Annual Winter Solstice Concert (2026)
Winter Solstice Concert featuring Hydrangea Sky Movement Arts
Sunday December 20th at 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Old Town Center for the Arts, Cottonwood, AZ
A cherished seasonal tradition, the annual Winter Solstice Concert features an elite world-chamber ensemble of accomplished soloists alongside breathtaking, gravity-defying aerial choreography by Marie Turner's acclaimed company, Hydrangea Sky Movement Arts. This production seamlessly blends diverse global instrumentation with stunning physical theater.
Escape the holiday rush and immerse yourself in an evening of pure, reflective magic. While several surprise music guests fill the hall with uplifting seasonal and solstice music selections, dancers spin and soar high above the audience on silks and aerial hoops. Complemented by gorgeous, atmospheric holiday lighting, this sensory experience is the ultimate way to honor the season with those you love.
Sunday December 20th at 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Old Town Center for the Arts, Cottonwood, AZ
A cherished seasonal tradition, the annual Winter Solstice Concert features an elite world-chamber ensemble of accomplished soloists alongside breathtaking, gravity-defying aerial choreography by Marie Turner's acclaimed company, Hydrangea Sky Movement Arts. This production seamlessly blends diverse global instrumentation with stunning physical theater.
Escape the holiday rush and immerse yourself in an evening of pure, reflective magic. While several surprise music guests fill the hall with uplifting seasonal and solstice music selections, dancers spin and soar high above the audience on silks and aerial hoops. Complemented by gorgeous, atmospheric holiday lighting, this sensory experience is the ultimate way to honor the season with those you love.
Photos from last year's Winter Solstice Concert (2025) by Armando Kiyama
This year's artists include Marie Turner, Colleen Walls, Danya Skye, Anna Kondaurov, with special guest artists: Elina Zavala, Rhea, and Jae Myer.
More info coming soon!
More info coming soon!
TICKETS
There are two showings for this event on Sunday December 20th: A 2:00 PM Matinee and a 7:00 PM Evening; and two ticket types: Priority Seating within the first three rows, and Advance General Seating. Please take care to purchase your correct/desired ticket(s); seating is limited and we cannot “swap.” If you wish to change showing or seating type, ticket refunds are processed directly via Cur8.com by clicking the link emailed to you upon ticket purchase; you may then purchase your alternate desired ticket(s) if still available. Availability for another showing or seating type is not guaranteed.
Live Musicians featured in this year's Winter Solstice Concert: William Eaton, Allen Ames, and Logan Turner
WILLIAM EATON
Co-Producer, Sound, Live Musician, Co-Founder & Co-Director of Old Town Center for the Arts, Co-Founder & Director of Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery
William Eaton has been building one-of-a-kind guitars and multi-stringed instruments since 1971. His innovative instruments have been featured in Guitar Player, Frets, Acoustic Guitar, Experimental Musical Instruments, and many other publications. Eaton’s instruments have been displayed, at the Hollywood Bowl Museum, Museum of Making Music (Carlsbad, CA), Musical Instrument Museum (MIM – Phoenix, AZ), Tohono Chul Park (Tucson, AZ), Winter NAMM Exhibit (Anaheim, CA) among others.
A four-time Grammy Nominee, Eaton has composed for and performed with the Amadeaus Trio, Nouveau West Chamber Orchestra and the Nebraska Chamber Orchestra, and has performed as a soloist, with the Electric Harp Guitar Group, Ananeah, and the Nakai, Eaton, Clipman Trio. Eaton’s unique and original sound has been captured on 16 recordings for the Canyon Records label including his long time collaborations with R. Carlos Nakai and four recordings as the leader of the William Eaton Ensemble: an eclectic “world chamber fusion” group whose releases, have earned Billboard Critic’s Choice awards as well as charting in the top ten World album category.
In a music related venture William and his wife Christine are founders and co-directors of Old Town Center for the Arts, a renovated historic building complex in Cottonwood, Arizona, dedicated to bringing national, international and regional performing artists to the Verde Valley since 2008.
Co-Producer, Sound, Live Musician, Co-Founder & Co-Director of Old Town Center for the Arts, Co-Founder & Director of Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery
William Eaton has been building one-of-a-kind guitars and multi-stringed instruments since 1971. His innovative instruments have been featured in Guitar Player, Frets, Acoustic Guitar, Experimental Musical Instruments, and many other publications. Eaton’s instruments have been displayed, at the Hollywood Bowl Museum, Museum of Making Music (Carlsbad, CA), Musical Instrument Museum (MIM – Phoenix, AZ), Tohono Chul Park (Tucson, AZ), Winter NAMM Exhibit (Anaheim, CA) among others.
