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According to a press release, the Uptown Music Collective will present the third performance of its 2024-2025 season with "Wonderwall: The Ultimate '90s Mix" at 7:30 p.m. on March 15 at the Community Arts Center, 220 West Fourth St. This one-night-only concert will take those in attendance on a musical road trip honoring iconic songs and artists that defined one of the most colorful eras in rock history, all performed by the passionate and hard-working students of the school's Special Performance Group 1.
"Wonderwall" celebrates the diverse sounds of '90s pop rock music, featuring hits from artists like Oasis, Foo Fighters, Sheryl Crow, Green Day, Natalie Merchant, Jewel, Counting Crows, and many more.
Months of preparation have gone into this show, with UMC's SPG1 students dedicating themselves to perfecting these classic tracks. Known for their professionalism and exceptional talent, the students are ready to deliver a dynamic live performance that will transport the audience to the era of oversized jeans and Discmans.
"There was a lot more to the '90s music scene than grunge," said Jared Mondell, assistant director of the Collective. "Although, that is what most people immediately think of when talking about the era. In that vein, this show is kind of a 'spiritual sequel' to our 'Decade of Grunge' tribute from last January. A wide variety of pop rock from the '90s would not align with last year's grunge theme. In one set, we will jump from Spin Doctors to Ani DiFranco to Green Day. It's almost like the students will create a '90s mix CD live on stage!"
Collective students have diligently prepared for this event for more than three months. Along with the music, there will be a professional-grade light and sound show organized by the students themselves, who work alongside the professionals at the Community Arts Center. As with all Uptown Music Collective performances, the students are not only the performers but also the directors of the show. A group of younger students, or "Tech Monkeys," will serve as stage technicians and spotlight operators.
This show is directed by Uptown Music Collective seniors Abby Jamison and Owen Miller. The show's leadership committee consists of UMC students Tixo Bower, Nick Willoughby, Matthew Bellino, Izzy Butters, Lila Butters, Ella Hertwig, Grace Godin, Caiden Scarfo, Elle Donlin, Mackenzie Hakes, Rowan Alamy, Rian Gephart and Gianna Waldman.
"I've become very excited for this show as we start putting it together," Hertwig said. "There are so many unique qualities to this era of music and I think that this show really showcases that. So many iconic artists and bands are featured, from Tori Amos to Dave Matthews Band to Sheryl Crow. My parents were always listening to this era of music when I was growing up so it's nice to come back and revisit some of these artists. I'm so excited for this one-night show, and I hope others are, as well!"
Tickets for the performance are only available through the Community Arts Center box office and website at www.caclive.com. For more details about "Wonderwall," visit uptownmusic.org/wonderwall or call 570-329-0888.