Ash Cultural Event

Ash cultural event 2024: Laurie Berkner
Saturday, March 9, 2024

Tickets on sale December 1!

The Act Tickets Button
 





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Laurie Berkner has been a professional musician since 1992, but her success as a
children’s recording artist was a surprise to her. “It was so unexpected,” says Laurie.
“I’d been performing in rock bands and struggling to write original music. Writing music
for kids has not been a struggle at all. The more I started working on material for
children, the more I realized that it opened up creativity in me that I never knew I had.”


These days critics widely acknowledge Laurie’s major contribution toward launching
what is now dubbed the progressive “kindie rock” movement – i.e. less saccharine, more
rocking music that is not dumbed down for children. But it wasn’t simply an enormous
amount of talent that helped create an entire genre and skyrocketed Laurie to her current
position as “the queen of kids’ music” (People magazine). It was an ability to gain
parents’ enthusiasm for the songs as well. According to Laurie, “When I’m writing a
song, I’m thinking about whether the kids will like it and whether I’m going to connect to
them through it. I’m also thinking about whether I want to sing it over and over again, so
I guess that’s the part that connects with adults. ‘Old MacDonald Had a Farm’ is a great
song for kids, but I couldn’t sing it 100 times!”


The Venue
 
The 2024 Ash Cultural Event will be held at the Greenville High School Performing Arts Center. 

Greenville Performing Arts Center
11 N Hillcrest St
Greenville, MI 48838

Partners
 
We want to thank our hotel and catering partners, AmericInn by Wyndham Greenville and Flo's Pizzeria Ristorante & Sports Bar. We also want to thank Chuck Elliot's Airport Transportation services for bringing Laurie Berkner to Greenville!


Coming from out of town? AmericInn by Wyndham Greenville has you covered!
AmericInn by Wyndham



Be sure to stop by Flo's Pizzeria Ristorante & Sports Bar for lunch after the show!

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Need a ride? Chuck Elliot, personal concierge has you covered! 
CBE Concierge Card
The History
 


The Ash Cultural Event is made possible by the Ash Community Improvement Fund through the Greenville Community Foundation.

Blanche Ash wanted to help support a cultural event for the area.  When the Greenville Area Community Foundation was asked by a member of the Stanley & Blanche Ash Foundation Board who could help bring something special to the community, they were referred to the Director of the GACC at that time.  That partnership worked wonderfully with the first Ash Cultural Event occurring in 2000 and the New York based Ahn Trio wowed everyone at the Greenville Performing Arts Center.  The Ahn Trio were sisters who each played a different string instrument, music from different genres and had performed all over the world.  Other performances over the years include Deborah Henson-Conant & her Hip Harp, the Red Star Army Chorus & Dance Ensemble, Unforgettable - the Nat King Cole story and the Step Crew, to name a few.  So, wide ranges of talent have entertained Greenville because of the generosity of the Ash's. Blanche left instruction in her estate plans that she would like support of the Stanley and Blanche Ash Cultural event to continue using grants from the Stanley & Blanche Ash Community Improvement Fund, which is endowed at the Greenville Area Community Foundation (GACF).  GACF is honored to follow Blanche's wishes to provide a grant each year to the GACC that will offer a unique cultural experience for all in the greater Greenville area.

2023 Ash Cultural Event: The Verve Pipe

Theater Coordinator

Maddi Huntoon
mhuntoon@greenvillemi.org 6167549163

Greenville Area Recreation & Community Center900 E. Kent Rd.
Greenville, Michigan  48838
Phone: 616.754.9163

Community Center Email: gacc@greenvillemi.org
Recreation Email: grec@greenvillemi.org

OFFICE HOURS
Monday - Friday
9:00 am – 5:00 pm