Boulder already hosts a music and arts festival each September, and the Headwaters Country Jam music festival which draws more than 4,000 attendees to Cardwell each year.
“We are by no means a musical desert here in Boulder, and we have a decent number of events every year,” said Boulder resident Debbie Gabse. “But it’s mostly country and western. We live in Montana, and it’s both lovely and what you’d expect. But I really feel there’s room for variety, and introducing people to new things.”
That’s why Gabse founded the Boulder Montana Arts Council, which aims to increase the number and variety of musical performances held in Boulder, in late 2023. She recently acquired a donated baby grand piano that will allow her organization to host visiting pianists for local concerts.
Gabse secured the piano from Bozeman resident Regina Seagrave, who sought to donate the instrument after the passing of her husband. Most of the Arts Council’s $1,300 in private donations went towards relocating the piano to the Boulder United Methodist Church, whose leadership has agreed to house the instrument, and towards tuning and refurbishing costs.
While Gabse intends to invite pianists to perform in Boulder, she will also solicit other musicians and musical groups. “We’ll probably do some folk and indigenous music, too,” she said. “We’re just getting started, but I’m hoping to do at least one event every three months, or so.”
The Arts Council hosted an event in partnership with the Jefferson High School Jazz Band in the spring of 2024, but has yet to schedule a new concert. Operating under the umbrella of the Boulder Chamber of Commerce, it is presently seeking board members in hopes of increasing its local presence and looking for additional funds.
“At this point, [the Arts Council] is just me,” said Gabse. “But I’d really like to have two or three board members, and a working board, at that. I’d love to find people who want to be hands on in cultivating new concert events, and baking for them! And, yes, we’ll keep inviting donations. But we can also go for grants, which I”ve never done before.”
The Arts Council will solicit grant-seeking support from the Boulder Chamber once a more formal leadership team has been established. Gabse has identified potential grants from Humanities Montana, the Montana Chamber Music Society, and the Red Ants Pants Foundation.
“There is a real love for music here, in Boulder,” said Gabse. “Anything I can do to increase the number of performances here is worthwhile.”
