Who Are These People?

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Officers
President - Wallace Rave
V.  President - H. Robert Homann
Secretary - Skip Cary
Treasurer - Sandy Wash

Board Members
Nancy Bilensky
Rayna Palmer
Don Parker
Thomas Preiss
LeRoy Wolter

Artistic Director
Dr. Jack Kukuk

Tickets and Information
Canyon Rose Storage
6405 S. Kings Ranch Road
Gold Canyon, AZ 85218
Phone 480-983-2171
Fax     480-983-3325

Apache Junction Chamber
        of Commerce
567 W. Apache Trail
Apache Junction, AZ 85220
Phone 480-982-3141


Formed in 1998, the Gold Canyon Arts Council presents a fine arts concert series, Canyon Sounds, from November to March. Designed to affordably meet the needs of the far East end of the Valley of the Sun, the programs vary from traditional classical chamber music to ethnic and folk performances with indigenous instruments. Past seasons featured blues, jazz, and theater as well. Performances are held at the United Methodist Church of Gold Canyon through a cooperative agreement. The excellent acoustics of this facility make it an ideal venue for music and theater appreciation.

In January, the council sponsors the Canyon Arts Festival celebrating the artists and the cultures that define and grace our area. The festival promotes both the visual and performing arts while facilitating fund raising for other community organizations. Since its inception in 2001, the festival has become a signature community event.

Many of the artists performing in the series also accept our challenge to bring the fine arts to the youth of the community. School residencies are carried out in cooperation with Apache Junction, Superior, Miami, Globe, Coolidge, Ray (Hayden), and the San Carlos Apache school districts and with local community colleges. The ability to interact with youth in this fashion is a key criterion for artist selection.

Artistic Director Dr. Jack Kukuk served as Director of Education for the Kennedy Center For the Performing Arts, produced festivals and performances across the country and internationally, and came to Arizona as Managing Director of the Festival of the Sun in Tucson. A resident of Gold Canyon, Jack also is President and Executive Director of the International Society for Children's Choral and Performing Arts, his most rewarding endeavor.