The Gold Canyon Arts Council (GCAC), now in its 22nd year, has reached nearly 100,000 audience members through its annual concert performance season of world class artists, the annual Gold Canyon Arts Festival and the dozens of in-school concerts as well as workshops and masterclasses it offers free of charge each year for thousands of students in Maricopa, Pinal and Gila Counties.
Some of the groups the council has presented for its public audiences and in the schools have included the Russian String Orchestra, the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, Opera Arizona, Spanish Brass, the Italian Saxophone Quartet, Disney’s Side Street Strutters, the Kingston Trio, the Lettermen, the Four Freshmen Broadway stars, mime artists, modern and folkloric dance, one-person dramatic shows and much more.
One of the most important components of GCAC is it’s in-school residency programs presented by the professional artists of the Canyon Sounds Performance Season. These world class artists travel to the schools with members of the council’s school residency committee members to present performances, workshops and master classes to students in grades kindergarten through high school.
In 2001, GCAC expanded it’s school residency program to schools in the San Carlos, Globe, Miami and Superior school districts.
During that time 72 residency activities have been presented to more than 7,500 students in these schools. Dozens of students have participated in the ongoing Lead Guitar and visual arts programs offered by GCAC.
