Twelve Day Festival Saluting the Best of Texas Fine Art and Fine Texas Wines

CONROE, TX - The 4th Annual Rising Stars and Legends of Texas will be presented in various venues throughout Downtown Conroe beginning Thursday, March 12th through Saturday March 21st offering opportunities for the public to experience the arts organizations represented by the Greater Conroe Arts Alliance (GCAA). This year the event is highlighting the Best of Texas Art and Wines with legendary musicians, artists, and poets as recognized by the Texas Commission of the Arts. Each member organization is invited to present their own unique fine art, poetry, theatrical presentations, cinematography, music compositions, instrumental music, choral performances, and Texas history through live performances during the event in Downtown Conroe venues.

The Greater Conroe Arts Alliance represents 17 non-profit organizations in the Conroe area: Christian Youth Theatre, Conroe Art League, Conroe Live, Conroe Symphony Orchestra, Crighton Theatre Foundation, Friends of the Flag Foundation, Heritage Museum of Montgomery County, Jazz Connection, Montgomery County Choral Society, Montgomery County Genealogical and Historical Society, Montgomery County Historical Commission, Montgomery County Literary Arts Council, The Players Theatre Company, Sounds of Texas Music Series, Stage Right of Texas, The Woodlands Show Chorus, and the Young Texas Artists Music Competition.

Two events will anchor the event from the beginning to the end March 12-March 21. Houston Black and White 4 x 5 Photographer, Gary Watson will display an exhibit at 202 Main Street throughout the event and Conroe Art League’s 5th Madeley National Art Show will exhibit 684 pieces of artwork at their gallery located at 127 Simonton Street. Carrie Fountain, 2019 Texas State Poet Laureate, starts out the evening Thursday hosted by the Montgomery County Literary Arts Society.

Thursday, March 12-Saturday, March 14 preliminaries for each division of the 36th Annual Young Texas Artists Music Competition (string, piano, voice, winds, brass, percussion, harp, and guitar) will take place at the Crighton Theatre advancing individuals to the finals on Saturday, March 14 at 7:30pm. Public is invited to view any of the preliminaries at no charge, with tickets to the finals available at www.CrightonTheatre.org.

The Bach, Beethoven, and BBQ Annual Fundraiser event boosts the “Rising Stars and Legends of Texas” on March 14th benefiting the Young Texas Artists Music Competition. The nationally acclaimed official State of Texas musical competition is open to 18-32 year old Texas musicians competing in the finals. Reception begins at 5:00pm at the street tent Downtown, then continues to the tent in the street in front of Martin’s to continue with dinner, dancing and a live auction. The entire package of events including the After Party Dance can be purchased at www.ytamc.com/bach-beethoven-barbecue.

As a special edition playing at the Crighton Theatre on Sunday, March 15 for a 3pm matinee performance only, Montopolis’s, an acclaimed indie chamber music group from Austin, Texas, will perform The Legend of Big Bend with the works of composer Justin Sherburn.  Montopolis combines original music with film and live interaction storytelling in an audience-engaging, multi-media event.

Rising Stars and Legends of Texas (RSLT) continues on Tuesday, March 17 with the very popular Gospel Night - a History of Gospel Music with all genres of gospel music from spiritual, cowboy, traditional. classical, and contemporary music from the beginning of the ages to current time. Music starts at 7:30pm at First Baptist Church of Conroe. Here from many choral groups, church choirs, ensembles, and duos bring a night of music with a love offering to benefit the GCAA.

The finale and most coveted show will be hosted by dynamic Robin Williams impersonator, David Born on Friday, March 20th at the Crighton Theatre with a 2018 Best of Texas Musician Marcia Ball. Marcia is a Texas-born, Louisiana-raised pianist, songwriter and Rhythm and Blues vocalist with 5 Grammy Award Nominations. She stirs up the energy in the room with “rollicking, playful, good time blues and intimate reflective balladry” according to Rolling Stone Magazine.

The week concludes with a culmination of many of the organizations participating in interactive events Saturday, March 21 beginning at 8:00am at Founder’s Plaza Park with Chalk Up Conroe and ending with a wine tasting, quartets, a Children’s Theatre Workshop by the Players Theatre Company, and a final guest appearance at the new venue, 202 Main Street.

Many events are free to the public. Any of the events at the Crighton Theatre or the Owen Theatre will have a fee attached from $5 to $30. Exceptions are the YTA Bach, Beethoven, and Barbeque Dinner.

Week Events to Date:
Thursday, March 12
- Black and White Photo Exhibit opens at 202 Main Street through March 21
- Conroe Art League’s 5 th National Madeley Art Show opens through March 28 at Madeley Art Gallery
- 9:00am Preliminaries for YTA-Wind, Brass, Harp, and Guitar at Crighton Theatre
- **7:00pm Texas Poet Laureate at 202 Main

Friday, March 13
- 9:00am Preliminaries for YTA- Strings Division at Crighton Theatre
- 2:30pm Preliminaries for Voice Division at Crighton Theatre
- 8:00pm Little Shop of Horrors opening performance at the Owen Theatre

Saturday, March 14
- 9:00am Preliminaries for YTA Piano Division at Crighton Theatre
- 5:00-7:00pm Bach, Beethovan and Barbeque Dinner, dancing and auction to benefit YTA at Martin’s Hall (RSVP Required)
- **7:30pm Young Texas Artists Competition Finals at the Crighton Theatre. Tickets available at CrightonTheatre.org
- 8:00pm Little Shop of Horrors opening performance at the Owen Theatre

Sunday, March 15
- 2:00pm Little Shop of Horrors opening performance at the Owen Theatre
- **3:00pm The Legend of Big Bend by Montopolis at the Crighton Theatre

Tuesday, March 17
- 7:30pm Gospel Night at First Baptist Church

Wednesday, March 18
- 8:00pm FREE SHOWING- Selections from Little Shop of Horrors by Players Theatre company at Owen Theatre

Friday, March 20
- 8:00pm Best of Texas Musician Marcia Ball at the Crighton Theatre, hosted by David Born (Robin Williams impersonator)
- 8:00pm Little Shop of Horrors opening performance at the Owen Theatre

Saturday, March 21
- 8:00am-Noon Chalk Up Conroe, presented by the Greater Conroe Arts Alliance
- Noon -Jazz Connection at Founder’s Plaza Park
- 1:00pm-4:00pm Heritage Museum Displays and Interactive activities
- 1:00pm Celaire String Band on Eastside of Courthouse Steps
- 1:30pm Bourbon & Laundry LIVE Radio show at 202 Main
- 2:00pm-5:00pm- Children’s Theatre Workshop at Owen Theatre-must register in advance!
- 2:00pm-7pm Texas Wine Tasting with Conroe Symphony Orchestra quartets/duos at 202 Main
- 2:30 pm Chikawa Aztec Dancers at Founder’s Plaza Park
- 4:00pm Celaire String Band at Founder’s Plaza Park
- 8:00pm Little Shop of Horrors at the Owen Theatre

Learn more about Greater Conroe Arts Alliance by visiting the website at www.greaterconroeartsalliance.com/calendar-of-events/ or follow them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/Greater-Conroe-Arts-Alliance.

Photos