.
By Nolan Vallier, Elizabeth Hartman, Katie Nichols
Collection Overview
Title: Prairie Ensemble Records, 1996-2015
ID: 12/9/143
Primary Creator: Kevin Kelly (1961-)
Other Creators: Grant, Joe W. (1947-)
Extent: 10.4 cubic feet. More info below.
Arrangement:
Organized in three series: Series 1) Board of Directors Meeting Minutes and Governing Records, 1996-2015; Series 2) Financial Records, 1997-2015; Series 3) Administrative Records, 1996-2015; and Series 4) Concerts, Special Events, Publicity, and Digital Records, 1997-2014. All four series contain both paper and digital records and have been further divided to show this structure.
Series 1 is arranged into two sub-series: sub-series 1) Board of Directors Records and sub-series 2) Board of Directors Digital Records.
Series 2 is arranged into two sub-series: sub-series 1) Financial Records and sub-series 2) Financial Digital Records.
Series 3 is arranged into two sub-series: sub-series 1) Administrative Records and sub-series 2) Administrative Digital Records.
Series 4 is arranged into four sub-series: sub-series 1) Concerts Programs, sub-series 2) Special Events and Correspondence, sub-series 3) Publicity, and sub-series 4) Concert Programs, Special Events, and Publicity Digital Records.
Date Acquired: 06/13/2015. More info below under Accruals.
Subjects: American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), Concerts, Fund Raising, Illinois Arts Council, Instrumental music, Local History, Orchestra, Radio Station - WILL, Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Orchestras, Taxes
Formats/Genres: Business Records, Concert Programs, Meeting Minutes
Languages: English
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Consists of business records, financial reports, group bylaws, payroll sheets and performer contracts, meeting minutes, advertisements and publicity reports, photographs, awards, concert programs, computer files, and correspondence documenting the governance, operations, events, and publicity of the Prairie Ensemble chamber orchestra of Champaign-Urbana.
Collection Historical Note
The Prairie Ensemble was founded by Kevin Kelly in 1996 in Champaign-Urbana. As a chamber orchestra, the Prairie Ensemble performed classical music throughout Central Illinois, attempting to make symphonic music more approachable to the community by performing in informal attire across several local indoor and outdoor venues. On occasion the ensemble performed major symphonies and masses by composers like Beethoven, Vaughan Williams, Mahler, Mozart, and Schubert, but they also played contemporary chamber pieces by composers like Virgil Thomson, Jacques Ibert, and Kurt Weill as well as contemporary classics by popular composers like Bernard Rogers, Leonard Bernstein, and George Gershwin. Players within the ensemble were drawn from the community and ranged from professional musicians to gifted amateurs, undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Illinois, and faculty of the University of Illinois. These players did not audition for their seats, but were paid. The ensemble also hosted many guest soloists including both local artists like pianist Ian Hobson, and vocalists Ollie Watts Davis and Jarold Siena as well as nationally-touring performers like pipa player Zhou Yi, violinist Stefan Milenkovich, and cellist Rohan de Silva.
As a non-profit arts organization, the Prairie Ensemble was overseen by a board of volunteers, who filled many roles within the organization. The organization successfully earned several Illinois Arts Council grants, which helped keep the organization opperating throughout the 2000s. After Kelly moved to Chicago in 2014 and due in part to finanical constraints, the Praire Ensemble was disbanded in 2015.
Biographical Note
Kevin Kelly grew up in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. In 1979 he was accepted at Northwestern University, where he earned bachelors degrees in English and music history and criticism. After working as an editor for the Chicago-based publishing house Mosby-Year Book, Kelly moved to Champaign-Urbana to pursue dual masters degrees in orchestral and choral conducting at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Kelly studied conducting with Kenneth Kiesler, Paul Vermel, and Victor Yampolsky. Prior to graduating in 1993, he became the conductor of the East Central Illinois Youth Orchestra and has served in this position for over thirty years. In 1996, Kelly became the host of WILL-FM's classical program "Live and Local." In that same year he founded the Prairie Ensemble, a local chamber orchestra, which operated from 1996 until 2015. Kelly also became the choir director at Emmanuel Memorial Episcopal Church in Champaign in 1996, serving the church for seventeen years.
