Next week’s jazz performance is one of them
~by Denise Van, for Beta Tau Delta
Since the late 1930s, Beta Tau Delta, a Jefferson group that has raised funds to help Greene County children, has brought fun to town.
Founded in Jefferson in 1917, the women’s group held its first Charity Ball in 1937. The formal dance, complete with a Grand March, was the social highlight of the holiday season and was the group’s major fundraiser for more than 70 years. Funds raised at the event bought winter coats, boots and other items for needy kids. The final Charity Ball was held in 2008. A “virtual” ball has taken its place, with supporters donating funds for make-believe decorations and music.
In recent years, the group has broadened its appeal, presenting concerts that attract a wide range of local residents.
The group’s latest – and biggest – fundraising venture takes place on the evening of Thursday, April 9, at the Greene County Middle School with the appearance of New York City’s Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and members of Jefferson’s “First Family of Jazz,” the children of Jack and Marcella Oatts. Jack Oatts taught music at the local high school from 1966 to1985.
Tickets to the concert are on sale at The Printer’s Box and Home State Bank.
In days gone by, the Betas spent weeks decorating their dance venues and selling tickets.
Today, they arrange for big-time entertainment. The Betas have brought internationally known bass-baritone Simon Estes to town, as well as his South African High School Chorus. Five by Design, a jazz quintet, played here in 2013.
What does it take to put together a fancy dance…or a big concert?
Lots of woman power.
“Take a group of women who are committed to raising funds and developing and supporting programs to benefit Greene County youth, and no challenge is too big,” says longtime Beta member Carole Custer, who has been in charge of marketing the concerts.
While the women had organizational and event-planning skills to organize the community’s successful annual Charity Ball for years, the idea of hosting musical events was a new challenge, she said.
“We had to learn about complicated professional contracts, decorating locker rooms to meet the needs of professional musicians, turning a gymnasium into a concert venue, finding overnight accommodations for African choir members, timing rehearsal schedules, understanding specific lighting and sound requirements, tuning grand pianos, learning special dietary requirements and restrictions of singers and instrumentalists, tracking down musicians who were on tour all over the world, and seeking financial support from area businesses and organizations,” she explained.
The women have become ushers, stage designers, hosts for musician family members and publicity experts. They make arrangements to showcase local musical talent for pre-concert performances.
They also seek out “angels” for these large events, and this year, that list includes almost 20 contributors, headed by presenting sponsors–Home State Bank, McFarland Clinic and West Central Cooperative.
True to their mission of providing educational and cultural opportunities for all Greene County kids, Beta members have secured exceptional experiences for them as well. Explains Custer, “The opportunity to sing with Simon Estes? To hear his story of growing up in Centerville, Iowa, and his professional accomplishments? High school students singing with the Estes choir and hosting singers in their homes?”
This time around, local high school students will interact with the professional jazz musicians in the 16-member Vanguard Orchestra and with the Oatts kids–Dick, Jim and Sue, who have made careers in music. Greene County High School’s Jazzatonics jazz choirs gets to perform before the concert, and their Jazz Band counterparts with get to mingle with all the jazz pros.
The Betas have worked for two years to put together the April 9 concert, said Sue Richardson, another longtime Beta member. She cited the Oatts family and local sponsors for making the idea a reality. “We couldn’t have done it without them,” she said.
“This will be a great opportunity for Greene County residents to experience a really high level of musicianship,” Richardson said. “These musicians perform around the world. To be able to see them in a small Iowa town is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
