Eveing With the Maestro

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Evening With the Maestro featuring Chef Micah Klasky

With Devanee Williams (Harp) and Michael Puryear (Cello)

Food, wine, and live music. Don’t miss the next Evening With the Maestro! Indulge in a 5-course meal by Chef Micah Klasky of 21c’s renowned The Hive Restaurant, expertly paired with fine wines. As you dine, be serenaded by Devanee Williams on the harp and Michael Puryear on the cello. Maestro Steven Byess will serve as your host and guide, leading you through each pairing for a sensory experience like no other.

Event Details:

• June 21, 2024 | 6:30pm 
• 21c Museum Hotel, Bentonville, AR
• Tickets $175 
• Food allergies are accommodated upon request by June 16. 
• Guests under the age of 21 are invited to attend but will not be served alcohol.

ABOUT CHEF MICAH KLASKY: As Executive Chef, Micah upholds The Hive’s mission of showcasing the unique culinary identity of Arkansas through deep-rooted connections with local purveyors and creative preparations. Prior to joining 21c, Micah worked for various chefs in his native Arkansas, who inspired him to commit to a career in the culinary arts early on, from Shane Henderson to Cassidee Dabney, whom he worked under at the Capital Hotel, moving his way up from line cook to banquet sous chef in just four years. There, he helped in the development of several programs for the hotel’s fine dining restaurant and was able to build strong relationships with local farmers. He moved to Bentonville in 2014 to take on the role of sous chef at The Hive, where he worked his way up to chef de cuisine, working alongside Chef Matt McClure to carry out the 21c brand standards and culture through original food offerings. He continues to build upon The Hive’s robust food & beverage program, a pillar of the 21c Museum Hotel experience.

ABOUT DEVANEE WILLIAMS: Devanee Williams is an active harpist in the Northwest Arkansas area. She performs with Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera Fayetteville, Tulsa Symphony Orchestra and others. Williams received her degree from the University of Arkansas in 2017. Her notable teachers include Tabitha Steiner of Kansas City, KS, and Alisa Coffey of Little Rock, AR.

ABOUT MICHAEL PURYEAR: Michael Puryear has been a member of the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra since 2021 and the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas since 2023. Equally passionate about teaching and performing, Michael works as a mentor with SONA and maintains a teaching studio of 30 students at Arkansas Music works. He received his Master’s degree in cello performance at Lynn University in 2019 and his bachelor’s at Shenandoah University in 2016. Originally from Richmond, Virginia, Michael is passionate about performing new and lesser known music for the cello and sharing his passion with students and audiences alike.

ABOUT MAESTRO STEVEN BYESS: Steven Byess is a dynamic and passionate conductor, hailed by critics as “masterful and brilliant,” “creating the epitome of instrumental elegance,” and capturing “the full spirit and vitality of the score perfectly.” Recognized for his musical versatility, multi-faceted presence on the podium, and passion for music education, he is devoted to promoting a life-long love and enthusiasm for music and the arts. Steven is the music director of the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra, the Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra (Oregon), and the North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra. He conducted the U.S. premiere of Russian violinist Alexander Markov’s Rock Concerto at Carnegie Hall in New York, and was selected by Walt Disney World Entertainment to conduct the 2000 NFL E*TRADE Super Bowl Halftime show, where he performed for a television audience of 88 million fans. As a passionate advocate for the arts, Steven is sought after for his speeches on the arts, music, and education, and has organized collaborations with numerous choruses, chamber music ensembles, and festivals. He wrote and co-directed a PBS presentation, Count On It!, designed to connect music and mathematics for children grades K-3. Since 2013, he has shared this passion with over 80,000 children around the country as a conductor of the Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute Link Up orchestral education concerts. A prolific conductor of opera from grand to contemporary, his performances include Puccini’s La Bohème and a critically acclaimed production of Robert Ward’s The Crucible at the International Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv, Israel; Puccini’s Madama Butterfly with Greensboro Opera; Bizet’s Carmen with Emerald City Opera (Colorado); Copland’s The Tender Land, Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore and The Pirates of Penzance, and a collaboration with composer Ricky Ian Gordon on his opera “27” with Intermountain Opera (Montana); and Weill’s Street Scene and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance with the Eastman School of Music Opera Theatre. Steven has been a guest conductor at the Pine Mountain Music Festival in Michigan for their productions of Le tragédie de Carmen (Bizet/Brook), a highly acclaimed production of Leonard Bernstein’s Candide,collaborating with the composer’s daughter Jamie Bernstein, and Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. Steven is the former associate music director of the Ohio Light Opera where he conducted over 80 productions and 21 commercial recordings, including repertoire ranging from well- to little-known operas and operettas to blockbuster classic American musical theater works.

ABOUT OVATIONS: Ovations Plus officially launched on September 20, 2023 as an innovative collaboration between Trike Theatre for Youth (Trike) and the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra (APO). With a rich history rooted in Trike’s establishment in 2007 by Kassie Misiewicz and APO’s inception in 2010 under the esteemed direction of Maestro Steven Byess, Ovations brings together the best of performing arts to the NWA community and beyond. At Ovations, we believe in the power of art to enrich communities and foster inclusivity. With a dedication to excellence, we are committed to expanding our reach, supporting emerging artists, and delivering exceptional performances that inspire and uplift.