The Link

9/28/2012
IOWA NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION

SIMON ESTES’S ROOTS & WINGS TOUR REACHES 30 COUNTY MAKR AND MORE.

Ankeny, Iowa - - Simon Estes’s Roots & Wings tour of Iowa’s 99 counties will reach the 30 county mark with his performance at Neumann Auditorium on the campus of Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa on October 14, 2012. Additional concerts are currently scheduled through May 2013.

ROOTS & WINGS celebrates internationally-renowned bass-baritone Simon Estes’ connection to Iowa as a native son (ROOTS), helps Iowa high school seniors fulfill their educational aspirations by awarding college scholarships and provides performance experience to aspiring young artists through the Simon Estes Foundation (WINGS).

The tour features internationally-acclaimed bass-baritone Simon Estes in concert performing familiar selections from Broadway and opera as well as inspirational songs and spirituals. Local and high school choirs as well as promising young artists perform with Dr. Estes.

The Simon Estes Foundation benefits from the ROOTS & WINGS tour through Simon Estes’ commitment to contribute 50% of his performance fees to the Foundation. From the Roots & Wings Tours’ inception to date, the Simon Estes Foundation has awarded 70 scholarships to students from counties that have participated in the Roots & Wings Tour. Students awarded scholarships are currently attending 33 different colleges and universities in Iowa and across the United States. Since the scholarships are not limited to a specific course of study, students are pursuing a total of 51 different majors. These range from music education to agricultural systems technology and environmental science to nursing.

In addition to the scholarships awarded to graduating high school seniors in counties across Iowa, the Roots & Wings Tour is also supporting scholarship funds at Iowa State University and Wartburg College. To date the total amount contributed for scholarships is over $150,000.

For more information about the Roots & Wings Tour and how to bring it to your county, call Paul Ferrone, Executive Director at (515) 418-7703. For information about the Simon Estes Foundation, please visit www.simonestesfoundation.org. Simon Estes is also available for interviews.

CONCERTS PERFORMED TO DATE

Date; County; Community

March 5, 2010; Franklin; Hampton

May 4, 2010; Marion; Pella

May 8, 2010; Butler; Parkersburg

September 23, 2010; Lucas; Chariton

October 10, 2010; Story; Ames

October 30, 2010; Benton; Vinton

November 7, 2010; Washington; Washington

November 13, 2010; Carroll; Manning

November 28, 2010; Hardin; Eldora/Iowa Falls

February 10, 2011; Greene; Jefferson

February 17, 2011; Mahaska; Oskaloosa

December 12, 2010; Ida; Holstein

March 24, 2011; Grundy; Grundy Center

April 2, 2011; Muscatine; West Liberty

April 7, 2011; Fayette; Oelwein

April 10, 2011; Guthrie; Panora

April 27, 2011; Sac; Sac City

May 8, 2011; Adair; Greenfield

August 13, 2011; Wayne; Corydon

September 26, 2011; Delaware; Manchester

October 8, 2011; Pottawattamie; Avoca

October 17, 2011; Lee; Keokuk

October 23, 2011; Union; Creston

November 2, 2011; Poweshiek; Grinnell

November 13, 2011; Johnson; Iowa City

March 4, 2012; Clinton; DeWitt

April 13, 2012; Wright; Belmond

UPCOMING CONCERTS

Date; County; Community

September 30, 2012; Audubon; Audubon

October 14, 2012; Bremer; Waverly

October 28, 2012; Jones; Monticello

November 18, 2012; Page; Clarinda

January 20, 2013; Wapello; Ottumwa

March 17, 2013; Mitchell; Osage

May 7, 2013; Des Moines; Burlington

Colleges and Universities attended by Simon Estes Scholars

American Institute of Business

Arts Institute International Minnesota

Ashford University

Central College

Coe College

Creighton University

Depaul University

Des Moines Area Community College

Dordt College

Drake University

Gordon College

Grandview University

Hillsdale College

Illinois State University

Iowa Central Community College

Iowa State University

Kirkwood Community College

Loras College

Luther College

Mercy College of Health Sciences

Morningside College

Northeast Iowa Community College

Northwestern College

Simpson College

Snow College

Southeastern Community College

Southwest Baptist University

St. Ambrose University

University of Dubuque

University of Iowa

University of Northern Iowa

University of South Dakota

Wartburg College

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(CONTACT: Paul Ferrone, 515-418-7703, paul@simonestesfoundation.org)