story, as audience members come together with Baby Shark and his undersea friends to save the Party Puddle Theatre. Featuring unforgettable music, with exciting twists on classic Baby Shark tunes, and mesmerizing visual effects, this staged “swimtacular” is jampacked with action and adventure for the whole family to enjoy.

A limited number of Fintastic Photo Op tickets are available, starting at $50. This pre-show experience will provide an up close and in person photo opportunity with Baby Shark and includes an exclusive gift for each kid. Each adult and kid (age 1 & up) must have their own “Fintastic Photo Op” ticket. Each guest must have both a Fintastic Photo Op ticket and a Baby Shark’s Big Broadwave Tour! show ticket (sold separately) for the same date.

For more information or to join the Whale Mail mailing list for presale and other exclusive offers, visit www.babysharkontour.com. Follow Baby Shark’s Big Broadwave Tour! on Facebook and Instagram at @babysharkontour .

Sesame Street Live! Say Hello coming to Amarillo in June 2024

Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, and their Sesame Street friends will be featured in an all-new live show, "Sesame Street Live! Say Hello," coming to Amarillo on June 26, 2024.

Tickets are available now online via panhandletickets.com . Round Room Live and Sesame Workshop are proud to announce the new live show, which will bring the beloved characters from the iconic Sesame Street to life in a brand-new interactive production that will tour the U.S. and Canada beginning in April 2024.

“For over 50 years, Sesame Workshop has worked at the intersection of education, media, and research, creating joyful experiences that enrich minds and expand hearts,” said Whit Higgins, Sesame Workshop Executive Vice President, Head of Global Enterprises, in a news release. “Round Room Live has a history of working with new and iconic properties to create engaging and thrilling live events. We can’t wait for families and friends to enjoy this brand-new Sesame Street show filled with song, dance, and a few fun and furry surprises.”

Fans can visit SesameStreetLive.com now for tour dates and ticket information, and follow Sesame Street Live social media for exclusive tour content. For more, visit www.SesameStreet.org .

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo entertainment in brief for March 24, 2024