With the goal of delivering the finest performances and enrich the culture of the Borderland area, board members of the Border Concert Association are gearing up to launch the 69th concert season Oct. 22.

“The founders who built the BCA began delivering great performances in 1945,” said board member Faye Whitbeck. “Since then, more than 300 concerts have been enjoyed.”

Each show in the five-concert series will take the stage of the Backus Community Center Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. on the respective performance nights.

Brought in by Minneapolis-based Allied Concert Services, board member Mary Bartlett said the performers enlisted by the Border Concert Association are world-class entertainers.

“These are not performers waiting for the phone to ring,” she said. “They are off performing all over the world, perhaps living in Europe and have signed with Allied for a roster of performances which suits their demands and schedules.”

Tapping into her medical background, board member Kimberly Perkins said there are many reasons why people should consider attending one, if not all five, BCA performances.

“Aside from having a wonderful evening at the theater, there are numerous reasons why people should attend these shows,” she said. “Extensive research in the neurochemistry of music shows that there are physical and mental benefits of enjoying a lovely tune. Music can improve the function of the body's immune system and reduce levels of stress. Likewise, music has been acclaimed as the source of maintaining a healthy brain and is argued to be responsible for alleviating dementia-like symptoms in older adults.”

This year's all-male cast of performers includes fourth generation musicians in their 20s and are already established in bluegrass, country and folk music; lifelong musicians with roots in the Boys Choir of Hannover, now doing a cappella; a Harvard pre-med student piano virtuoso that is a graduate of Julliard; and a troop of trumpet performers from Lyon, France, who promise to be enormously entertaining.

“We always consider of variety of performances in different genres,” Whitbeck said.

Bartlett added, “If you love music, we want you at our concerts – no matter what age. If you are a college or high school student and want to hear live music, you can see all five of our performances for a total of $10. Making world-class music affordable to our community is imperative, and we have succeeded at that.”

Perkins said she is hopeful more high school and college-aged students attend.

“I don't think they realize the fun that's to be had,” she said.

Season tickets for all five shows cost $45 for adults; $10 for students; and $95 for families. Single-show tickets will also be available at the door the night of each performance.

Tickets are available at City Drug, County Market and the Backus office in the Falls; Betty's, Fort Frances Museum and Northwoods Gallery and Gift in Fort Frances; Cloverleaf Store, Greensides and Emo Drug Store in Emo; and from Rose Kreger in Rainy River.

2013-2014 BCA lineup:

  • The Abrams Brothers - Oct. 22

Ontario-based brothers and cousin mix bluegrass with country and rock.

  • Vocaldente - Nov. 21

Award-winning German a cappella quintet.

  • Charlie Albright - March 14

Young pianist with virtuosic chops and a bit of improv.

  • Mack Bailey - April 1

Warm-voiced folk singer from the Limelighters.

  • Les Trompettes de Lyon - May 1

Debut American tour for this French trumpet quintet.