Meet the host and producer for Music Matters, a new digital series from SDPB and Levitt at the Falls that explores the origins and inspirations of the musical artists performing this concert season at the Levitt Shell in downtown Sioux Falls. Watch the series on SDPB.org and Facebook. Katy Beem: How do you prefer to identify what you do? Apolonia Davalos: “I’m a filmmaker. That phrase embodies all forms of the medium: I work behind the scenes and on-camera as director, producer, writer, actress, and ultimate collaborator. When I was 17, I moved to New York after I graduated. I received my associate’s degree in film, theater and television from American Musical and Dramatic Academy, specifically the studio program in New York City.” KB: Tell us about your past projects. AD: “My first lead role was for a 2007 film from Reigning Star Pictures. I worked on several projects while living in Nashville: The Good Book, Providence, and Summer of ’67. I produced a short film called Children of War in 2015. It toured nationally and internationally in the
film festival circuit. I love learning about things I do not know. At the time, I knew nothing about the coal mining industry.” KB: How did you journey from New York to Nashville to Sioux Falls? AD: “I’m on this personal quest. I have this belief the arts are everywhere. I love immersing myself and getting to know communities. My mother’s originally from the Midwest – Chicago. We traveled together – I do the performing arts; she does the culinary arts. We were like, ‘It’s time to discover a new place.’ She did some research – Sioux Falls was one of those top places to live, right? We drove from Nashville to Sioux Falls, and within a day, [we were] talking to people, breathing in this beautiful air, just falling in love. Within that day, we found a place to live and literally relocated here one week later.” KB: And how did you come to work with the Levitt? AD: “Oh, my gosh. The first season of The Levitt, I would go to the concerts. They have people from all over the world. I was, like, ‘They’re coming to the Midwest – look at this culture, celebration, dance.’ I went out dancing, having a great time. Nancy Halverson, the executive director of The Levitt was on stage singing, having a great time, killing it. I’m like, ‘Who is this? This is amazing.’ She comes down onto the main open floor and we’re dancing, right? Later that evening, she tells me that she actually is the executive director of The Levitt. I thought, ‘this is a beautiful opportunity to thank her.’ Two years later, I get a message from her that they’re looking for a spring host for Levitt In Your Living Room – since it was COVID, all the concerts
Apolonia Davalos.
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Learn. Dream. Grow. Learn. Dream. Grow.
The Reminders
The Foxies
were canceled. Vaney Hariri was the first host, who is amazing, and he’s also on the board of The Levitt. ‘Hey, we’re looking for new hosts. I remember you, and I would love to talk to you about it.’ I had a phone call with her, and I’m all about sharing people’s gifts. Celebrating and sharing them with the world.” KB: And what can we look forward to with Music Matters? AD: “What does the process look like? There’s a lot of new music, instruments, that people don’t know about. There’s a history towards everything and as we are the sum of our life experiences, there’s a story there, a value that we don’t know. Music is difficult, it’s a discipline. You’re creating something out of nothing, and that doesn’t just come from everywhere. It has your own particular spin, voice and originality. How do you manifest something that has this universal way of communication that everyone can relate to? We’ll feature many different things – the Native American influence and tradition. Dallas Chief Eagle is one of the artists I look forward to interviewing. Lucas Hoge has traveled around with his music and done a lot with honoring our veterans. We have bands from Latin, African, and Celtic cultures. For each episode, we want to highlight a different way that people can be immersed. I’m working with SDPB’s Krystal Schoenbauer. We’re all in the trenches together, to find the story, bring it to life and create content worth sharing. I would hope the community sees the series and sees themselves, the artists, and they learn something.” Watch for Music Matters on SDPB.org and Facebook.
