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Resounds: YAM Art Auction, Ignacio Barrón Viela

Anna Paige

On this episode of Resounds, co-hosts Anna Paige and Corby Skinner sit down with Yellowstone Art Museum Executive Director Bryan Knicely to discuss the 51st annual Art Auction. Then, Corby and Anna welcome Ignacio Barrón Viela to the region as the new Executive Director of the Billings Symphony Orchestra and Chorale.

Every year, the Yellowstone Art Auction raises crucial support for the exhibitions and educational programs that the Yellowstone Art Museum presents to the community year-round. Executive Director Bryan Knicely discussed some new formats for the annual event.

Credit courtesy Brian Knicely
Brian Knicely

  This year, the YAM offered three distinct events, all in conjunction with the Yellowstone Art Auction. January 25 kicked off the festivities with Cocktails & Quick Finish and Special One-Night-Only Silent Auction featuring 10 quick-draw artists, a one-night-only silent auction of approximately 40 works, entertainment and hors d’oeuvres.

The Museum is also hosting a meet the artists’ reception on Friday, March 8, 2019, giving ticket holding patrons the opportunity to meet the artists prior to the big night.

Saturday, March 9 is the Art Museum’s 51st annual Live Auction featuring work by Kevin Red Star, Josh DeWeese, Ben Pease, Neltje, Theodore Waddell, and other contemporary regional artists. The auction also features work by internationally recognized artists Salvador Dali, Alexander Calder and Ira Reines.

In January of this year The Billings Symphony Orchestra & Chorale welcomes new Executive Director, Ignacio Barrón Viela.

Originally from Spain, Ignacio was born in Zaragoza, where he studied music and engineering. He is a classically trained cellist and was a cellist while serving as General Orchestra Manager of the Heinrich Heine Orchestra in Dusseldorf, Germany. During his tenure with the Heinrich Heine Orchestra, he was responsible for all aspects of the orchestra’s operations, fundraising, finances, budgeting and planning, as well as coordination of international orchestra tours, concert programs and participation in international festivals.

Ignacio was also principal cellist with the Nottingham Philharmonic Orchestra in the UK. Recently, he was a member of the USC Orchestra in Los Angeles, CA. and has spent more than ten years playing in orchestras and managing music projects worldwide.

Ignacio is a warm, energetic and engaging young man and is extremely excited to find a position that matches his passion for a leadership career with a symphony and chorale and hopes to build more community partnerships between the Billings Symphony and other cultural and educational institutions. 

Anna Paige is a Montana-based journalist, poet and educator. She is originally from Wyoming and has lived in Billings for more than a decade, where she co-founded Young Poets, winner of the 2021 Library of Congress Award for Literacy.
Corby Skinner is an independent marketing professional with an enormous capacity for assessing issues and creating positive, effective messages.
Ken Siebert began work at YPR in 1992 as a part-time, evening board operator. He was hired full time in 1994.