In 2014, Kelly moved to Chicago where he became the director of the Allegro Community Chorus of Palatine, Illinois, a position he has held for over fifteen years. In addition to his part-time conducting roles in Chicago and Central Illinois, in 2020 Kelly expanded upon his experience as a radio host, becoming a voice actor. Kelly maintains a career as a professional musician as well, singing with several professional choral ensembles in Chicago, including the Chicago Symphony Chorus, the Grant Park Symphony Chorus, The City Musick, Basically Bach and His Majesties Clerkes (now Bella Voce).
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Accruals:
Eleven cubic feet of material from the Prairie Ensemble were acquired from Joe Walter Grant Jr. on June 13, 2015. Computer Files were processed in 2025.
Alternate Extent Statement:
932 Gigabytes
Acquisition Source:
Joe Walter Grant Jr.
Related Materials:
Prairie Ensemble Records 12/9/143
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Board of Directors Meeting Minutes and Governing Records, 1996-2015],
[
Series 2: Financial Records, 1997-2015],
[
Series 3: Administrative Records],
[Series 4: Concerts, Special Events, and Publicity, 1997-2014],
[
All]
- Series 4: Concerts, Special Events, and Publicity, 1997-2014
- Consists of concert programs, event information, and fundraising documentation. Materials are arranged into four sub-series: sub-series 1) Concert Programs; sub-series 2) Special Events and Correspondence; sub-series 3) Publicity; and sub-series 4) Concerts, Special Events, and Publicity Digital Records.
- Sub-Series 1: Concert Programs, 1997-2014
- Consists solely of concert programs documenting Prairie Ensemble performances. Materials are arranged chronologically.
- Box 8
- Folder 10: Concert programs, 1997-2005
- Folder 11: Concert programs, 2005-2006
- Folder 12: Concert programs, 2006-2007
- Folder 13: Concert programs, 2007-2008
- Folder 14: Concert programs, 2008-2009
- Folder 15: Concert programs, 2009-2010
- Folder 16: Concert programs, 2010-2011
- Folder 17: Concert programs, 2011-2012
- Folder 18: Concert programs, 2012-2013
- Folder 19: Concert programs, 2014
- Sub-Series 2: Special Events and Correspondence, 1997-2014
- Consists of correspondence, event planning materials, ticket statistics, concert reviews, and invitation lists documenting Prairie Ensemble events. Materials are arranged by material type and chronologically therein.
- Box 8
- Folder 20: Fundraising: Dinner auctions, 1997-2001
- Folder 21: Fundraising: 6th Annual Winter Solace Dinner, Concert, & Auction, 1998-2002
- Folder 22: Fundraising: Garage sale materials, 2000-2003
- Folder 23: Fundraising: 7th Annual Dinner & Auction, 2003
- Folder 24: Fundraising: Car Raffle materials, 2003-2004
- Folder 25: Fundraising: Dinner auction, 2004
- Folder 26: Fundraising: "An Evening of Traditional Irish Music", 2004-2006
- Folder 27: Fundraising: CXL auction, 2006
- Folder 28: Fundraising: Ebay and Silent Auction, 2006
- Folder 29: Fundraising: Irish Auction materials, March 2007
- Folder 30: Fundraising: CCC Auction, 2007-2008
- Folder 31: Fundraising: Gala, 2009-2011
- Box 9
- Folder 1: Fundraising ideas, 2012-2013
- Folder 2: Fundraising: ticket underwriting, 2000-2002
- Folder 3: Fundraising: concert, "A Taste of Schubert", September 2009
- Folder 4: Fundraising: wine tasting, "Sun Singer", October 2009
- Folder 5: Fundraising: "Well-Orchestrated Evening", 2011-2012
- Folder 6: Fundraising: "An Afternoon of Jazz", August 2011
- Folder 7: Fundraising: Bucky Halker event, October 2011
- Folder 8: Fundraising: concert records and correspondence, March 2012
- Folder 9: Fundraising: Tango Cafe, Summer 2012
- Folder 10: Events: master concert planning timeline, circa 2012
- Folder 11: Events: ticket statistics and concert reviews, 1997-2014
- Folder 12: Events: Virginia Theater information, 2002-2003
- Folder 13: Events: mailing/drawing forms, April 2007
- Folder 14: Events invitation lists, 2007-2008
- Folder 15: Events: concert season, 1996-1997
- Folder 16: Events: concert, "A Taste of Urbana-Champaign", Summer 1997
- Folder 17: Events: concert season, 1997-1998
- Folder 18: Events: concert season, 1998-1999
- Folder 19: Events: concert season, 1999-2000
- Folder 20: Events: concert, "America Crosses Over", March 2000
- Folder 21: Events: concert season, 2000-2001
- Folder 22: Events: concert, "Diversions", July 2000
- Folder 23: Events: concert, "Excursions", October 2000
- Folder 24: Events: concert, "Narrations", February 2001
