Stay in Touch with MDC news, newsletters, events, and manage your subscription
Xplor reconnects kids to nature and helps them find adventure in their own backyard. Free to residents of Missouri.
A monthly publication about conservation in Missouri. Started in 1938, the printed magazine is free to residents of Missouri.
Kirkwood, Mo.— The Missouri Department of Conservation's (MDC) Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center invites you to discover nature through music. The nature center will present a special concert by musicians Mike Fraser and Tenley Hansen on Friday, March 22, at 7 p.m.
Fraser, an accomplished Ozark fiddler and partner Hansen specialize in performing old-time Ozark folk tunes. Honoring a long-time tradition of music and storytelling, the duo weaves into their presentation tales of Ozark history and Scots-Irish culture to create an engaging blend of songs and spoken word. The Scots-Irish people settled in the hardscrabble Ozarks after migrating west from the Appalachian country, and gave the region much of its unique character. The concert promises an enjoyable mix of entertainment and education suitable for the whole family.
Fraser and Hansen draw much of their inspiration from Aldo Leopold, author of A Sand County Almanac and considered by many the father of modern conservation. In addition to timeless, traditional songs, the performance will include some of the duo’s original compositions inspired by Leopold’s teachings.
During the concert, Fraser and Hansen will feature a special tribute to the late Douglas County fiddler Bob Holt. Holt was a recipient of Smithsonian Institute’s Heritage Award for his teaching of traditional Ozark square dance fiddle.
Fraser’s fiddle playing has been featured on the albums Voices of the Hills, A Journey to Shannon County and Fiddles and Forests, both produced by MDC. The CDs are available for purchase at MDC offices and online through mdcnatureshop.com.
The concert is free and open to the public. Space is limited and advanced registration is required by calling 314-301-1500.
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center is located at 11715 Cragwold Road in Kirkwood, near the intersection of I-270 and I-44. It is managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation and has been helping people discover nature through innovative programs for more than 20 years.
