Couple's talents will highlight coffeehouse

The Galva Arts Council will kick off its 15th coffehouse season on Saturday, Oct. 11.

The evening’s featured artists will be two Galva residents who are new to the GAC coffeehouse stage, Roy David Magnuson and his wife, Shannon Maney-Magnuson. They will offer an evening of original piano music and poetry.

Roy has composed music for concert band, wind ensemble, orchestra, chamber ensembles, vocalists, video games and films. 

His works for wind ensemble have been performed throughout the U.S. by high school, university and professional ensembles including Illinois State University, Ithaca College, the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, and the Air Force Band of Mid-America. 

His awards for composition include the Mary Jo Brown Award and Charles Bolen Award from Illinois State University.

Roy also received the Smadbeck Award for composition at Ithaca College and was selected as the first winner of the Kulmusick contest sponsored by the new music ensemble at Ithaca College.

Shannon’s new book is called “Homebody Is Where the Heart Is” (Turtle Ink Press.) She is a “baker, wife, and dog owner” who has presented her work in venues including the Urbana Poetry Slam in Manhattan and Mental Graffiti in Chicago.

Her work was featured on the poetry album, “Attack of the Urbanabots!” She was a co-host of the Ear Candy Poetry Slam in Normal, and is a co-curator of a new monthly, multi-generational, multi-genre show beginning in Chicago this December called “The Encyclopedia Show.”

An open-mic segment will follow the featured artists, with all interested performers, including musicians, actors, poets, readers and visual artists, invited to participate.

Doors open at 7 p.m., with the featured performance starting at 7:30. 

Refreshments are provided and admission is free, though donations are gratefully accepted.

The coffeehouse is located in the GAC building downtown.

Interested performers can contact emcee John Sloan at 932-2413 for more information.