On Wednesday, April 23 at 7:00pm, Carpe Diem Arts in partnership with St. Michaels Community Center, will present a community concert at St. Michaels Auditorium, featuring the award-winning duos Magpie (Greg Artzner and Terry Leonino) and Kim & Reggie Harris – in celebration of Earth Day and in tribute to the legacy of Pete Seeger. Opening the evening will be Chris Noyes, known far and wide for her angelic voice and great taste in songs, and for her years of teaching and performing in Talbot County.
Tickets are made available on a pay-what-you-can basis, with suggested donation of $5-$15 for adults, and free for children. Tickets will be available at the door.
Kim & Reggie Harris: Consummate musicians and storytellers, Kim and Reggie Harris combine a strong folk and gospel legacy with a solid background in classical, rock, jazz and pop music. Creative curiosity, years of road and stage experience and interactions with performers such as Pete Seeger, Ysaye Barnwell, Jay Leno, Tom Paxton, Bernice Johnson Reagon, Harry Belafonte and others, has led them to produce music that entertains and inspires.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, a city rich in cultural and musical heritage, Kim and Reggie’s early exposure to the diversity of musical styles and genres was nurtured in the schools and churches of their youth.
Audiences at venues such as The Kennedy Center, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Smithsonian Institute, Reunion Arena in TX, the Psalm Festival in Graz, Austria, as well as a myriad of theatre arts centers, festivals, universities and schools, have given this inspiring duo standing ovations for their vibrant performances.
Magpie: Terry Leonino and Greg Artzner began to play music together in Kent, Ohio in September of 1973. They chose the name Magpie for their band, a name which grew in personal significance for them as years went by. Terry was a student in her senior year at Kent State University in the fall of ’73, and when she graduated the following spring, she and Greg packed Greg’s VW bus and moved to the Washington, DC area. In the years since then, they have traveled and toured extensively, performed in concerts, at folk clubs and festivals around the world, and recorded many times.
Terry’s voice is a truly impressive instrument, not only because of its natural power, but also because of her versatility. She is a gifted singer of jazz and blues in the tradition of Connie Boswell and Billie Holiday, but is equally comfortable with the subtle beauty of traditional folk and contemporary songs. Add to this her uncanny ability to find the perfect harmony line, and, in a powerful blend of their two voices, you have a real treat for the ear. As if this weren’t enough, Terry is also an excellent player of the harmonica, mandolin, fretted dulcimer, and rhythm guitar.
Greg is an outstanding guitarist whose fingerstyle approach owes a lot to his heroes, guitar legends such as Reverend Gary Davis, Big Bill Broonzy, Nick Lucas, Phil Ochs, and Rolly Brown. His playing is the solid basis of Magpie’s sound, providing whatever is called for, whether it be a hard-driving rhythm, or a ringing lyrical beauty. From a slow Scots air or a plaintive ballad to a rollicking ragtime blues or infectious swing, Greg covers it all. His high baritone voice has equal range and his captivating interpretation gives power and beauty to the full spectrum, from growling blues, to a Chilean lament, to a sweet croon.
From the beginning Terry and Greg’s interests in various musical styles have led them to be eclectic in their repertoire. Rather than confine themselves to a single style, Magpie has always embraced a musical rainbow, and with impressive proficiency in each different genre. From traditional, classic country, swing, and blues of the nineteen twenties and thirties, to contemporary songs written by themselves and others, Terry and Greg cover a lot of musical ground.
Terry and Greg are internationally known for their musical work in the environmental movement. Throughout their career, they have devoted a tremendous amount of their time, energy, and music to environmental causes. They are considered to be among the very best in this field of music and their performances are in great demand by environmental action and education organizations. Their musical work has supported the work of such notable groups as National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, the National Wildlife Refuge System, the National Park Service, and Hudson River Sloop Clearwater. Earth Day 1998 found them performing at Harpers Ferry National Park where their well-known anthem, “We Belong to the Earth” was a perfect finale to a speech by President Clinton. They have been featured presenters for statewide environmental education associations around the country.
The April 23rd concert is made possible by the Carpe Diem Arts Outreach Fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, St. Michaels Community Center, and by the Talbot County Arts Council with support from the Talbot County Council and the Maryland State Arts Council – with additional in-kind support from Talbot County Public Schools.
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