- Folder 25: Events: concert, "Meditations", April 2001
- Folder 26: Events: concert season, 2001-2002
- Folder 27: Events: concert, WILL-FM "Concert in the Park", June 2001
- Folder 28: Events: concert, "Connections", July 2001
- Folder 29: Events: concert, "Romero Plays Beethoven", October 2001
- Folder 30: Events: concert, Rantoul, "Journey with Prairie Ensemble", February 2002
- Folder 31: Events: concert, "Irony of Youth", April 2002
- Folder 32: Events: concert season, 2002-2003
- Folder 33: Events: Whirlwind Project concert, 2002-2003
- Folder 34: Events: WILL-FM "Concert in the Park", June 2002
- Folder 35: Events: concert, "Not Your Mother's Mozart", September 2002
- Folder 36: Events: concert, "Zoorchestra", October-November 2002
- Folder 37: Events: concert season, "Out on a Whim", 2003-2004
- Folder 38: Events: concert, "Made in America", October 2003
- Folder 39: Events: concert, "Green Eggs & Ham", November 2003
- Folder 40: Events: concert, "Funny Business", January 2004
- Folder 41: Events: concert, "Commedia", May 2004
- Folder 42: Events: concert season, 2004-2005
- Folder 43: Events: 10th concert season, 2005-2006
- Folder 44: Events: concert, "Classic(al) Entertainment, October 2005
- Folder 45: Events: concert, "Toy Story", January 2006
- Folder 46: Events: concert, "That's the Spirit", February 2006
- Folder 47: Events: concert, "Let's Party", April 2006
- Folder 48: Events: film screening, "In Search of Mozart", 2007
- Folder 49: Events: concert season, 2008-2009
- Folder 50: Events: concert, "The Soldier's Tale", January 2010
- Folder 51: Events: concert, "The Club Concert", 2011
- Folder 52: Events: concert, Anglo-American Musical Connections", July 2012
- Folder 53: Events: concert, "A String Thing", February 2014
- Folder 54: Events: concert, "Around the World in One NIght", May 2014
- Folder 55: Events: concert, "A Musical Soiree", July 2014
- Box 11
- Folder 3: Events: WILL FM Concert in the Park flyer, 2001
- Folder 4: Events: WILL FM Concert in the Park flyer, 2002
- Folder 6: Events: "Noah!" concert flyers, 2004
- Folder 7: Events: Concert season flyers, 2005-2006
- Folder 8: Events: Concert season flyers, 2006-2007
- Sub-Series 3: Publicity, 1996-2013
- Consists of promotional booklets and brochures, press releases and press packets, photographs, advertisements, news articles, and videocassettes documenting the publicity efforts of the Prairie Ensemble. Materials are arranged by material type and chronologically therein.
- Box 9
- Folder 56: Promotional information booklet, 2006
- Folder 57: Press releases, 2005-2008
- Folder 58: Brochure preparation and drafts, 2002
- Box 10
- Folder 1: Urbana Public Televsion membership, 2000-2001
- Folder 2: Publicity and other photographs, 2000-2002
- Folder 3: Promotional: Community presentations, 2001
- Folder 4: Regional Directory paperwork, 2002
- Folder 5: Press packet notes, undated
- Folder 6: Prairie Ensemble newsletters, 1998-2002
- Folder 7: Advertising: Spring/Summer calendar of events, 1997
- Folder 8: Champaign County Convention and Visitors Bureau advertisements and calendars, 2001
- Folder 9: TV spots - videocassettes, 2001-2002
- 2 videocasettes
- Folder 10: Publicity video correspondence, 2001
- Folder 11: Advertisement trades, 2011-2013
- Folder 12: Advertising proofs, 2001
- Folder 13: Season advertisers, 1997-2000
- Folder 14: Season advertisers, 2000-2001
- Folder 15: Season advertisers, 2001-2002
- Folder 16: Season advertisers, 2002-2003
- Folder 17: Season advertisers, 2003-2005
- Folder 18: Season advertisers, 2005-2006
- Folder 19: Season advertisers, 2006-2007
- Folder 20: Season advertisers, 2007-2008
- Folder 21: Season advertisers, 2008-2011
- Folder 22: News articles, 1996-1999
- Folder 23: News articles, 2000-2004
- Folder 24: News articles, 2005-2013
- Folder 25: News articles, undated
- Box 11
- Folder 2: News Articles, 1999-2002
- Folder 5: News Articles, 2002-2004
- Folder 9: News Articles, 2008-2009
- Sub-Series 4: Concert Programs, Special Events, and Publicity Digital Records, ca. 2000-2012
- Consists of Floppy Disks and Digital Records. The content of the digital records consists of concert programs, advertisements, events, fundraising documentation, marketing documentation, press releases, and ticket design and sales information. Also contains a small batch of advertising calendars created by Terri Kobel. Materials are arranged alphabetically and chronologically therein. Contact Archivist for Access.
