Poet and author Sandra Soli will share her poetry at The Performing Arts Studio Second Sunday Poetry Reading on March 9.  There is no admission charge for the reading, which begins at 2:00 in the Norman Depot, 200 South Jones Avenue. 

Soli’s first love, she says, has always been poetry.  Her poetry chapbooks, Silvering the Flute and What Trees Know, were both named finalists for the Oklahoma Book Award.  Her first poems and short fiction were published before she reached the age of 20. 

Soli’s work has appeared widely in national journals, featured on NPR Radio, and has received many literary honors, including UCO's Marilyn Harris undergraduate writing award, LSU's Eyster Prize in Poetry, and Author of the Month for Highlights Magazine for Children.  She has also been a finalist for several national book prizes.

Among her careers, Sandra Soli spent more than a dozen years as a radio broadcaster, hosting both morning and late-night programs in Lawton, OK. She served a stint as Tokyo Rose for the U.S. Army, narrated a Tulsa Chamber of Commerce film about the Port of Catoosa, and was part of more than 50 productions as actor, choreographer, and director in regional and community theaters in the U.S. and Europe. 

Soli holds a B.A. in communications/theater and an honors M.A. in English/creative studies.  After marrying and moving to Oklahoma City, Sandra spent a decade traveling as an Oklahoma poet-in-residence, working with more than 5,000 students statewide.  That was followed by nine years as columnist and poetry editor for ByLine magazine.  She continues to speak and conduct workshops for writers of all ages.

Series host Carl Sennhenn says “I am sure our audience at the Depot will like Sandra’s poetry — and her.”

For additional concert information, contact The Performing Arts Studio at 405-307-9320.  PAS office hours in the Depot are Tuesday through Friday from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, and Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00.

Antje Duvekot

“Her songs are stunning paintings of color and shade, and always generate the heat and light that real art should.” says Neil Dorfsman, legendary producer of CDs by Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, and Dire Straits. 

“I think she is going to be the next great American songwriter.  She is writing songs we need to hear right now.” says folk-pop star Ellis Paul.  “She gives us these fresh twists on what we take for granted as the obvious, and reminds us we are all partners with the victims, in a sense.” 

Duvekot sings and writes as though she thinks songs are important; not a means to an end, but tools of survival.  And, for her, that is what they have been.

Christopher Williams at the Norman Depot

Williams was the very first Winter Wind performer, opening the then new concert series in October of 2005.  His performance style of intense passion mixed with humor, his lush guitar work and his sweet soaring vocals, made him a favorite.  His facility with a single djembe hand drum brought enthusiastic audience response.  

Featured on the main stage of many of the nation’s finest folk festivals, including New York’s Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Colorado’s Rocky Mountain Folks Fest, Texas’ Kerrville Folk festival and Oklahoma’s own Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, and touring nonstop nationally for the last ten years, Williams has built a faithful following of listeners in Oklahoma and around the country. 

One of his Oklahoma fans is Winter Wind Committee member Emily Giles.  “The first time I heard Christopher I was blown away by his talent – I became an instant fan.  He brings such energy to the stage and passion through his music. He amazes me every time I hear him.” Giles says.

Dr. Jennifer Kidney

Kidney’s award winning poetry has been published in numerous magazines and journals.  She has been performing her poetry since 1968 when she won the Great Lakes College Association Poetry Contest and did a reading tour of member colleges.

Among numerous other readings, Kidney has read at the SCLMA convention in New Orleans; the opening of the Dallas Museum of Art; for Paperback Books in Mesquite and Dallas, Texas; libraries across the country; and several venues in Norman.  In the spring of 2005, she was one of ten poets invited to give readings for the Sundown Poetry Series, which is part of the prestigious annual Spoleto Festival hosted by the City of Charleston, South Carolina.

Kidney received her B.A. with Highest Honors in English, from Oberlin College and her Master’s and Ph.D. in English from Yale University.  She has more than twenty years of college-level teaching experience.  She has taught creative writing for adults and children, has worked as a poet-in-the-schools for the Oklahoma Arts Council and, since 1988, has been Director of Let’s Talk About it, Oklahoma, a statewide humanities-based reading and discussion project for libraries and other nonprofit organizations.