Between 100-200 tickets remain available for Dec. 12’s “The Four Phantoms” show, the final Boerne Performing Arts production as the group’s 12-year run comes to a close.
For the past dozen years, Boerne Performing Arts brought nationally and internationally renowned performers to the Champion High School auditorium stage to entertain its patrons.
From Doc Severinsen to the famed Vienna Boys Choir, from the rhythmic stage presence of the drum-and-dance ensemble Tao to the mesmerizing harmonies of The Ten Tenors, BPA offered three shows annually with a fourth, a holiday show, offered each year as a bonus.
In March of 2024, BPA President Rick Pfaff addressed a letter to its membership, informing them of the decision to end the 12-year run.
In it, Pfaff cited a sluggish economy, high inflation, lagging ticket sales and lingering effects of the pandemic as factors “that made continuing a volunteer, donor-based organization such as ours financially unsustainable.”
“For 12 years, Boerne Performing Arts ... has fulfilled its mission of bringing the world of performing arts to Boerne by presenting concerts that feature internationally acclaimed artists, educating student outreach programs and enriching the quality of life in the community,” Pfaff said.
The letter thanked more than a dozen corporate sponsors and major individual donors and all its partners “for your unflagging support for 12 wonderful years. We hold our heads high, knowing that BPA made a significant, positive impact on our Boerne ISD students and the greater Boerne community.”
As the organization enters its final weeks of existence, members reflected on the shows they said they will always remember.
“It is so hard to just select only one favorite but I would say that ‘Voctave’ is my no. 1 choice,” said Carol Schultz, past board president.
“Each vocalist had such a unique timbre and their arranger (a member of the group) was a genius,” Schultz said. “He knew the strength of each singer and could weave their voices into the most incredible and beautiful harmonies.”
Pfaff weighed in, also selecting Voctave as a personal favorite.
“My favorite show was Voctave. The show was musically excellent, entertaining and infused with humor for both the KIDS Outreach and the evening show,” Pfaff said.
Jeff Thompson, current board secretary, went for instrumental, instead of vocal.
“My favorite performance ... was Bowfire from Canada,” Thompson said. “I am not a great follower or lover of the violin, but this group could do things with their ‘fiddles’ as we like to say in Texas, that were unexpected, energetic, and very entertaining.
“When they came out for their final encore and played the Led Zeppelin song ‘Kashmir’ with a multitude of electric violins at a very high level of amplitude, I was just blown away,” he said.
“Lots of great memories at BPA shows over the last 12 years, but that moment lives on for me.”
BPA artistic director Cathie Meadows went with the Tao drummers.
“ The Japanese culture is fascinating and so unlike the American culture. These are among the most dedicated and talented performers I’ve ever seen,” Meadows said. “Perfection is their goal and the performances reflect that.
“ The athletic artists bring so much energy to the stage; no one falls asleep watching them,” she quipped.
BPA’s Paula White went with The Ten Tenors as her favorite show.
“They performed several times over the span of our performances and the 10 voices blended together so beautifully,” White said. “I thoroughly enjoyed every single number, and they ended the show with me wanting to hear more. They were such a talented group of young men who put on a fabulous show.”
Tickets for The Four Phantoms — which brings together four men who have played the Phantom from “Phantom Of The Opera” on Broadway — can be purchased for $20, $30, $40 or $60 online at the organization’s website, boerneperformingarts. com, and clicking on “Tickets.”
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