SAXTONS RIVER — Musicians Ken and Julie Olsson will kick off the fourth annual Taste of the Arts series at Main Street Arts (MSA) Thursday, Oct. 13, at 6 p.m. by telling their love story through song.
Taste of the Arts features local personalities with interesting stories to tell over a catered meal in an informal setting. Reservations are requested at least three days in advance.
Ken Olsson was musical director of the MSA productions of H.M.S. Pinafore, The Gondoliers, and High Button Shoes, and he and Julie will be co-directing The Mystery of Edwin Drood at MSA in March.
Although they have been performing as the Dynamic Two-O for a few short years, the Olssons' musical collaboration goes back more than 25 years.
Both grew up in southeastern Connecticut, attending the same school system and church. Julie attended Ithaca College and was followed there four years later by Ken. In Ithaca, their relationship and musical collaboration began, but after a few short years, Ken and Julie went their separate ways.
Julie went on to graduate studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. While there, she joined the Lyric Opera of Kansas City and began to pursue a career in opera. She has been featured in productions of Die Fledermaus, Suor Angelica, The Magic Flute, The Marriage of Figaro, and Madama Butterfly.
Meanwhile, Ken stayed in Central New York and worked with Tri-Cities Opera in Binghamton, N.Y. He was a vocal coach and accompanist at Binghamton University and became an accompanist and music director for the musical theater program at Elmira College. He went on to become an assistant conductor with Syracuse Opera and was involved in many productions, including Macbeth, Otello, La Traviata, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, and The Magic Flute.
The couple reunited after 14 years, were married in 2007, and moved to Vermont to spread the joy of music through their teachings and performances. Locally, they produced Amahl and the Night Visitors at the Jamaica Town Hall.
The Olssons have also made appearances with Opera Theatre of Weston and Raylynmor Opera in Keene, N.H.
Julie will also present a voice recital at the Guilford Community Church as part of the Friends of Music at Guilford concert series.
This year's Taste of the Arts series will also feature painter Charlie Hunter (Nov. 10); Bob Wilson, author of Vermont Curiosities (Jan. 12); and travelers Eric and David Robinson (Feb. 9).
The series is offered as a fundraiser for Main Street Arts. Admission is $50 per person for all four events or $15 per event. Children accompanied by an adult may attend for $5.
Tickets are available at Main Street Arts or online. More information is available by contacting MSA at (802) 869-2960 or by email.