The Nelson Family Band will be featured in Monday’s M.V. Performing Arts Council concert highlighting the musical legacy of one local family.

The Moapa Valley Performing Arts council will celebrate a musical legacy that spans six generations – so far – in a concert on Monday, January 23 at 7 p.m. in the MVHS Ron Dalley auditorium. Called “Our Musical Heritage,” the performance will pay tribute to a local family’s musical heritage, and illustrate how it has helped develop the valley’s musical heritage, and in a larger sense reflects the musical heritage of the nation as a whole.

Imagine a family tree with a musical note beside each person’s name who had outstanding musical talent. If Connie Whitney had such a family tree, almost every name appearing would show a musical note – or two or three.

Of course, that includes Connie herself. Connie is well known locally as an outstanding piano teacher, excellent pianist and accompanist who has given of her talent to the valley over most of the eighty-plus years she has lived here.

Above her would be her grandmother, Ada Waymire, the first piano teacher in the valley, beginning in 1924. Next would be her mother, Emma, a gifted pianist who married Ada’s son Robert.

In the generation just below Connie would be her own children, Susan Whipple, Gaye Nelson, Bruce Whitney and Judy Tanner, with musical notes by their names. And then there would be Connie’s grandchildren, many with their own musical notes. Finally are Connie’s great-grandchildren, some already with little musical notes beginning to emerge by their names.

On Monday night, family members from Connie on down will participate in the program. The concert with start with a rememberance of dance music from the early days of the 20th century in the valley, where community dances and the bands that played for them were a big part of the family fun of the community. Ada, Emma, and then Connie all played in local dance bands at various times.

The concert will continue with music from historic choir and band programs at Moapa Valley High School, not to mention the many musicals performed annually when the school drama and music programs combined. Gaye Nelson directed a successful choral program and piano lab at Moapa Valley High School for 5 years.

The family has also shared their musical abilities freely in local church services for decades, as they are still doing. Some of these will be featured as well.

Gaye married Jack Nelson, also a talented musician and music lover with a life-long passion for the guitar. With their children, Kristi, Jill and Dustin, they formed the Nelson Family Band, which features Bluegrass music along with other fun music of many kinds. They will be heard in the program.

Also Connie Whitney and daughters will be playing 8-hand piano pieces (it takes two pianos). Gaye with daughters will play classical music accompanied by piano and harpsichord in various combinations.

The whole family together, in various combinations, will create a musical feast that will make the rafters ring at the Ron Dalley Theatre. Don’t miss seeing and hearing the valley’s own version of the Von Trapp family. If only great-great-grandmother Ada could see them now. Who knows, perhaps she will be there, too!