Smith Fine Arts Series

10/10/2024

We are excited to welcome Lucia Micarelli and Leo Amuedo to Rice Auditorium on Friday, Oct 11 at 7:30 PM. Tickets are still available at https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/wou-smith/6788/event/1394963 or at the door. We hope to see you there!

05/06/2024

Join us June 8, 2024 for some traditional Hawaiian music. Makaha Sons will be presenting a FREE lecture on Hawaiian culture at 3:00pm on the outdoor stage outside of Rice Auditorium.

Come for the lecture, enjoy the sun at the park, then come back for the show at 7:30pm in Rice Auditorium. Buy your tickets at https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/wou-smith/6788

03/16/2024

We are so thrilled to have the amazing Laila Biali here with us tonight. Join us for her stunning performance at 7:30pm. https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/wou-smith/6788/event/1345029

03/16/2024

We are so excited for tonight's show! Get your tickets now!

Tonight’s the night, Oregon! Join us at Western Oregon University’s Rice Auditorium for the Smith Fine Arts Series >>> bit.ly/WesternOregonU

03/06/2024

We can't wait!!

Oregon folks: I'd love your help getting the word out on our Western Oregon University debut happening Saturday, March 16 as part of their Smith Fine Arts Series at Rice Auditorium. I'll be joined by hubby Ben Wittman on drums and Portland luminary Roberto Rodriguez on bass.

Tickets here >>> bit.ly/WesternOregonU

03/05/2024

We are so close to hitting our match! The next $605 donated to the Smith Fine Arts Series will be doubled. Let's keep the momentum going! https://givingday.wou.edu/campaigns/smith-fine-arts-series

03/05/2024

Today is Giving Day! Here is a note from our director about the program:
This series is so rich in history and I really love the opportunity to bring the arts to my rural community here. I was the student worker for SFAS for 2 years before graduating and I am so grateful for the chances this program has given me.
Giving Day is today and I am asking you to consider supporting me and the Smith Fine Arts Series by donating. Last giving day was our best year ever raising over $11,000. This year, we have the hefty goal of raising $15,000. As you know, I like to be the best, so please help me beat my former self!
Howl from your heart with me and support the Smith Fine Arts Series at https://givingday.wou.edu/campaigns/smith-fine-arts-series
- Andi Moring
Director

03/01/2024

See what our Director says about supporting SFAS on Giving Day this Tuesday, March 5!

01/11/2024

We can't wait to have this amazing performer as a part of our series!

Upcoming shows!

Nov 25 London, UK @ Ronnie Scott's
Nov 30 Toronto, ON @ Tyndale University (2 shows)
Dec 04 Bellingham, WA @ Jazz Center
Dec 05 North Vancouver, BC @ BlueShore Financial Centre
Dec 06 Canmore, AB @ artsPlace
Dec 07 Edmonton, AB @ Yardbird Suite
Dec 08 Duncan, BC @ Cowichan PAC
Dec 11 Medicine Hat, AB @ Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre
Dec 12 Saskatoon, SK @ The Bassment
Dec 14 Aurora, ON @ Aurora’s ATC
Dec 15 Cobourg, ON @ The Concert Hall at Victoria Hall
Dec 19 London, ON @ The Aeolian

Jan 29 Regina, SK @ Darke Hall
Jan 31 Fort Sask AB @ Shell Theatre
Feb 01 St. Albert, AB @ Arden Theatre

Info + tickets at lailabiali.com/tour

12/06/2023

We had such a great time with Never Come Down this weekend! Let's keep the good times rolling with Rainbow Dance Theatre on January 19! You can find tickets at https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/wou-smith/6788/event/1345028

11/16/2023

The 20th annual Smith Fine Arts Series Dinner and Auction was certainly one for the record books. A combined $74,555 was raised as a result of your generosity. You play an integral part in bringing live performing arts to our community, and we are grateful for your support of the Smith Fine Arts Series through this event. Your generosity shows the value of arts in our world today.

