You don’t always have to have a night out on the town, standing in line at some large commercial venue, to see a great concert. Turns out you have the same option right around the corner.
The Wildwood Artist Series began in 1991 with the building of the Chautauqua Fine Arts Center, adjacent to Mahtomedi High School. Formed to present performing arts events in the venue, the Wildwood Artist Series now presents four main events annually, with two to three feature events, besides the concert series, each year. The mission is simple: Offer quality, diverse, family-friendly performing arts events and encourage appreciation of the arts in the community.
Wildwood Artist Series president Ellie Bruner knows a thing or two about appreciating music. “I was born into a family that enjoyed singing and playing music together in the home,” says Bruner, who has held her position since the series began. “I took piano and flute lessons as a young child, and voice lessons in my teenage years.”
The Chautauqua Fine Arts Center is a 456-seat venue, with ideal acoustics and sightlines. Equipped with a green room and a large lobby, the venue also includes a 100-seat black box theater, which the Wildwood Artist Series uses for classical music events, piano recitals and student concerts. The black box theater also serves concessions at intermission as audience members enjoy socializing with friends and neighbors.
“Our goals are to present innovative and culturally diverse performing arts events, present emerging and established artists, and to provide guest artist residencies to students,” says Bruner. “We also want to provide performing arts scholarships for students, and to provide affordable admission prices.”
Attendance runs from 1,400 to 2,000 people per year. Performances aside, Bruner sees merit in allowing students to have access to working musicians. “We also feel it’s important to place our evening performers in the schools, so the students have an opportunity to hear and engage with professional artists,” says Bruner.
She also likes that the series appeals to a wide-ranging audience. “We draw from the Twin Cities at large and from Wisconsin,” says Bruner. “Senior citizens also really enjoy coming to our events because they don’t need to drive far, parking is free, and our venue is wheelchair accessible and convenient.”
Local musician Billy McLaughlin first performed there 10 years ago, and has since appeared there in many solo performances and with the Metropolitan Symphony. “What stuck out most to me was the incredible fan base that they have built through years of quality programming,” says McLaughlin. “It doesn’t happen by accident, and not many series that I have been part of come close by comparison.”
The Wildwood Artist Series is steered by a committee, part of the Mahtomedi Area Educational Foundation, of 17 dedicated and able volunteers who sell tickets, serve as ushers, and handle the marketing, PR and fundraising.
But ultimately, it’s all about the experience.
“What all of our patrons enjoy most,” says Bruner, “is the variety of artistic experiences we provide in a given series, including jazz, bluegrass, folk, classical, comedy, choral and dance.”
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Wildwood Artist Series
Chautauqua Fine Arts Center
8000 75th St. N.
Mahtomedi