- Box 12
- Item 1: Feb Concert Timeline, ca. 2000
- Floppy Disk. Contains: 2001 Concert Schedule (.xls file type).
- Item 3: Logo Letterhead Envelope, ca. 2000
- Floppy Disk. Contains two designs for the Prairie Ensemble logo (.ai and .jpg file types).
- Item 5: PE Brochure Copy, May 18, 2000
- Floppy Disk. Contains Brochure (.doc file).
- Item 6: PE Fax form, ca. 2000
- Floppy Disk. Label reads: PE Fax Form; Health Sues Cons. Position Line; Dr. Berry Ad; PE Invoice/corporate donor categories; PE Sales ltr.; Individual season ticket; Brochure inserts 1, 2, 3; and Brochure cover, inside and backcovers. Contains: Brochure drafts, Brochure inserts, Donor Categories, Advertisements, Season Ticket Information, Sales Letter to Donors, Invoices, and Fax forms. (.doc and .xls file types).
- Item 7: PE Info Sheet (Revised), ca. 2000
- Floppy Disk. Contains: Labels, Advertising information for local magazines, media ads. (.doc, .wpd, and .docx file types).
- Item 11: Prairie Ensemble Logo Old, ca. 2000
- Floppy Disk. Contains: October Patterns Advertisement. (.doc file).
- Item 13: Prairie Ensemble Sponsor Brochure, ca. 2000
- Floppy Disk. Contains Brochure designs and inserts as well as Emmie Fisher Business Card. (.doc files).
- Item 14: Schedule (Park), 2002
- Floppy Disk. Label reads: Schedule 02 (park); mac can't read. Contains: Park Personnel list and schedule for 2002. (.xls and .doc file types).
- Digital Object 4: Concerts, Special Events, and Publicity, 2003-2014
- Digital Folder 1: Advertising, 2003-2007
- Digital Folder 1A: 2 for 1 Coupons, 2005-2008
- Digital Folder 1B: Advertisers, 2003-2007
- Digital Folder 2: Advertising, 2007-2008
- Digital Folder 3: Advertising, 2008-2009
- Digital Folder 3A: Ad Copy, 2008-2009
- Digital Folder 3B: Advertisers, 2008-2009
- Digital Folder 4: Advertising, 2009-2010
- Digital Folder 4A: 2 for 1 Coupons, 2009-2010
- Digital Folder 4B: Advertisers, 2009-2010
- Digital Folder 4C: Advertisers and Sponsors Artwork, 2009-2010
- Digital Folder 4D: Potential New, 2009-2010
- Digital Folder 4E: TPE's Ads in Publications, 2009-2010
- Digital Folder 5: Advertising, 2010-2011
- Digital Folder 5A: Advertisers, 2010-2011
- Digital Folder 5B: TPE's Ads in Publications, 2010-2011
- Digital Folder 6: Advertising, 2011-2012
- Digital Folder 6A: 2009-2010 Advertisers, 2009-2012
- Digital Folder 6B: 2010-2011 Advertisers, 2010-2012
- Digital Folder 6C: Advertisers, 2011-2012
- Digital Folder 6D: Pre-2009 Advertisers, 2003-2012
- Digital Folder 6E: TPE's Ads in Publications, 2011-2012
- Digital Folder 7: Advertising, 2012-2013
- Digital Folder 7A : 2011-2012 Advertisers, 2011-2013
- Digital Folder 7B: Advertisers, 2012-2013
- Digital Folder 7C: Past Advertisers Not Renewing in 2011-2012, 2003-2012
- Digital Folder 7D: TPE's Ads in Publications, 2012-2013
- Digital Folder 8: Advertising Documents, 2008-2012
- Digital Folder 9: Box Dinners, 2007-2008
- Digital Folder 10: Box Dinners, 2008-2009
- Digital Folder 11: Box Dinners, 2009-2010
- Digital Folder 12: Champaign Urbana Media Companies List, 2011
- Digital Folder 13: Concert Programs, 2005-2007
- Digital Folder 14: Concert Programs, 2008-2009
- Digital Folder 14A: 2008 Program Notes, 2008-2009
- Digital Folder 14B: April 2009
