The Troy Arts Council has “stepped out.’

That’s the way Elaine Blair, Troy Arts Council patrons chair, described the “different” atmosphere of the arts council’s Patrons’ Reception on Sept. 1.

And different it was.

The reception featured highly acclaimed guitarist and one-man band, Michael Kelsey, in a mini-concert and he was “just fabulous.”

“Michael Kelsey is very different and very entertaining,” Blair said. “The reception was kind of a step out for us and everybody really seemed to enjoy it, from the young people to the older ones. We all enjoyed his music. He made sounds that you don’t expect to hear from a guitar. It was really amazing.”

The reception was held at The Cultural Arts Studio and it was packed for both of Kelsey’s sets.

“We had a large number of Troy University students,” Blair said. “Several of them became patrons and we are looking forward to going down a different avenue and attracting more college students to our programs.”

The Troy Arts Council’s Patrons Drive is under way going full steam ahead. Blair said it’s exciting to go to the mailbox.

“I’ve been mailing tickets and that’s what we like to do,” she said. ‘The Patrons Drive is going really well.”

The Patrons’ tickets offer a season of quality and varied entertainment at a great price.

Patrons’ support that includes season tickets begins at the Supporter level for $75 and one season ticket and increases to the Grand Benefactor level for $400 with six season tickets.

“The TAC’s 2009-2010 Season kicks off on Sept. 22, with Tuck and Patti who are primarily jazz performers but play all kinds of music including Rogers and Hammerstein and Johnny Mercer.

“She was raised in San Francisco and went to the Concert Hall and he was raised on The Beatles and that genre,” Blair said.

“It’s interesting how they have come together in their own music form.”

Other calendar season performances at the Claudia Crosby Theater include, the Austin Lounge Lizards, Shelia Jackson and Company, Dallas Brass, The Rose Ensemble, Spivey Hall Children’s Choir and the South Alabama Community Band and TAC Awards.

“This year we are offering our patrons the opportunity to pay on-line at www.troyartscouncil.com,” Blair said.

“Just follow the instructions and you’ll be able to pay on line and receive a printable ticket. We will get notification of the purchase so we can cross-reference.

The Troy Arts Council will have a record and the patron will have a printable copy.”

Tickets are also available by calling the TAC at 670-2288.

If no answer, leave a message and your call will be returned.