Coffee house hosts Americana Reunion concert

The Americana Reunion concert held December 29 was kicked off by project founder and director Brad Tisdel announcing, "This is a very special evening - certainly for me. This is the first annual Americana alumni concert."

The evening brought both graduates and current Americana Project students together to speak to one another in the manner they do best - by song.

Filled with music and song on the cold Friday night just after Christmas, Sisters Coffee Company was a warm and welcoming setting for all to pause and reflect on the enormous amount of talent present in the Sisters area. With a background of a crackling fire and the twinkling Christmas lights, students shared their creativity and musicality with friends, family and all who were fortunate enough to drop by the coffee house for a cup of their favorite brew.

The first performance included Casey Pyke, of the class of 2005, and Sam Pyke, of the class of 2006. From that point forward, the students gave voice to their instruments, and original songs filled the air and brought applause from the large gathering.

Neight Batara, a former Americana student of the class of 2006, was one of the 10 or so students who were in Sisters for the holidays. He plays both the guitar and banjo to accompany his vocals, which include both original works and published music. He is currently studying at COCC in Bend with a focus on music and had brought his guitar for the event.

Sisters resident and Americana Project parent Jack Nagel was impressed with how, through the years, the young men and women have taken their musical gifts and refined their performances.

He said, "The kids have really improved. They were already good, but they are really good now. It (the reunion concert) is a great idea and should be at least an annual event."

Nagel reflected about how the Americana Project has a flavor that brings students together and develops friendships that survive the test of time.

"They were pretty tight friends," he said. "I think they will get together this summer and do some things. If Brad (Tisdel) doesn't organize something, the young people will do it themselves."

Then his son, Benji Nagel from the class of 2006, moved forward to perform, and Nagel was off, jockeying for a good position to listen.

Other Americana alumni who performed were Raman Ellis from the class of 2006, Kerani Mitchell from the class of 2004, Justin Little from the class of 2003 and Anna Morton who Tisdel believes was in the class of 2004.

Joy Durham, owner of Sisters Coffee Company, was one of the many who were gathered for the concert.

She said, "I think it is a wonderful thing for our community. I think our young people being able to come back home at Christmas time and the college kids to be able to get together - it's special."

As Durham's eyes beamed with pride, her daughter Jesse, a former Americana student, was about to take to the stage.

For the visitors from outside the area, the Americana Project concert came as a welcome surprise and even created some inspiration.

Dan DeLand was visiting the area from Sunriver. "I'm loving it. I am very inspired by it, and I am just amazed by the variety of the music and the quality of it," he said.

Mike Johnson was visiting Sisters for the holidays, having traveled here from Portland. He found the concert by accident. He had merely stopped by for a cup of coffee before driving back over to the valley and was so impressed he decided to stay and listen to the performance.

Johnson was unfamiliar with the Americana Project but thought it should be in every school if what he was seeing and hearing is what it can produce.

"This is nothing short of amazing. Cool doesn't even begin to describe it," he said. He looked at his watch and decided he needed to leave. However, he stalled at the door to listen to one more song before he departed.