(Riverton, WY) – Hot Notes | Cool Nites Concerts in the Park will be performing in the Riverton City Park tonight, July 12th, at 7:00 pm. Dr. Jeremy Cochran, CWC’s Band Director, having taken the reigns of the music department just this year, will be conducting the community band.
This third concert of the 2021 season will feature guest artist, Marla and the Stingers. New to the Hot Notes concert series, the group is from Casper. However, one of the musicians, Heidi Perret is from Riverton and currently teaches elementary music in Casper.
Marla and the Stingers is rather unusual; the group is a bassoon quartet. Founded by the bassoon instructor at Casper College, the ensemble has thrilled summer concert audiences in Casper and is expected to give their Fremont County audience a treat.
They not only perform classic literature for bassoon but have added arrangements of popular favorites to their diverse program.
The CWC Community Band will be performing popular TV and movie music during their half of the program.
The concerts are sponsored in part by the Lander and Riverton Recreation Boards, Arrow Mountain Dental, The Ranger, Home Source Realty, Sinks Canyon Therapies, and the Girard Law Offices.
The concerts are free, but Dehnert noted the audience has the opportunity to “put their cash in the sousaphone to help the series continue.”
Dehnert added, “Band musicians of every age are encouraged to come perform with the band.”
The band rehearses before the concerts at 5:30 pm and are fed dinner in Riverton by the BPOE Does. Interested musicians should call Dr. Cochran at the college at (307) 855-2215 for information.
A little more about tonight’s band and performers:
Marla and the Stingers, the bassoon quartet from Casper, provides audiences with an insight into the grace, pathos, and dexterity of an instrument traditionally thought of as “the clown of the orchestra.” Through literature written originally for the ensemble and through arrangements written specifically for them, Marla and the Stingers perform both old and new music.
Heather Malody, Heidi Perrett, Mala Stagg, and ensemble founder Richard Turner have performed extensively throughout the region as soloists and in many bands and orchestras in Wyoming.
As an ensemble, they have performed on the ARTCORE and Casper Chamber Music Society recital series as well as with the Casper Municipal Band.
From the mellow sounds and complex rhythms of Renaissance dance music to the vigorous strains of a piccolo part to a Sousa march, Marla and the Stingers plays it all.
Heather is an instructor in the Natrona County School District and has performed with the Casper Municipal Band, Wyoming Symphony, Fremont Symphony, and Powder River Symphony.
Heidi is an elementary music educator in Casper. She has performed with the Wyoming Symphony, Fremont Symphony, Powder River Symphony, Black Hills Symphony, and Casper Municipal Band.
Marla performs with the Casper Municipal Band, has performed with the Fremont Symphony, and freelances in Central Wyoming.
Richard serves as Principal Bassoon with the Wyoming Symphony, Coprincipal Bassoon with the Black Hills Symphony Orchestra, and has performed with the Billings Symphony and the Powder River Symphony, and is an adjunct instructor of bassoon and recorder at Casper College.