ARTCORE's Music & Poetry Series continues with Wyoming pride

by Christi Marsico
Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:48 PM MDT

Connie and Jack Wallace will share the spotlight along with Charlotte Babcock on Monday, July 28, at 7:30 p.m. as ARTCORE's Music and Poetry Series continues.

In fourth grade, Jack started playing violin in Cheyenne public schools and performed for many years on the Dazee's Dance Hall float in the Cheyenne Frontier Days parades.

Winning the state of Wyoming's "Old-Time Fiddle Championship" numerous times, among other awards, Jack has found his favor playing in the four-piece band, Wyoming Home Grown, for more than 20 years.

This band has performed all over the Rocky Mountain region and at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Jack has made a name for himself with his "trick fiddling," which he has shared while playing in the Albuquerque, Cheyenne and Panhandle symphonies.

He has been a member of the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra for 30-plus years in the violin section and has taught orchestra in the Cheyenne public schools for 16 years.

His wife, Connie, was raised in a musical family. After learning to play the piano, violin and viola, she set her sights on the harp.

Teaching orchestra in Albuquerque, N.M., as well as Laramie and Cheyenne public schools, Connie also taught piano at the University of Wyoming and currently teaches harp students in Cheyenne schools and at UW and Casper College.

This musician also has played in the Cheyenne and Panhandle symphonies and currently performs with the UW Symphony Orchestra.

Connie is the current principal harpist and section viola with the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra, of which she has been a member for 30-plus years.

Then from the heart of Casper, Charlotte Babcock will share her writings.

Babcock is the author of "The St. Patrick's Story" and "Shot Down: Capital Crimes of Casper," which won the Wyoming State Historical Society's history book of the year award.

In 2001, she was recognized by the City of Casper and the American Association of University Women as a renowned author, freelance writer and editor.

Among her many published, award-winning works that include fiction, non-fiction, children's fiction, poetry, essays and humor are her well-known anthologies, "Woven on the Wind," "Crazy Woman Creek" and "Wyoming Writing."

Babcock is a longtime member of the Wyo Poets and is past president of Wyoming Writers, Inc. She won that organization's prestigious Emmie Award in 1983.

Being a founding member of the literary advisory panel at Casper College, Babcock has taught classes at the college, writes for CC's alumni magazine and is working on two new books.

For more information, visit www.artcorewy.com or call 265-1564.

ARTCORE's Music & Poetry Series line-up:

Lila McConigley and Tenors Un Limited

July 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Natrona County High School

Tickets are $12 adults, $11 seniors, $6 students/teachers, and $4 for kids 12 and under

Connie and Jack Wallace (harp and violin) and Charlotte Babcock (writer)

July 28 at 7:30 p.m. at The Jazz Spot, 128 E. Second St.

Tickets are $7

The Schenfisch family and Open Mic for writers

Aug. 4 at 7:30 p.m. at The Jazz Spot, 128 E. Second St.

Tickets are $7

Kenny Garrett (musician) and writer TBA

Aug. 11 at 7:30 p.m. at The Jazz Spot, 128 E. Second St.

Tickets are $7

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