February 5, 7:30 PM: FEAST is an instrumental Celtic World-Fusion band that is pushing the frontiers of excitement in Celtic, World, and Classical music. With the unusual combination of violin, cello, keyboard and drum set, they deliver a rollicking show that connects deeply to their audiences. Their powerful, emotionally driven performances have been greeted with wild enthusiasm and standing ovations. FEAST offers a program of delightful variety: brilliant and virtuoso group numbers are interspersed with soulful duos, solos, and trios. The emotional palette ranges from haunting ballads to humorous versions of timeless songs, to all-out rockin’ interpretations of hot Irish fiddle tunes. The result is a stunning and unforgettable musical banquet.

Founded in Grand Junction, Colorado, FEAST has performed extensively in the last three years. Last March they sold out St. Patrick’s concerts at the Vilar in Beaver Creek, Grand Junction, and Montrose. The band has performed at the Silverplume Irish Festival and the Carbondale Mountain Fair, broadcast live on radio. At the Harvest Festival in Paonia this last fall the house was so over-packed, the organizers are considering using crowd control the next time FEAST performs. FEAST has already toured Germany twice. Fiddle player Alisha Bean brings a rich, fat sound and Celtic flash to the group. Stephanie Mientka’s sonorous viola reflects Irish melancholy. Andrew Krimm, also on viola, adds a hint of jazz & Tyme Mientka’s cello chops include his signature gorgeous tone and amazing finger dexterity. Concert harpist Elise Helmke spreads enchantment. On keyboard, Kathryn Mientka makes use of everything from Steinway grand piano to cosmic synthesizer sounds to create awesome musical landscapes and her command of the keys is staggering. David Alderdice has been called a wizard of percussion, and magically evokes a full emotional palette from an amazing array of instruments.

General Admission Tickets are $10 and sold at the door on the evening of the performance.

~Sponsored by Joan & John Bemis

March 12, 7:00 PM: Colton Peltier performs a solo piano concert.  Colton Peltier, 15 year old pianist, burst upon the music world at the age of 9 when he performed Beethoven’s Concerto #1 with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra in eight young people’s concerts, Marlene Pauley conducting. He was re-engaged almost immediately for the following year, playing Saint-Saens Carnival of the Animals.  In the next year, at age 10, Colton continued to perform with orchestras in Minnesota.  Some of the highlights were playing with the Minnesota Orchestra as the winner of the Minnesota Idol Competition, the Kenwood Symphony as winner of the Mozart Concerto Competition, and traveling to Jackson Hole, WY where he performed with the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra. At age 11, Colton again was engaged for numerous performances: He performed Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the Allegro Con Brio Orchestra and seven times over 6 months with the Minnesota Orchestra, Osmo Vanska conducting. In March of 2007, Colton performed with the Virginia Waring International Competition Orchestra, winning first prize, and the Prokofiev Concerto # 1 with the Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra in three concerts. In May of 2008, he performed Tchaikovsky’s Concerto #1 with the La Mont Symphony in Denver, Colorado. In July of 2008, he performed Shostakovich Piano Concerto #2, movements 2 and 3 with the Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra. He also played Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the Des Moines Symphony on December 31, 2008.  Most recently, in October of 2009, Colton played the Liszt Concerto #1 with the Southeast Iowa Symphony.  Along with Colton’s concerti appearances, he also has performed solo at many venues.  Most recently Colton performed at the “From the Top” gala in Boston, Massachusetts. He also played a recital for the “Friends of the Library” in Rancho Mirage, California and for the “Our Savior’s Fine Arts Council in Hastings, Minnesota.  Also, in the past year, he has played at the Schubert

Club Thursday Afternoon Concert Series, “Salon Se Leve” Concert series and has appeared on National Radio’s “From the Top” in Aspen, CO.  In February, 2008 he appeared at the Virginia Waring Black & White Ball in Rancho Mirage, CA.  This fall, Colton will again be performing on “From the Top” in Ohio as part of their 10 year anniversary show.  He also has been invited to play again in the 2010 Salon Se Leve concert series in Minneapolis.

Colton studies piano with Dr. Paul Wirth of the Central Minnesota Music School and travels to Juilliard in New York City to work with Yoheved Kaplinsky once a month.  He has also received coaching from Stephen Kovacevich and Andre Watts. He attends the Aspen Music Festival in the summers where he studies with Prof. Kaplinsky.  Colton has participated in competitions throughout the last few years.  Some of his highlights are winning the Minnesota Orchestra’s “Minnesota Idol” Concerto Competition, winning the Minneapolis Music Teachers Forum Mozart Concerto Competition and most recently, winning the Virginia Waring International Piano Concerto Competition, Schubert Club competition and Dakota Valley Concerto Competition.  Outside of music, Colton enjoys school, tennis, golf and spending time with his friends and family.

Admission for the general public for this event will be free.

~Please come and enjoy this concert, generously Sponsored by Dr. David and Martha Yocum & Jim and Sally Toffey

April 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 7:00 PM: Romance/Romance. If you remember Forever Plaid with fond memories, then you can begin looking forward to our next venture in the musical theatre genre.  John Goss will be directing himself and Peggy Mundinger in this recent classic.  In nineteenth century Vienna, Alfred von Wilmers and Josephine Benniger are discontent with their lives. He is a wealthy young man, tired of women only wanting him for his money, and she is a woman used to wanting men for their money. Confiding their woes to their respective best friends in letters, they both try various ways to sort out their problems. They each separately decide to dress down and go walking in the park, hoping for something different. They of course meet each other. She pretends to be a poor girl working in a millenary shop, and he tells her he is a starving poet. They each fall madly in love with the others' assumed persona. Can love survive the revelation of the truth?

April 18, 3:00 PM:  Maroon Bel Canto Children's Chorus makes its debut appearance at the Snowmass Chapel. More information to come!

We say a grateful “Thank You” to all of the sponsors of the Winter Concert Series at the Snowmass Chapel:  Aspen Ski Company; Joan & John Bemis; David & Lisa Caldwell; Marcia & John Donnell; Ed & Barbara Eskridge; David & Barbara Gadbaw; Reiner & Mary Klawitter; Bob & Judi Loubier; Larry & Margaret Marsland; Mark & Susan McKeller; Marty & Edgell; Jack Rabinowitz; The Silvertree Hotel; Joan & Virgil Simon; and Jim & Sally Toffey