A lively Stevie Wonder-themed concert had the crowd foot-tapping, singing and dancing all the way out into the walkways at North Star Theatre on Dec. 29.
The Cordova Arts & Pageants got an early start on ringing in the new year with a holiday concert, “Wonders of Wonder”, by the Dan Mac Band featuring vocalist John “Pypes” Teamer.
In the tribute to the R&B/Soul musical prodigy Stevie Wonder, Teamer sang all covers in their original key.
The concert was one of 12 performances hosted by the Arts & Pageants this year. Musicians and performers traveled to Cordova from across the country and globe including artists from Ireland, South Africa, Texas and more.
The group also hosted 34 movie showings this year.
Last year, the Dan Mac Band’s front man, Dan McElrath, helped Anita Smyke get the piano in Anchorage and helped assemble it in Cordova, said Cordova Arts & Pageants secretary Alyssa Kleissler.
He and his band then played a Cordova Piano Celebration concert, featuring Teamer, on Cordova’s new Shimmel concert grand piano.
This year, Marianne Pitchford’s newly-crafted piano quilt hung behind the ticket tables; names of everyone who purchased a piano key, to help pay for the piano, were added to the quilt.
“The arts are just thriving in Cordova,” Kleissler said.
