The Performing Arts Committee of the Community Church of the Verdes has announced the schedule of concerts and lectures for the upcoming 2025 season.

The concert series opens with Spinphony Friday, Jan. 10.  This female electric quartet is breaking down barriers between classical, rock, and pop music, mixing and mashing catchy melodies into their own unique arrangements.

Americana performs Friday, Feb. 7. The group pays tribute to the music of the ‘60s and ‘70s with music from the Mamas and Papas, Simon and Garfunkel, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Carole King, Credence Clearwater, Linda Ronstadt and more.  

TOBY, A Tribute to Toby Keith is Friday, March 7. The concert is a ride through the heart and soul of country music with the ultimate tribute band to the bad boy of country music. Hollywood Yates takes center stage singing country music anthems like “How Do You Like Me Now,” “Should Have Been a Cowboy” and “I Love This Bar.” 

All concerts start at 7 p.m. Single concerts are $40; concert Series is $100.

Tickets may be purchased for single concerts or the series of three concerts, anytime during church office hours, Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; or at the table in the Rio Verde Post Office, from 4 to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday the week of each concert.

Residents are also welcome to the series of free lectures with no advanced registration required.

The series opens Monday, Jan. 13,  with Kenn Kington who is probably best known as a comedian. He has had six comedy specials, appeared on Comedy Central, Netflix and is currently one of the most played comics on XM Radio. He has a new Dry Bar Comedy special and an award-winning comedy special currently on Amazon Prime. His appearance on Focus on the Family was awarded Best Show of 2020.  His most recent book is “Every Day is a Bonus.”

Monday, Jan. 27, Gen. David Fridovich is the speaker. From 1974 to 2011, Fridovich was on a journey of self-discovery as he pursued what became a fulfilling career as a professional soldier. The conversation we’ll have is his sharing of discoveries, in search of an answer, along his chosen path that spanned over 37 years.

Monday, Feb. 3, Sarah Kearney who leads Blue Zones Project in Scottsdale will present. Her leadership experience is diverse and rooted in community optimism, service and well-being. What does it take to live healthier and longer? Genetics play a role, but lifestyle is a more reliable predictor. Five regions of the world have been designated as “Blue Zones,” where people have consistently lived to be more than 100 years old. Individuals in these areas have been found to engage in activities and habits that lead to a higher quality of life as they age.

The series continues Monday, Feb. 17, with David Danford, Director of Business and Industry at Hillsdale College. He will speak about the free “Online Courses for Lifelong Learners” offered through Hillsdale College.

The lectures conclude on Monday, March 10, with Pat Miles. After losing her husband to cancer, Miles found healing by writing about grief, loss and planning her own mortality. She reveals how her husband’s untimely death affected every aspect of her life and parallels how others have dealt with the grief, financial upsets and daily life changes that come with a painful loss.

Pat will prepare us for problems such as the shock of loss, cognitive decline, finding support, grieving, family disputes and caring for yourself after the loss.

The lectures take place at 4 p.m. All events are at the Community Church of the Verdes.