The Midwest Arts Conference (MAC) in Kansas City, Missouri from September 17-20 found Robert Baird meeting with a multitude of Presenters from Midwest states. News of the new Ebony & Ivory Tour for 2009-2010, The American Songbook, was greeted enthusiastically by Presenters and Robert is now busy following up on possibilities from Arts Midwest. See the list of visitors and friends at Arts Midwest below.

The Performing Arts Exchange (PAE) in Atlanta, Georgia from September 24-27 provided yet another opportunity to publicize The American Songbook, the exciting new tour from Ebony & Ivory for 2009-2010. The American Songbook CD was particularly remarked upon by visitors to the booth and Robert is now busy following up on possibilities from PAE. See the list of visitors and friends at PAE below.

Robert Baird has just returned from the Arts Northwest conference, which was held in Eugene, Oregon from October 12-16. We'll have more news from this latest convention in the next newsletter.

As a result of meetings and conversations at the various conferences, several tours of The American Songbook are now in the process of being organized. As early as the spring of 2009, Ebony & Ivory has plans to tour The American Songbook to North and South Carolina. For the 2009-2010 season, there has been interest shown in Ohio, Florida, Wyoming, Washington, Oregon, and many other states in between. More news to come.

Ruth Rosenberg (CA Presenters), Yanick Godbout (Quebec Government Office in Los Angeles), Richard Bryant (Chief Member Officer, APAP), Sandra Gibson (CEO, APAP), Sage Crump (Southern Arts Federation), Cheryl Ewing (CCI), Laura Ricker (WAA), Tim Wilson (Executive Director, WAA), Barbara Scales (Latitude 45), Karen Hanan (Executive Director, Arts Northwest), Kurt Bagnell (Banff Centre, AB), Deb McCasland (Yavapai College, AZ), Robert Stone (Bakersfield Community Concerts, CA), William Shuck (Bishop Community Concerts, CA), Christian Wolf (California Center for the Arts, CA), Linda Bolt (Kanbar Center for the Performing Arts, CA), Tiina Mittler (Curtis Theatre, CA), Greg Morrow (Indian Wells Valley, CA), Phil Esparza (Monterey Bay, CA), Adam Philipson (Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center, CA), Dan deWayne (Chico Performances, CA), Michele Roberge (The Carpenter Center, CA), Kevin O'Connor (Downey Civic Theatre, CA), Michael Alexander (Grand Performances, CA), Aaron Egigian (Orange County, CA), Dea McAllister (Palmdale Playhouse, CA), Bruce Labadie (San Jose Jazz, CA), Diane Dragon (Silver Star Productions, NV), Debbie Slade (Center for the Arts, ON), Dick and Pat Murtland (Showtime El Paso, TX), Jaymi Gilmour (Cam-Plex, WY).

Colleen Duke (Consulate-General of Canada - Chicago), Steve Duchrow (Elgin Community College, IL), Todd Wetzel (Purdue University Convocations, IN), Donna Clinkenbeard (Vincennes University, IN), Randy & Vicki Wright (George Daly Auditorium, IA), Lana White (Performing Arts & Education, IA), Larry Brandstetter (Performing Arts & Education, IA), David Fraher (Executive Director, Arts Midwest), Angela Urbanz (Conference Director, Arts Midwest), Colleen McLaughlin (Director of Development, Arts Midwest), Ken Carlson (Senior Program Director, Arts Midwest), Christy Dickinson (Program Director, Arts Midwest), Ann Christensen Arndt (Conference Associate, Arts Midwest), Katherine Haugen (Program Associate, Arts Midwest), Steven Schmidt (City of Rochester, MN), Gary Gaydos (Florissant Theatre, MO), Jefferson Westwood (Rockefeller Arts Center, NY), Betty Allan (Chester Fritz Auditorium, ND), Stuart Secttor (Clark State Performing Arts Center, OH), Keith Rawlins (Darke County Center for the Arts, OH), Judy Beaumier (Ohio Arts Presenters Network, OH), J. Chris Moore (Springfield Arts Council, OH), Janet Herman Barlow (Stocker Arts Center, OH), Ashley Johnson (Consulate of Canada - Houston), Brian Taylor Goldstein (FTM Arts Law, VA), Paul M. Tropp (Edgerton Performing Arts Center, WI), Joe Ferlo (Oshkosh Opera, WI), Roby Irvin (Thrasher Opera House, WI), Dan Schmal (Wisconsin Lutheran College, WI), Judy Harquail (CCI), Peter Smith (Imperial Theatre, NB), Checka Leinwall (University of North Carolina - Greensboro), Bud Sexson (Bartlesville Community Center, OK), Doug McFarlane (Williams Center for the Arts, IA), Richard Kettering (Shattuck-St. Mary's, MN), Scott Barkhurst (Crawford County Concert Association, OH), Pat Schultz (Marshall Area Fine Arts Council, MN).

Ron Jewell (Bartlett Performing Arts Center, TN), Matina Johnson (The Library Theatre, AL), Elin Glenn (The Library Theatre, AL), Abby Koffler (Century Village Theaters, FL), Leigh Woodham (Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center, FL), Ursel Behnken (Emerald Coast Concert Association, FL), Susan Kneller (Emerald Coast Concert Association, FL), Becky Belcher (Emerald Coast Concert Association, FL), Joe Gillie (Old School Square, FL), Sharon Bevis (Polk Community College, FL), Tony Walsh (Thrasher Horne Center for the Arts, FL), Wayne Jones (ABA Connection, GA), Sid McQueen (International Art Association, GA), Lorrie Sposato-Allen (Townsend Center, GA), Brad Downall (Glema Mahr Center, KY), Naomi Cordill (Louisiana Presenters Network, LA), Tommy Usrey (Northeast Louisiana Arts Council, LA), Jane Lonon (Ashe County Arts Council, NC), Tracey Johnston-Crum (Asheville Bravo Concerts, NC), John Ellis (Diana Wortham Theatre, NC), George Troxler (Elon University, NC), Louisa Hart (High Point Theatre, NC), Russell Wicker (Isothermal Community College, NC), Larry Coleman (Wingate University, NC), Randy Presswood (Bloomsburg University, PA), Ellis Finger (Lafayette College, PA), Donald Fann (Arts Center of Cannon City, TN), Susan Wager (Lenfest Center for the Arts, VA), Ken Kohberger (Young Auditorium, WI), Tim Yerxa (Fredericton Playhouse, NB), Stephen Alter (League of American Orchestras, NY), Gerri Combs (Southern Arts Federation, GA), David Rowell (Florida State University, FL), Gladys Wyant (The Arts Council, GA), Kimm Wilkinson (Firehouse Center, MA), Vivian Hauser (Sumter County Fine Arts, AL), Carol Abarr (Spivey Hall, GA), Barbara Griffin (Central Florida Community College, FL), Don Briscar (Holly Springs, NC), Stu Moss (Coast 2 Coast, FL), Gail Garcia (Iberia Parish Library, LA), Connie Hayes (Averitt Center, GA), Sara Heiser (Cabarrus Arts Council, NC), Elisabeth McNeil (Marlboro Civic Center, SC), Fay McLaurin (Marlboro Civic Center, SC).

February 25, 2009 - Deloraine, MB

Southwest Showcase

March 15, 2009 - Nevada City, CA

Twin Cities Concert Association