Wednesday Music Club supports Inspirational Point Fine Arts Colony

Wednesday Music Club members Laura Beth Cunningham, left, and Anita Blackmon, right, promote a fund-raising concert at the Kennett Presbyterian Activity Center. Photo provided

The Wednesday Music Club will be working for the arts on Saturday, Nov. 7, as the group sponsors a fund-raising drive for the South Central Region Summer Music Center at Inspirational Point Fine Arts Colony (IPFAC).

The concerts is being held in celebration of IPFAC's 60th year and to raise funds for the building of a new theater, camp renovations, and scholarships.

According to members, the Wednesday Music Club's support of IPFAC began in the 1960's with the work of Beulah Hale McHaney, whose generosity and enthusiasm inspired other club members to join in support of the music camp.

In 1928, Charles Moyers, an architectural engineer from Germany, purchased land in the Arkansas Ozarks near Eureka Springs.

Moyer began building a castle styled after the ones he knew in the Rhine River valley.

In 1932, the property and unfinished structure was purchased by a Christian missionary, Charles Reign Scoville, who completed construction on the castle and named it "Inspiration Point." Following his death in 1938, Scoville's widow donated the property to Phillips University of Enid, Okla.

Today, known as "Inspiration Point Fine Arts Colony," the structure is utilized as an opera and music drama summer workshop for youth.

The concert event, which is being held in conjunction with the Parade of American Music, will take place at the Kennett Presbyterian Activity Center, kicking off with the Blackmon Prelude Juniors, who will perform at 10:30 a.m., followed by a 12-noon sampling of the music usually presented at IPFAC.

Other noon performances include a piano solo by Jade Caldwell, who has twice attended the Piano/String Camp at IPFAC, and performed in its Solo Competition and in both the 2008 and 2009 Monster Concert Ensembles; a performance by tenor Limmie Pulliam, a graduate of world-renowned Oberlin Conservatory of Music; Robin McClellan, who is returning from Nashville, Tenn., to sing at the event, will be accompanied on the piano by Daryl Wilcoxson. Also scheduled are the flute duo of Pam Mercier and Libby Mobley and the Popcorn Girls' Piano Trio.

A finalé will close the show at 1 p.m., with a performance by the Caldwell Keyboard Kids.

At 11:30 a.m., a walk will be held around the Kennett Middle School track, entitled, "I'd Walk a Mile for IPFAC." Sponsorship for the walkers is encouraged, as are walking teams. All walkers will receive a small prize.

A luncheon will be held with food available for a suggested donation of $5. Family lunches will be available for a donation of $15. Food will be donated by the Grecian Steak House, Subway, Walmart, and Michelle. All money collected will go directly to IPFAC.

For more information, contact Anita Blackmon at (573) 888-3998.

The National Federation of Music Clubs observes American Music Month annually in November through the Parade of American Music.