Arts & Entertainment: Music Festival a Hit

Music Festival a Hit

OKM Music’s 37th Season was an In-Person Success

Organizers of OKM Music are celebrating the success of its 37th season.

June 10-17, Bartlesville and Tulsa enjoyed an eclectic music festival encompassing everything from classical, Americana, crossover, and even Reggae pop.

The 37th season performances included Canadian Brass, Jack Settle Band, Dallas Brass, Dallas String Quartet, Tina Guo, Jenny Lin, TAKE3, Wynona Wang, Grady Nichols and Baha Men, as well as a special opening performance from the Booker T. Washington String Quintet.

Mary Lynn Mihm-Howk, chairman of the OKM Music board and event chair, said the “Festival was a week filled with remarkable artists, brilliant music, delicious food, and beautiful art. It was wonderful celebrating our 37th season in-person after a difficult year due to the pandemic.”

The festival saw impressive numbers for many of its mainstage performances, especially Canadian Brass, the Jack Settle Band, and Dallas Brass, to name a few.

“We have had out-of-town guests who have been coming to the OKM Music Festival for 37 years, and this year we saw a large turnout of guests visiting from other states.” Mihm-Howk said. “There were guests from Alaska, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Tennessee, and New York, to name a few. ”

In addition to its main-stage performances, OKM hosted other series that were free to the public, including its Especially for Kids and the Community Showcase series.

This year, the showcase lineup included local musicians from around the region, and had something for everyone who attended. Showcase performers included: Tulsa Honors Baroque Orchestra, Ann-Janette Webster and the Evolution, Ryan & Ryan piano duo, Wade Daniel, Keeli Droege, Merz Trio, and Hugo Salcedo.

“We had an exceptional showcase season this year, with artist’s of the highest caliber. The community support of these local performers was fantastic to see during the week,” said Ryan Martin, OKM’s marketing director.

From June 5-9, OKM held its Especially for Kids series for local youth. Traditionally held the same week as the OKM Festival, this year the children’s events were primarily held the week prior, with a few events scheduled during the festival week, as well. Events included the popular Tea Party, Songbox with Jacky Manning and Michel Duncan, a Delaware Tribe cultural event, and story time music and art projects with librarian Ms. Laura and Tamika Straw.

OKM leaders are now busy planning its year-round events, such as its Oktoberfest, Christkindl Market, a wine and cheese tasting, and of course the annual summer festival.

“OKM certainly hopes for another 37 years of music festivals. However, this can only be possible with the support of the city, the arts community, tourism, schools, businesses, and most importantly, the citizens of Bartlesville,” said MihmHowk. “The arts are important to a community and provide a quality of life that has a ripple effect on the economics, community pride, and uniting citizens.”