By Tammy Watts

DailyAdvocate.com

GREENVILLE — “A Taste of Wine and Jazz” was held at Montage Café on Friday, Jan. 21, to benefit the Darke County Center for the Arts (DCCA). The sold-out event featured the Deron Bell Band from Dayton, which entertained guests with a wide range of music: jazz, blues, funk, and ended with some gospel songs. From the mellow tones of “Fly Me to the Moon,” while event goers chatted and mingled, to a rendition of “Mustang Sally” that had many vying for space on the dance floor as the evening progressed, the delighted audience asked for multiple encores. Guests enjoyed a wide selection of wines, beers, cheeses, hors d’ouvres, and chocolate covered strawberries.

“The night is amazing,” Bell said, and thanked the DCCA, Montage, and sponsors, including Fry and Company, Edward Jones Financial Advisors, Zach Bruening, Dave Connelly, Todd Subler, Alisha Weiss, and Geoff and Jessie Surber, for over a decade of continuous support.

While A Taste of Wine and Jazz is a party, it is first and foremost one of DCCA’s biggest fundraisers of the year.

“The events are great, but it’s also about what we do,” said DCCA Executive Director Andrea Jordan. Money raised will be used to fund DCCA programming, including the organization’s Arts In Education series, which brings top-notch artists to perform for students in every grade, at all local public schools. The DCCA’s mission of presenting and promoting performing and fine arts, also includes a commitment to the preservation of Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall, as an important cultural center in the community.

The DCCA’s other major fundraiser, Irish Wave, is scheduled for Friday, March 18, 2022, at Montage Café. Tickets are on sale for $40, and can be reserved by contacting DCCA at (937) 547-0908, or [email protected]. They can be purchased online at DarkeCountyArts.org, or at Montage Cafe.

Daily Advocate reporter Tammy Watts can be reached at [email protected].