A Baroque Evening
Where We've Been
Mary, John, and Kathy
It's
Been
A Grand Journey
Oxford has been the stage for a wide variety of performers and venues for all ages.  They have included the oldies bands Atwood Express and Flashback, country hall of famers Stone Canyon with line dancing, the Beatles' tribute band, The British Beats, children's song writer and folk singer Cindy Kallet, the Robert Rog­ers Puppet Company in Puppets on a String,, the Tanglewood Mario­nettes performing the beloved children's tale Cinderella, and exem­plary choral performances by the Pro Arte Singers and the Duke's Men of Yale.
The overwhelming success of Ex­ploring the Arts, the arts education program, provided classes on sculp­ture and the human figure as viewed by different cultures and a tour of the
Yale Art Gallery; impressionism, landscape and architecture and a visit to the Hill-Stead Museum; opera highlights by the Conn. Opera Co. of Mozart's opera Cosi Fan Tutte and a trip to Hartford's Belding Theatre at the Bushnell for the full operatic per­formance; and a thrilling performance of the award-winning Doubt at the Shubert Theatre.  Exploring the Arts will enter its second season this Fall 2008 with exciting new offerings, including class and tour of the Mark Twain House and a trip to see the musical Big River, winner of 7 Tony Awards, at the Goodspeed Opera House.
The Four Seasons of Art kicked off with gracious yuletide spirit A Ba­roque Evening at Oxford's own S.B. Church Estate (Dec. 2007), hosted by the Morans and featuring dinner and Baroque music by the O'Brien Trio. The Ct State Poet Laureate, John Hollander (March 2008), re­cited his poetry in front of a blazing fireplace to a sold out crowd at the Oxford House. The OCAC was proud to sponsor a performance by the Duke's Men of Yale for our young people at the Oxford High School on April 25, 2008.
The Oxford Cultural Arts Commission (OCAC), established in 1985 by the Town of Oxford and serving under the CT Commission on Culture and Tourism, has paved the way for a cultural renaissance in the Town of Oxford and is building community through the arts. Beginning its journey with the Old Tyme Fair and fiddlers contests and delighting audiences with the Ox­ford Summer Concert Series, the OCAC moved forward in providing scholastic scholarships to budding young artists and year-round offer­ings for Oxford residents and the surrounding com­munities.  But this is just the beginning.
John Hollander
 
OCAC Arts Education
Exploring the Arts
TRILOGY ON TWAIN
MarkTwain House and Museum
One-hour class featuring the author Mark Twain and his unique home. Humorous and fascinating! Class: Sept. 23, Center School, 7:30 p.m. Tour of the Mark Twain House: Sept. 27, 351 Farmington Ave., Hartford, 11:00 a.m. We will carpool to the Mark Twain House Cost: $30.00
Big River at the Goodspeed Opera House
Join Huclkeberry Finn in this award-winning musical! Performance: Oct. 4, 3:00 p.m. Matinee Transportation included to the show Cost: $85.00
Register for the Class, Mark Twain House, and Big River: $100 - a $15 savings! Reserve by August 31 - space limited
British Paintings & Sculpture
One-hour class by an art historian focused on the collection of British art from the end of the Middle Ages followed by a guided tour of the Yale Center for British Art.
Class: Oct. 14, Center School, Oxford, 7:30 p.m. Visit: Oct. 18, 1080 Chapel St., New Haven, 11:00 a.m.
Cost: $18.00
In Motion
Three classical ballet pieces, including the Nutcracker, to be performed at the Oxford Center School Auditorium. A lecture about the dances will precede the performance. Class: Nov. 4, Center School, Oxford, 7:30 p.m. Performance: Nov. 8, Center School, Oxford, 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $18.00
Register with the form on our web site: oxford-ct.gov or at the OCAC Booth at Oxford Days and the Summer Concerts
What's Ahead
On June 7, 2008 come and see the OCAC sponsored children's performance of Music Makin' Mamas at 4:00 p.m. at the Oxford High School Oxford Days. Be sure to visit the OCAC Booth to learn more about the arts in our community!
Our Oxford Holiday Concert will feature Cantabile on Sat., December 6, 2008, 7:00 p.m. at the Cornerstone Assembly of God, Oxford. Reserve Tickets: $15.00
Cantabile
A call to Artists: If you are a visual artist, dancer, musician, or poet, please call or e-mail the OCAC to see how we can help turn your dream into a reality. Also, if you are interested in teaching instrumental lessons, please contact us for more information.
2008 Summer
Concert Series
July 11 - Stone Canyon and line Dancing
An entertaining, high-caliber country dance band known for their exceptional vocals and
musicianship as well as their humor.
July 18 - Moxie
Come and swing to the music of the Andrew Sisters and other music of an era gone by! Performing in costume with full band, Moxie will put a smile on your face and a skip in your step! Sponsored by the Connecticut Community Foundation and the Naugatuck Savings Bank Foundation.
July 25 - Mike Kachuba & Jeff
McQuillan / Magic Show
Children's Performance
Bring the family for an interactive show of Folk Music For Young Folks, great for children of all ages. Follow this with a magic show, and you have a magical combination!
The Free Summer Concerts are every Friday beginning July 11 at the Oxford Center Gazebo 7:30 p.m. Rt. 67 Oxford Rd, Oxford, CT
Bring your own lawn chair or blanket.
August 1- Redstone Ridge
Redstone Ridge performs a spirited and humorous mixture of contemporary bluegrass, folk, and Americana. This group is one of Northwest Connecticut's finest up-and-coming acoustic string bands.
August 8 - The Mystery Tour
The Mystery Tour will take you back to where the British Invasion started - with The Beatles.