Stellar program set for Starry Nights

Vince Gill.

The Sixth Annual Sisters Starry Nights Concert Series will bring Hal Ketchum, Vince Gill and Amy Grant and Karla Bonoff to the Sisters High School stage this winter.

All performers donate their time to help support the Sisters Schools Foundation. The concert series is the financial linchpin of the foundation, which helps support academic and co-curricular programs in Sisters schools.

The series kicks off on Saturday, February 2 with the music of Hal Ketchum, acclaimed both for his song writing talents and a voice that USA Today calls "one of country music's most expressive."

Among his credits are such hits as "Small Town Saturday Night," "Past the Point of Rescue," "Stay Forever," "Hearts Are Gonna Roll," and most recently, the single "She Is." A member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1994, Ketchum has been called the "poet laureate of country music."

Two of the music world's brightest stars, Vince Gill and Amy Grant, will make their Central Oregon debuts on Saturday, February 16. Gill's extensive list of honors includes winning more Grammy Awards than any other country artist, and winning the most Country Music Awards, thanks to such hits as "When I Call Your Name," "Never Knew Lonely," "I Still Believe In You" and "The Heart Won't Lie."

In her 25-year career, Amy Grant has sold more than 20 million records, won five Grammy Awards and 22 Dove Awards--including "Artist of the Year" four times. Grant's hits include "Find A Way," "Lead Me On," "Baby Baby," "House of Love," "Next Time I Fall," and "Lucky One."

For the finale, Sisters Starry Nights favorite Karla Bonoff will be back on the Sisters stage after a three-year hiatus on Friday, March 1, joined by longtime collaborator Kenny Edwards.

Events organizers note that Bonoff's show on March 1 is the first time the series has scheduled a Friday date.

"Karla was already booked for a show in Oregon on March 2, and offered to come early and do our show on Friday," said Starry Nights co-chair Jeri Fouts. "It made it very economical for the event and allows us to earn more for the schools doing it this way."

Fouts adds that the three shows will take place two weeks apart this year in order to accommodate the busy schedules of this year's artists. Opening acts, to be announced in December, will include both comedy and musical performers.

In its first five years, the event has raised nearly $250,000 in net proceeds and helped fund a wide range of arts, music, sports, technology and other programs that were facing budget cuts due to limits in state funding.

General admission tickets go on sale at Leavitt's Western Wear in Sisters on Saturday, January 12, and will be limited to four per person. For sponsorship information, contact Novella Swisher by e-mail at [email protected]