Community Concerts brings impressive performances to our valley
For a remarkable 89 years, the Wenatchee Community Concert Association has been putting on first-rate, affordable professional music events in the valley. On Feb. 10 at 7pm they will sponsor The Swon Brothers at the Wenatchee High School auditorium.
The Swon Brothers are known for their seamlessly smooth, tight-knit sibling harmonies. They were thrilling audiences long before their appearance on national television on The Voice. They have garnered nominations from the Country Music Association and the CMA and CMT Music Awards. They co-wrote Blake Shelton’s album, Body Language. Their concert includes covers by the country stars that inspired them as well as a few of their own original recordings.
I chatted recently with Maria Diaz, the co-president for Wenatchee Community Concerts to learn more about the organization. Diaz, who got her start in theater as a Wenatchee High School student, went on to a career as a stage manager for various venues, including the
Seattle Repertory Theatre.
When she and her husband returned to the Wenatchee Valley, she volunteered for a Wenatchee Community Concert board position. Along with the board members they have been working to expand their audience.
In the early days of Wenatchee Community Concerts, the Liberty Theater hosted those performances, according to Diaz. After the Wenatchee High School building was erected in the early 1970s, they shifted the concerts to the school auditorium, which is by far the largest venue in the valley.
Many professional music groups got their start performing these community concerts, including The Chicks, The Brothers Four and the Kingston Trio, said Diaz. So these are high quality performances.
Like many community organizations these days, Wenatchee Community Concerts is trying to appeal to community members of all ages to build its membership base back to the membership levels in the 1960s and 70s when these concerts were drawing 800 or more audience members.
One of the challenges is that the performances are “one and done,” with groups performing one night and then off to the next city for their next concert. “We don’t get the advantage of word of mouth because they’re here for one day and then they’re gone.” Diaz said she often hears audience members exclaim that the concert they just saw was the best one Wenatchee Community Concerts has ever had.
Diaz’s career as a stage manager for productions ended when her sight started failing. “I can’t see well and my mobility is limited, so being backstage in a theater is not the safest place for me to be anymore,” she said. Instead, she has kept her hand in theater by serving on the boards of various theatres and, of course, being an eager audience member.
Including the Feb. 10 performance of the Swon Brothers, there are three concerts left in this season. On March 29, performers Analisa and John will perform “The Italian American Dream,” and on Apr. 19, Steve Leslie will perform James Taylor songs.
Tickets for individual performances are $35 for adults and $10 for students. The 2026-27 season will be announced soon. At that time a season ticket for all five concerts will cost just $125 for adults and $25 for students.We are fortunate that Wenatchee Community Concerts continues to put on tremendous shows at reasonable prices in our valley. Next year, they’ll be celebrating their 90th year. For more information, check out wenatcheeconcerts.org or the Wenatchee Community Concert Association on Facebook.