A four-time Grammy Nominee, Eaton has composed for and performed with the Amadeaus Trio, Nouveau West Chamber Orchestra and the Nebraska Chamber Orchestra, and has performed as a soloist, with the Electric Harp Guitar Group, Ananeah, and the Nakai, Eaton, Clipman Trio. Eaton’s unique and original sound has been captured on 16 recordings for the Canyon Records label including his long time collaborations with R. Carlos Nakai and four recordings as the leader of the William Eaton Ensemble: an eclectic “world chamber fusion” group whose releases, have earned Billboard Critic’s Choice awards as well as charting in the top ten World album category.
In a music related venture William and his wife Christine are founders and co-directors of Old Town Center for the Arts, a renovated historic building complex in Cottonwood, Arizona, dedicated to bringing national, international and regional performing artists to the Verde Valley since 2008.
ALLEN AMES
Allen Ames grew up in Phoenix and began playing the violin at age nine. His principal teachers were Max Mandel, Theodora McMillan, James Buswell, and William Majors. As a member of the Arizona Composers Forum, he has been featured in the Composers in Concert series. He was apprenticed to the late Carl E. Reiter as a violin maker and developed the five octave, six-string Violira.
Allen has played with the Arizona Opera and Ballet Orchestras, the Phoenix, Amabile and Philharmonic String Quart
ets and many other ensembles, also playing baroque violin with the Solis Camerata, Camerata Sonora, and the Phoenix Bach Choir.
As an improviser, Allen has played with most of the Valley's top jazz musicians as well as Mosaico Flamenco, Gypsy jazz group Zazu, Klezmer legend Schlomo Carlbach, and other adventurous artists. As a published poet, he has given many performances combining music and poetry.
In 1985, while a member of the Nouveau West Chamber Orchestra, he first played with William Eaton in a series of William's chamber works, and has been playing with him ever since.
Allen also plays with Lyra, Meadowlark, Zazu, Music Unites Us, and has toured in twenty-two states with Three Redneck Tenors.
Allen Ames grew up in Phoenix and began playing the violin at age nine. His principal teachers were Max Mandel, Theodora McMillan, James Buswell, and William Majors. As a member of the Arizona Composers Forum, he has been featured in the Composers in Concert series. He was apprenticed to the late Carl E. Reiter as a violin maker and developed the five octave, six-string Violira.
Allen has played with the Arizona Opera and Ballet Orchestras, the Phoenix, Amabile and Philharmonic String Quart
ets and many other ensembles, also playing baroque violin with the Solis Camerata, Camerata Sonora, and the Phoenix Bach Choir.
As an improviser, Allen has played with most of the Valley's top jazz musicians as well as Mosaico Flamenco, Gypsy jazz group Zazu, Klezmer legend Schlomo Carlbach, and other adventurous artists. As a published poet, he has given many performances combining music and poetry.
In 1985, while a member of the Nouveau West Chamber Orchestra, he first played with William Eaton in a series of William's chamber works, and has been playing with him ever since.
Allen also plays with Lyra, Meadowlark, Zazu, Music Unites Us, and has toured in twenty-two states with Three Redneck Tenors.
LOGAN TURNER
Logan graduated from OCC with an Associates in Music in 2012 and then the Crane School of Music in 2016 with a BA in Music Business. During his time between The Crane School of Music and OCC, Logan studied with many accomplished percussionists in a vast number of different styles and instrumentation. Logan is a classically trained percussionist with a specialty in world percussion. Logan currently dedicates his time outside of his day job to study percussion at a high level and performing with various group in Arizona.
Logan graduated from OCC with an Associates in Music in 2012 and then the Crane School of Music in 2016 with a BA in Music Business. During his time between The Crane School of Music and OCC, Logan studied with many accomplished percussionists in a vast number of different styles and instrumentation. Logan is a classically trained percussionist with a specialty in world percussion. Logan currently dedicates his time outside of his day job to study percussion at a high level and performing with various group in Arizona.
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Hydrangea Sky Movement Arts is a 501(c)3 nonprofit.
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Winter Solstice Concert 2024, Photo by Armando Kiyama
