Wonderful concerts, amazing music and talented artists... Take some strong support from the community, add some hard working volunteers and voila! The Dryden Entertainment Series.
 

Current chair Wendy Wiedenhoeft spoke to Rotarians recently about how DES started in the 1960’s with Keith and Elsie Humphrey, with a short hiatus in the 70’s to the grand opening of the Centre for Performing Arts in 2004.

 

Its mandate is to “present performing events featuring emerging and established Canadian artists while remaining fiscally responsible.” DES is also expanding its audience by encouraging performers to visit local elementary and secondary schools to meet the students, conduct mini concerts or provide workshops. Recently Canadian sensation Shyanne Hovorka took the opportunity to visit the Dryden Native Friendship Centre before her concert with the Thunder Bay ImageOrchestra at the Centre.

 

DES produces eight concerts a season. It takes about a year to prepare and it starts with the job of the programmer to attend Ontario Contact, a venue where many performers provide a sample of their talent and book engagements. To bring the highest quality talent to this area takes some strength in numbers. Representatives from Dryden, Sioux Lookout, Fort Frances, Atikokan, Red Lake, Geraldton, Manitouwadge, Thunder Bay, and Kenora put their heads together and collectively make a wish list before striking a deal with an agent or artist.

 

That strategy becomes very tantalizing to quality performers who are able to book an entire tour in northwestern Ontario well in advance. Once the bookings are in place the DES committee members begin the task each spring of securing sponsors and selling season’s tickets.

 

Wendy made it clear that DES relies on its own revenue sources and does not receive funding from the city. It does not run a deficit since it needs advance funding to book the artists for the following year.  There are, however, some challenges ahead with respect to maintaining subscriptions, growing the audience and keeping the costs for concert goers affordable.

Visit the DES website @ http://www.drydenentertainmentseries.ca/index.html