Hard to believe, but back in the 1950s, when my grandparents opened Callaway-Jones, the Brazos Valley was not the vibrant site of the arts in our region that it is today. As we approach this fall’s entertainment opportunities, we have much to be thankful for, particularly the Arts Council of Brazos Valley, founded in 1970.
Many early College Station residents were professors at Texas A&M College (until 1963, when it became a University), and we had occasional concerts in town, but they were not regular events. Several professor’s spouses (virtually all faculty were men) had degrees in music from northeast schools, and they set about bringing classical music to town. It was common in Houston and Dallas, why not here?
Currently we are celebrating the 60th year of the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History, and our two newest museums are the African-American Museum of the Arts (15th anniversary) and the Museum of the American GI (now in 7th year of operation).
In 1990, ten community leaders were interviewed and shared several unique pathways by which a symphony group became reality, how arts programming began on the Texas A&M campus, and how a community choral program would start.
Later on, printed arts, painted arts, and arts productions on stage were added as member groups to this overall umbrella of what is known and thriving today as the Arts Council of Brazos Valley. Down the road, the TAMU MSC OPAS group found strong community support. They staged their own annual galas; later, the BVSO and BV Chorale conducted special fund-raising performances to supplement ticket sales. Many music performances are free today thanks to endowments and gifts left in trust.
The prestige our ACBV member groups have attained is strong. Community volunteers, of which I’m proud to be one, oversee the operations of the ACBV, so the arts can flourish.
This fall, we have an amazing series of performances that are listed in my blog across several of the member groups. Chelsea and I hope you’ll take time to include some of these and explore others in your upcoming schedule. The arts are the heart of the Brazos Valley!
60th Year of the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History, Now through January 2022, Vintage photos, artifacts, and specimens for only a $5 ticket price for adults. Visit https://www.brazosvalleymuseum.org/
Voices from Vietnam: Stories from Those Who Served, Now through September 30, 2021, at the Museum of the American GI, $6 ticket price for adults
Visit https://americangimuseum.org/
40th Season of Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra (BVSO) http://bvso.org This is the 25th year of Music Director Marcelo Bussiki leading the BVSO, another reason to celebrate.
49th Season of MSC Opera and Performing Arts Society (OPAS) with the season theme: “Let’s Get Together” http://www.mscopas.org
New Dawn, New Day, New Life Season, the theme of the season of the Brazos Valley Chorale https://bvchorale.org/
October 11, 2021 BVSO Golf Tournament presented by BMW of College Station
October 17, 2021 BVSO Summer Nights, starring international opera star and College Station native, Sasha Cooke, Rudder Auditorium
October 20, 2921 OPAS with Michael Cavanaugh, described as the “new voice of the American Rock & Roll Songbook” and Broadway star of Piano Man
October 24, 2021 BVC Fall — The Spheres — Kyrie, First Presbyterian Church
November 9,10, 2021 OPAS-Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Rudder Auditorium
November 16, 2021 BVSO Wind Serenades, Rudder Theatre
November 16, 2021 OPAS 7000 Miles to Broadway
November 30, 2021 OPAS The Kingdom Choir
December 3-4 2021 BVSO Premiere Market for the Holidays
December 6, 2021 BVC Christmas — Sunrise —Gloria, First Baptist Bryan
December 12, 2021 BVSO The Holiday Pops Concert, Christ United Methodist Church
January 30, 2022 BVSO The Music of Queen, Rudder Auditorium
February 4,5, 2022 OPAS- Beautiful, The Carole King Musical
February 16,17, 2022 OPAS, Rent
February 27, 2022 BVSO Romantic Piano, Rudder Auditorium, sponsored by the Ham Family Trust
March 6, 2022 BVC — Winter — The City — Credo, First Presbyterian
March 8,9, 2022 OPAS – An Officer and a Gentleman
TBA 2022 BVC — Spring — Identity & The Ground, Sanctus & Agnus Dei
March 28,29, 2022 OPAS – Fiddler on the Roof
March 27, 2022 BVSO Latin Flavor, Rudder Auditorium, sponsored by The Clearfield Family
April 26, 2022 BVSO ABBA The Concert, Rudder Auditorium
May 7, 2022 BVSO Derby Day Gala Fundraisers
May 8, 2022 BVC Identity & The Ground — Sanctus & Agnus Dei, TBD
Just scanning this list quickly, we can quickly conclude that our community is truly blessed to enjoy a full sampling of the very best of the arts across the Brazos Valley. Our deep thanks to all those who worked relentlessly to provide the funding, leadership, and guidance so that we may enjoy all of the wonderful opportunities we have today.
Cody ‘02 and Chelsea ’11 Jones
Owners and Community Members
