OKM MUSIC: Give to Make a Difference
BARTLESVILLE, Okla. — The holidays are just around the corner and the time of year is coming when people focus more on giving and being thoughtful. This sense of generosity and goodwill was embodied by the 4th century bishop, St. Nicholas who gave away his entire fortune to those in his community. Each year OKM Music strives to exhibit this same dedication to generosity through its free and reduced price programming and concert offerings. OKM’s annual #GivingTuesday concert will return on November 29 and Saint Nicholas Day celebration will return on December 6.
The 2022 #GivingTuesday concert, entitled “Joy to the Ville”, is a special tribute to Bartlesville music educators and students on November 29 from 3:00-9:00pm. The concert will include pre-recorded performances by Callie & Alex Rivera, Sophie Walker, BHS Vocal Music Directors, BHS Jazz Choir, BHS Theatre, and Pearl Grace & Company. OKM will hold an Open House at Ambler Hall (415 S. Dewey Ave. Ste. 100, Bartlesville) inviting people to share this magical night by watching the performances, sipping on hot cocoa and eating Christmas cookies. Guests will also enjoy Christmas shopping at OKM’s Sugar Plum Shoppe and Curiosityan. The Sugar Plum Shoppe features seasonal and musical themed gifts and the Curiosityan features glass, ceramic, and crystal antiquities. The shop hours are Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm or you can shop online at https://shopokm.square.site/store. The #GivingTuesday concert is free and donations welcomed to benefit the featured performers and help fund OKM’s music education programming. If you cannot attend the Open House, you can join online via OKM’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/okmfestival) or website (okmmusic.org.)
St. Nicholas Day, held on December 6, is another free event that is not only community-centered but also youth-specific. At 6:00pm, children have the opportunity to experience story time with St. Nicholas, tutorials on how to bake traditional German gingerbread cookies and how to play Christmas tunes on the ukulele and violin, and videos about St. Nicholas as well as a short movie will be available on OKM’s Facebook page or website. OKM also sells and gives away approximately 200 St. Nicholas bags containing musical instruments, books, activity booklets, Play-Doh kits, arts & craft supplies, an orange, candy and other kid-friendly items to children. Each bag is valued at over $75 and sold for $10. The bags will be available for pickup November 30 to December 2. Every year, over 70 special St. Nicholas bags are donated to 4th and 5th grade students at the Jane Phillips Elementary School.
OKM’s philanthropic spirit is sustained by the kindness of the community. Through sponsorships, donations and patrons of all ages, OKM remains an integral part of Bartlesville’s Community. Volunteerism is a great benefit to OKM as it is the primary way in which OKM events are able to function and run successfully. Volunteers are required for a variety of responsibilities so regardless of skill set OKM has a place for everyone. Support is needed in every form and fashion. Without it, OKM Music and other arts-based organizations, will cease to exist. Such a loss is unimaginable and many times irreversible. The arts provide much needed exposure to different cultural experiences, they increase tourism and relocation attractiveness, and offer a shared experience that unites people within a community. As such, the arts organizations are crucial to Bartlesville’s development and continued success.
For more information on how to donate or get involved with OKM Music, call 918-336-9900 or visit okmmusic.org.