CONTACT: Gary Sanders at 435-627-4525
Community Arts Administrator
City of St. George
47 East 200 North
St. George, UT 84770
Email to: artadmin@sgcity.org
City of St. George
Community Arts Division
Press Release
The City of St. George presents…
Concert in the Park 2012 Series – Second Monday of Each Month
April through September – Admission is Free
Arvel Bird – May 14, 2012
Celtic Violinist/native American Flutist
Celtic Fusion
Centennial Park – 301 N 2200 E, St. George
Arvel Bird, a masterful violinist and Native American flutist, is known around the world for his dramatic connection between Celtic and Native American traditions, stirring up scenes that echo from North American memory. Dubbed “Lord of the Strings” by fans and music critics, his music evokes the soul of North American history and is thoroughly entertaining, but also enlightening and humanizing. In a language and experience that captures the hearts of all audiences, he’s emotional without being condescending, intellectual without being pretentious.
Bird’s first private violin teacher in Salt Lake City saw his early potential. She brought the magic of music to life and taught him to play with passion. Bird attended Arizona State University on a music scholarship, and later transferred to Champagne/ Urbana, IL, where he studied classical violin with renowned Hungarian violinist Paul Roland at the University of Illinois.
As he worked to develop his own music style and a large and loyal following, Bird went wherever the music called him, which led him away from classical and toward Bluegrass, Appalachian, Folk and Celtic. During his years in the Midwest, Bird won the Indiana State Fiddle Contest four times while still perfecting a variety of musical styles.
Bird returned to Arizona in 1986 and was quickly hired by Glen Campbell to tour worldwide for six years. In 1991, he moved to Nashville and also toured with Loretta Lynn, Tom T. Hall, Ray Price, Louise Mandrell, Clay Walker, and others.
His dream to record and perform using the violin as a lead instrument – completely contrary to the Nashville view of the fiddle as a backup or side-musician instrument – began in 2001. The result was a fusion of both his Scottish (Clan Kennedy) and Native American (Southern Paiute) roots that is uniquely his own and intricately woven throughout his songs. Bird has released 20 CDs and 2 DVDs, earning him many music awards in Canada and the United States, from Best Producer to Best Instrumental album and Artist of the Year.
His continuously evolving music is delighting audiences worldwide. His most recent album, Titanic Centennial: Commemorative Special Edition, released in January 2012, is a fusion of traditional cultural music in honor of the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Although based in Nashville, TN, Bird is permanently on the road, connecting with audiences the old-fashioned way. . . live. . .where Arvel’s emotionally driven performances thrive, igniting concert venues, symphony halls, festivals and more, leaving his audiences inspired, transfixed and transformed.
Sponsored by the Utah Commission of the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, & the City of St. George. Concert in the Park 2010 Series is free to the public. Don’t miss the second Monday of each month April through September. Park seating is available, bring blankets, lawn chairs, food and the family. For more information call 627-4525.
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