Backstage with the Arts premieres Sept. 30 The North Valley Arts Council (NoVAC) announces Backstage with Arts, a new program that offers arts audiences a behind-the-scenes look at a variety of arts events. The first Backstage with the Arts program will be held in conjunction with the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra premiere performance of its 98th Season, "New Worlds," Saturday, Sept. 30, 6 p.m. at the Empire Arts Center. The Backstage with the Arts program will feature comments by James Hannon, music director; comments and illustrations by John Gilbert, guest violinist; and video-comment by Joan Tower, composer. Wine, provided by Happy Harry’s Bottle Shops, and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Admission to Backstage with the Arts is free with the purchase of a ticket to the performance. The concert immediately following features guest violist John Gilbert in his North Dakota debut. Gilbert will perform Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47, a twentieth-century masterpiece. Also in the program is Dvorak’s New World Symphony, and the North Dakota premiere of Made in America by American composer Joan Tower. Backstage with the Arts continues on Oct. 8 at 1 p.m. just prior to the premiere performance of the North Dakota Museum of Art Concert Series, Sergio Gallo & Zeynep Ucbasaran: Two Piano Recital. Gallo will discuss the intricacies of the two-piano recital that he will perform with Ucbasaran. On Oct. 24, Backstage with the Arts will be held just prior to the opening performance of Dames at Sea, presented by the UND Department of Theatre Arts at the Burtness Theatre. The program will include a discussion of the musicals that Dames at Sea spoofs. On Nov.r 2, Backstage with the Arts features a discussion with artist Adam Kemp at the opening reception his exhibit at the Third Street Gallery. Kemp will discuss his art-making process, and will perform live demonstrations. All Backstage with the Arts program are free with the purchase of a ticket to the corresponding performance. Backstage with the Arts is made possible by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to NoVAC, and with generous support from Happy Harry’s Bottle Shops. -- Nicole Derenne, Executive Director, North Valley Arts Council, nicole.derenne@novac.org, 777-6120