Locals were able to sit back and enjoy the great summer weather and listen to a local jazz group during the first show of Platte City Friends of the Arts’ annual Summer Concert Series on Saturday, June 10 in front of the Platte County Courthouse. Joel and Jazz Friends took headlined the event, playing to a crowd of nearly 200 people that attended the show.
Along with jazz music, the audience took part in judging a singing competition between local students. This was the third year a singing competition was held with a $500 scholarship as the first place prize and $25 gift certificates for the runner-ups.
Platte City-Airport Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, which also held a new car and truck show on Main Street during the event, provided funding for the scholarship money.
Contributed photo
Platte City Friends of the Arts chair Susan Anderson, left, and Platte City-Airport Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram general manager Allen Brantley presented scholarships to Platte County graduate Madalyn Ivy, left center, and North Platte graduate Dallas Garber, right center, after they won a singing competition during the event.
However, the audience vote ended up a tie between North Platte High School graduate Dallas Garber and Platte County graduate Madalyn Ivy. Garber, who plans on attending Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Mo. this fall, sang “Who am I” by Jessica Andrews while Ivy sang “Defying Gravity” from the broadway show “Wicked.” Ivy plans on attending Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University in the fall.
Along with the music, a small art show was put together along with a beer and wine tent on 3rd Street. The Main Street businesses were also open during the show for anyone to stop by.
Many sponsors and funding make the concert series possible including the City of Platte City and Platte City Parks and Recreation Department. However, the first show was made possible through a grant from the Missouri Association of Community Arts Agencies. The next two shows will be co-sponsored events.
The remaining shows will be July 9 with classic rock band One Night Stand and will end on August 13 with 1960s music with The Rippers.