Left to right, Jon Weber on piano, KT Sullivan, Tim Sullivan, Elizabeth Sullivan and Natalie Douglas. Photo courtesy Carole Howard.
Fans of country singer-songwriter Tim Sullivan and his hugely skilled musical family will want to save the date of Saturday evening, November 2 for a cabaret-style benefit concert in Durango showcasing the musical talents of KT Sullivan and other members of the family, plus two additional special featured performers.
Theme of the event is Broadway in the Rockies.
All concert proceeds go to the Jim and Elizabeth Sullivan Foundation for the Arts to provide scholarships for music lessons, instruments and performance opportunities for local area youth.
The event will take place in the ballroom of the DoubleTree Hotel at 7:30pm.
After the concert there will be an informal reception and jam session with the artists in the DoubleTree’s Animas Lounge. This event is included in the ticket price and all attendees are welcome.
Local scholarship winners
Multiple Pagosa Springs youth have benefited from scholarships from the Sullivan Foundation over the years.
They have included the Pagosa Springs Girls Choir, Kathleen Isberg’s piano student Jovanka Ponce de Leon, and Venita Burch’s voice and piano students Gus Palma, Mark Holladay, Regina Sikes, Connor Thomas and Rachel Berndt.
Concert performers
Tim’s sister KT Sullivan returns to Durango from New York City to perform as the headliner for the concert. She is the star of numerous Broadway productions and an internationally acclaimed singer and recording artist.
KT has sung in several venues in the U.S. including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Spoleto Festival and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., as well as in London, China and Australia. Her theatre credits include Broadway where she starred in Marilyn Monroe’s role of Loralei in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.” She also performed and danced the tango with Sting in “Threepenny Opera.”
Tim Sullivan is well known in Pagosa Springs for his many local performances when the dance floor is jammed with people doing the Texas two-step and line dances to his music, both original and covers of such greats as George Jones and the Eagles. Tim has performed in seven countries. He also has played with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and in Carnegie Hall, and been a featured performer with country stars such as Alan Jackson, Willie Nelson, Vince Gill, Glen Campbell and Tammy Wynette.
In addition to Tim and KT, their mother, Elizabeth Sullivan, returns to Durango from Oklahoma to perform. A brilliant vocalist, songwriter and piano player, Elizabeth is the matriarch of this accomplished musical family. When they were young, her eight children formed the Sullivan Family Gospel Singers with their mother, from whom they learned classical piano and voice as youngsters.
Elizabeth would be a star at any age, but her fans across the country marvel that she still inspires audiences at age 94. The family has reserved Carnegie Hall for her 95th birthday celebration next May.
Also on stage will be award-winning singer and recording artist Natalie Douglas as well as jazz pianist and music director Jon Weber, former host of Piano Jazz on NPR. Both Douglas and Weber have impressive U.S. and international performing credits and have wowed fans in Durango at previous Sullivan family benefit concerts.
Tickets and sponsorships
November 3 marks the 13th Sullivan family scholarship concert. Tickets are $100. Half-sponsor or full-sponsor tables with premium seating are available as well. Purchases may be made online at jesullivanfoundation.com or by emailing jesullivanfoundation@gmail.com or phoning Tim Sullivan at 970-749-5531 for assistance.
All seats are reserved. Seating is cabaret style and a cash bar is available.
Master classes available
While here, the gifted musicians from New York will follow their past tradition by hosting a vocal performance master class for local high school and college-age performers who want to take advantage of their experience and expertise.
The sessions will take place at the DoubleTree Animas Room on Friday, November 1 from 2-5pm and Saturday, November 2 from 10am – 2pm.
Cost is $25 and scholarships are available through the Sullivan Foundation at j.e.sullivanfoundation@gmail.com.
One of the master class participants will be chosen to receive a scholarship from the Sullivan Foundation to perform next year in New York City. Three talented Pagosa musicians have won this prestigious honor — Gus Palma, Allora Leonard and Rachel Berndt. They enjoyed the privilege of singing at the International Cabaret Convention at Lincoln Center.
As well, some of the master class participants will perform at the November 2 concert.