Talking About the Buckey Awards on AZTV's The Morning Scramble

What a Night!

(photo by the awesome David Cottle)

It really was a fantastic night at the 2012 Buckey Awards for Excellence in the Arts - as you can tell from my slight grin in the middle of Switch Academy of Performing Arts' many hard-charging hoofers.

I'll write more about it in the days ahead, but in the meantime, there is excellent coverage in the Daily Courier, Prescott eNews and a lovely blog posting by Outstanding Literary Artist honoree Tiffany Antone.

The Buckey Awards Are Tonite!

Behold! The Buckey Awards have arrived. They come but once a year - and when they do - it's a great night out, celebrating the artist, performers and arts supporters of Yavapai County!

Get your date and don't be late! The Buckey Awards for Excellence in the Arts is tonight at the historic Elks Opera House in downtown Prescott. For a measly $10, you get one glittering night of fun - with a real life Red Carpet Experience at 6:30pm, awards show at 7pm. To find out more and get reserved tickets, click here.

Musical guests are Tumbledown House, with their roadhouse jazz vibe; special performance by dancers from the Switch Academy of Performing Arts; a comedic visit from the Certifiable Public Accountants of Cook, Books & Hyde; a Lifetime Contribution to the Arts of Yavapai County conferred on Bill Nebeker - 40 + year veteran of the arts in our community, bronze sculptor of western themes; and then, oh then, 9 wonderful, nail-bitingly awesome categories to honor artist and performers working, living and creating in Yavapai County.

Here is a list of the categories, who's presenting the Buckey and who the finalists are in that category:

Outstanding Visual Artist - Presenter: Ian Russell of Ian Russell Galley of Fine Art
(finalists, in alphabetical order)
Brooke Stevens-Patrick
Charles Huckeba
Paul Abbott
Rick Hartner
Roger Asay and Rebecca Davis


Outstanding Literary Artist - Presenter: Toni Kaus, Library Director, City of Prescott
(finalists, in alphabetical order)
Karen Despain
Michele McFadden (Micki Shelton)
Parker Anderson
Steven Ayres
Tiffany Antone

Outstanding Media Artist/Broadcaster - Presenter: Monika Marrihia Bishop
(finalists, in alphabetical order)
Bo Woods
BrYan Matuskey
David Veatch
Sandy Moss
Tom Agostino

Outstanding Arts Educator - Presenter: Juanita Hull-Carlson
(finalists, in alphabetical order)
Bruce Lanning (Yavapai College)
Dan Bradstreet (PHS)
Jean Lutz (Everybody's Place)
Sister Anne Fitzsimons (Sacred Heart)

Outstanding Performing Artist - Presenter: Katie Hodge Dean
(finalists, in alphabetical order)
Cason Murphy
Delisa Myles
Jody Drake
Linda Miller
Marnie Uhl

Outstanding Arts Activist - Presenter: Elisabeth Ruffner
(finalists, in alphabetical order)
Ida Kendall
Jean Lutz
Jeri Smith-Fornara
Jon Meyer
Mike Vax

Outstanding Arts Organization - Presenter: Jon Meyer, Prescott Center for the Arts
(finalists, in alphabetical order)
Elks Opera House Foundation
Prescott Center for the Arts
Prescott College Arts Gallery at Sam Hill Warehouse
Prescott Film Festival
The@trics Theatre


Outstanding Arts Event - Presenter: Margo Christensen
(finalists, in alphabetical order)
Phippen Museum Western Art Show & Sale
Prescott Film Festival
Prescott Jazz Summit
"Sweeney Todd" at PCA
"The Miracle Worker" at PCA


Outstanding Musical Artist - Presenters: Tres Ikner and Jen Juniper of Dutch Holly 
(finalists, in alphabetical order)
Anton Teschner and Drew Hall
Don Cheek and the Cheektones
Here Come Cowboys
Jonathan Best
Merry Musicals Moms

Lifetime Contribution to the Arts of Yavapai County - Presenter: Jody Drake
(2012 Honoree)
Bill Nebeker

To find out more and to get reserved tickets, click here.