Didn't get a chance to raise your paddle? You can still support the Smith Fine Arts Series at https://wou.edu/foundation/givesmithfinearts/.

11/05/2023

The day has finally arrived! Bidding is now open for the online silent auction. Start placing your bids now and secure your favorite items before bidding closes on Saturday, November 11 at 6pm.

And don't forget to buy your tickets to the in-person event where there will be even more silent items up for bid as well as live items, a dessert dash, dinner, drinks, and more! Start bidding and buy your tickets now at events.handbid.com/lp/smith-fine-arts-series-2023-auction

10/13/2023

The Smith Fine Arts Series "Embrace the Music" Auction is the most impactful fundraiser of the year. This major fundraising event will feature an in-person event on November 12 that includes dinner, silent and live auctions, a dessert dash, and a paddle raise to support live performing arts in your community. An online auction will run from November 4-November 11. Go to https://events.handbid.com/lp/smith-fine-arts-series-2023-auction to register and secure your seats!

09/29/2023

LADAMA performed at the Launch of U.S. Department of State’s Global Music Diplomacy Initiative on September 27. They'll be performing in Monmouth, Oregon in just one week!

We are so lucky to have this incredible group joining us in Rice Auditorium at Western Oregon University. There will be a free workshop with the band at 4pm and a concert at 7:30 in the evening. There are still tickets available at smithfinearts.org

"Through these efforts, the Department aims to cultivate a music ecosystem globally to create economic equity and strengthen the creative economy, expand societal opportunity and inclusion, and increase access to education."
Read more about their performance for the Department of State here: https://www.state.gov/leading-american-and-international-musical-artists-to-perform-at-launch-of-u-s-department-of-states-global-music-diplomacy-initiative/

09/22/2023

We are excited to be bringing LADAMA for the first concert of the 23/24 season of our Series! Come prepared for a lively evening of music spanning 4 cultures (Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela and the U.S.) and 3 languages.
Check them out here: https://youtu.be/G4gGmCLED0Y
“LADAMA TAKES ON TRADITIONAL GENRES WITH CONFIDENCE AND VIGOR WITHOUT BEING CONSTRAINED BY THEIR CONVENTIONS. THE RESULT IS A VIVID MONTAGE OF MUSIC OF THE AMERICAS WITH IRRESISTIBLE SPIRIT AND UNIVERSAL APPEAL.”
— All Things Considered, NPR
“LADAMA ASUME LOS GÉNEROS TRADICIONALES CON CONFIANZA Y VIGOR SIN LIMITARSE POR SUS CONVENCIONES. EL RESULTADO ES UN VÍVIDO MONTAJE DE MÚSICA DE LAS AMÉRICAS CON ESPÍRITU IRRESISTIBLE Y ATRACTIVO UNIVERSAL.”
— All Things Considered, NPR

06/29/2023

Thank you everyone for a phenomenal 45th season! We had a great turn out for the last show of the year and look forward to seeing everyone again soon! Keep an eye out on our social media to hear about next years season and other fun things we have in store!

[Image Description: Pictures of performers from our season (Martha Redbone, The Assad Duo, Typhoon, Kaeja d’Dance, and QUITAPENAS) with the text 'thank you' over top of the photos]

06/02/2023

Meet our staff at SFAS! On the left is Andi Moring our Program Director she is in charge of all things SFAS and started in this position just last year. On the right is Tessa Douangaphaivong our program assistant. Come say hello at our next show The Martha Redbone Roots Project next week, June 10th, in Rice Auditorium at 7:30!

[Image Description: The top text reads 'meet our team', below that on the right is an image of Andi Moring and on the left an image of Tessa Douangaphaivong]

05/26/2023

Come see Martha Redbone live Saturday, June 10th! If you haven't gotten your tickets already head over to https://wou.edu/smith/ to get your tickets now! This is the last show of our 22/23 season, you won't want to miss it!

[Image Description: Martha Redbone singing with a band behind her, against a blue backdrop. Below her is a text box that reads Martha Redbone Roots Project with the rewind, play, and fast forward symbols underneath.]