Creede Musical Arts Collective launches and announces its inaugural season
In the mountains of Creede, Colorado, a new voice is emerging. The Creede Musical Arts Collective (CMAC) officially announces the birth of its organization, launching its inaugural season of festivals in the summer of 2022. CMAC co-founders (and husband and wife duo) Megan Marin and Michael Mayes were eager to return to Creede from their early summer 2021 residency with bluegrass-fusion band, Midnight Cricket Club at the Creede Hotel & Restaurant. Inspired by the peaceful and scenic town and their meaningful engagement with the arts-loving community, they have formed a new 501c3 to provide Creede and its surrounding regional audience with endless genres of musical arts explored with performances and workshops. accessible, affordable and artistically excellent.
John Arpformer Creede Repertory Theater actor, now Executive Chef and General Manager of the Creede Hotel & Restaurant, expressed his enthusiasm for the project: “The Musical Arts Collective is a great opportunity to attract high caliber artists from across the country to enrich further the arts community here at Creede. It’s a great catalyst to contribute to the highly respected arts community that’s been growing here, with organizations, like the Creede Repertory Theater, for over 55 years! This population knows and appreciates the Beaux -Arts – this is a real gem in the remote mountains of Colorado. What a fun playground for this initiative.”
CMAC’s inaugural 2022 season kicks off with a private fundraiser on July 15. All proceeds from the event will support CMAC’s mission to bring international talent to Creede each summer. Member of the CCMC Board of Directors Bill Smith and his wife Teri will host the evening in their home, which overlooks the sources of the Rio Grande. The intimate evening will include a concert by the acclaimed tenor Jack Swanson and pianist Steven Aguiló-Arbues, with catering by The Creede Hotel & Restaurant. Tickets are available through Eventbrite.
CMAC’s season highlights a stellar roster of artists who will converge on Creede over two weekends – August 12-14 and September 2-4. Most of these musicians will also perform with Santa Fe Opera, the nation’s premier summer opera festival. Artists will deliver innovative performances spanning a range of genres, including classical, jazz, American standards, bluegrass and country. Each weekend will include a series of four larger-scale recitals and concerts (60-75 minutes per presentation) and two to four shorter (10-20 minutes) free pop-up events in outdoor spaces, all in easily accessible and visible places. around the city. Among CMAC’s core values are affordability and accessibility for all. The initial cost for ticketed events will be $15 general admission, with further discounted options for local children as resources become available.
The roster of artists joining Creede Musical Arts Collective in the summer of 2022 includes Alexandra LoBianco (soprano), Jeremy Reger (collaborative pianist), Benjamin Krug (cello), Sara Gartland (soprano), Grace Browning (harp), Michael Mayes (Baritone/Guitar), Megan Marino (Mezzo-Soprano/Keyboards), John Arida (Collaborative Piano), Jack Swanson (tenor), KC Groves (singer/instrumentalist) and Steven Aguiló-Arbues (collaborative piano). Performance venues and partnerships announced are Creede Hotel & Restaurant, Sunnyside Chapel and Creede Arts Council’s Music in the Park series.
For more information, to purchase tickets or make a tax-deductible donation, visit creedemusicalartscollective.org.