- Digital Folder 14C: February 2009
- Digital Folder 14D: November 2008
- Digital Folder 14E: September 2008
- Digital Folder 15: Concert Programs, 2009-2010
- Digital Folder 15A: April 2010
- Digital Folder 15B: January 2010
- Digital Folder 15C: October 2009
- Digital Folder 15D: Program Notes, 2009-2010
- Digital Folder 15E: Season Information, 2009-2010
- Digital Folder 15F: September 2009
- Digital Folder 16: Concert Programs, 2010-2011
- Digital Folder 17: Concert Programs, 2011-2012
- Digital Folder 18: Concert Programs, 2012-2013
- Digital Folder 19: Concert Programs, 2013-2014
- Digital Folder 20: Dinner Dance Auction, 2006
- Digital Folder 21: Fundraising, 2007-2008
- Digital Folder 21A: Auction, 2007-2008
- Digital Folder 21B: Gala, 2007
- Digital Folder 21C: Gala, 2008
- Digital Folder 22: Fundraising, 2008-2009
- Digital Folder 22A: Don and Judy Nolen Well Orchestrated Evening (WOE) Files, 2009
- Digital Folder 22B: Gala, 2009
- Digital Folder 22C: WOE Attendees, 2009
- Digital Folder 23: Fundraising, 2009-2010
- Digital Folder 23A: Milo's Event (March), 2010
- Digital Folder 23B: October Wine Tasting at Sun Singer, 2009
- Digital Folder 24: Fundraising, 2010-2011
- Digital Folder 25: Fundraising, 2011-2012
- Digital Folder 25A: Bucky Halker October, 2011
- Digital Folder 25B: Fundraiser Information, 2011-2012
- Digital Folder 25C: Milo's Event, 2011
- Digital Folder 25D: Tango Cafe, 2011-2012
- Digital Folder 25E: WOE, 2011-2012
- Digital Folder 26: Fundraising, 2012-2013
- Digital Folder 27: Fundraising Committee Meetings, 2007
- Digital Folder 28: Marketing Materials, 2008-2009
- Digital Folder 29: Marketing Materials, 2009-2010
- Digital Folder 29A: April Conceirge Magazine, 2009
- Digital Folder 29B: Brochure Photos for N-G, 2009
- Digital Folder 29C: Postcards, Brochures, and Posters, 2009-2010
- Digital Folder 30: Marketing Materials, 2010-2011
- Digital Folder 31: Marketing Materials, 2011-2012
- Digital Folder 32: Marketing Materials, 2012-2013
- Digital Folder 33: Poster Location Lists, 2009-2012
- Digital Folder 34: Prairie Ensemble Logo, ca. 2005
- Digital Folder 35: Press Releases, 2005-2006
- Digital Folder 36: Press Releases, 2006-2007
- Digital Folder 37: Press Releases, 2007-2008
- Digital Folder 38: Press Releases, 2008-2009
- Digital Folder 39: Press Releases, 2009-2010
- Digital Folder 40: Press Releases, 2010-2011
- Digital Folder 41: Press Releases, 2011-2012
- Digital Folder 42: Press Releases, 2012-2013
- Digital Folder 43: Solo Artist Photographs, ca. 2008-2014
- Digital Folder 44: Teri Kobel Advertising Calendars, 2008
- Digital Folder 45: Ticket Info, 2006-2007
- Digital Folder 46: Ticket Info, 2007-2008
- Digital Folder 47: Ticket Info, 2008-2009
- Digital Folder 48: Ticket Info, 2009-2010
- Digital Folder 49: Ticket Info, 2010-2011
- Digital Folder 50: Ticket Info, 2011-2012
- Digital Folder 51: Ticket Info, 2012-2013
- Digital Folder 52: Ticket Info, 2013-2014
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Board of Directors Meeting Minutes and Governing Records, 1996-2015],
[
Series 2: Financial Records, 1997-2015],
[
Series 3: Administrative Records],
[Series 4: Concerts, Special Events, and Publicity, 1997-2014],
[
All]
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