On Stage: Switch Academy of Performing Arts

And what awards show would be complete without dancers? The 2012 Buckey Awards showcase our local dance scene with a production number by eight young dancers from Switch Academy of Performing Arts. 


Semi-Spoiler alert: There is actually a 9th dancer in the number. Someone you NEVER thought you would see dancing on the Elks Opera House stage . . . or anywhere for that matter. Come to the 2012 Buckey Awards or watch it live on Access 13 to find out who!


To learn more and to pick up some of those dirt cheap  tickets, click here.

Musical Guests at the 2012 Buckey Awards

(please note: 2012 Buckey finalists Jonathan Best on keyboard and BrYan Matuskey made this video!) 

Tumbledown House will be our musical guests, providing instrumental music for the evening AND performing songs off their new CD, Fables and Falsehoods - just 10 days before its release! Watch this and I think you'll agree, best dang kazoo solo eveh!

To find out more about this Glittering Night for the Arts in Prescott including how to get the super cheap tickets, click here.

Last Chance to Advertise at the Buckey Awards!

Open publication - Free publishing - More arizona

For as little as $50, your business, production or shout-out to a favorite artist can be:

• On the Red Carpet Logo Wall in the lobby of the Elks Opera House
• In the Awards Show Program
• Announced by a Presenter from the Stage
• And all of it part of the 2nd Annual Buckey Awards, shown on Access 13 and the Buckey Awards YouTube Channel for all the world to see!

So, get your business' name out there or give a shout-out to your favorite artist with a Buckey Awards Sponsorship deal. They'll be gone by Friday!

Finalists - Total List of Finalists for 2012 Buckey Awards!

To find out more about the Buckey Awards and to get reserved tickets, click here.

Outstanding Visual Artist - Presenter: Ian Russell of Ian Russell Galley of Fine Art
(in alphabetical order)
Brooke Stevens-Patrick
Charles Huckeba
Paul Abbott
Rick Hartner
Roger Asay and Rebecca Davis


Outstanding Literary Artist - Presenter: Toni Kaus, Library Director, City of Prescott
(in alphabetical order)
Karen Despain
Michele McFadden (Micki Shelton)
Parker Anderson
Steven Ayres
Tiffany Antone

Outstanding Media Artist/Broadcaster - Presenter: Monika Marrihia Bishop
(in alphabetical order)
Bo Woods
BrYan Matuskey
David Veatch
Sandy Moss
Tom Agostino

Outstanding Arts Educator - Presenter: Juanita Hull-Carlson
(in alphabetical order)
Bruce Lanning (Yavapai College)
Dan Bradstreet (PHS)
Jean Lutz (Everybody's Place)
Sharon Bender (Taylor Hicks)
Sister Anne Fitzsimons (Sacred Heart)

Outstanding Performing Artist - Presenter: Katie Hodge Dean
(in alphabetical order)
Cason Murphy
Delisa Myles
Jody Drake
Linda Miller
Marnie Uhl

Outstanding Arts Activist - Presenter: Elisabeth Ruffner
(in alphabetical order)
Ida Kendall
Jean Lutz
Jeri Smith-Fornara
Jon Meyer
Mike Vax

Outstanding Arts Organization - Presenter: Jon Meyer, Prescott Center for the Arts
(in alphabetical order)
Elks Opera House Foundation
Prescott Center for the Arts
Prescott College Arts Gallery at Sam Hill Warehouse
Prescott Film Festival
The@trics Theatre


Outstanding Arts Event - Presenter: Margo Christensen
(in alphabetical order)
Phippen Museum Western Art Show & Sale
Prescott Film Festival
Prescott Jazz Summit
"Sweeney Todd" at PCA
"The Miracle Worker" at PCA


Outstanding Musical Artist - Presenters: Tres Ikner and Jen Juniper of Dutch Holly 
(in alphabetical order)
Anton Teschner and Drew Hall
Don Cheek and the Cheektones
Here Come Cowboys
Jonathan Best
Merry Musicals Moms

Lifetime Contribution to the Arts of Yavapai County - Presenter: Jody Drake
(2012 Honoree)
Bill Nebeker

To find out more and to get reserved tickets, click here.