Multi-instrumentalist Todd Green to perform in Sidney

One-man-band Todd Green will transform the Sidney High School Auditorium into a tour of several different countries and their diverse styles of music.

Green will perform original music on more than 30 acoustic string, flute and percussion instruments from all over the world, inspired by many different cultures in the Middle East, Central Asia, the Far East and South America. He will also be using a custom built electronic system that allows him to layer instruments as he performs.

The concert will be held at Sidney's Fine Arts Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

"I started when I was a little kid and heard the album 'Meet the Beatles!' and I just totally fell in love with it," Green said. "I originally wanted to play the drums, but my mom didn't want an eight year old playing the snare."

At the age of 10, Green began studying guitar.

"I was taking lessons, but I wasn't learning fast enough, so I started writing my own music and forming bands," he added.

He has been writing and performing his own music professionally since the age of 15.

Green studied composition and arrangement at Berklee College of Music in Boston. During that time, he was also studying privately with Mick Goodrich, a jazz guitar legend at New England Conservatory of Music; Pat Metheny, a Grammy Award-winning guitarist; and George Benson, an international recording star.

He became fascinated with the blues and jazz genres, and after five years in Boston, he moved to New York City where he performed with the top echelon of studio musicians and was able to tour with bands throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe.

"In the early '90s, I did my first solo performance with a looper guitar synthesizer," he said. "It really got me interested in learning more while improvising in my blues, jazz and western music. There's a lot of improvisation in my performances, every concert is a unique experience."

While he is touring and playing for communities, he is also involved in an outreach school program. Green takes students on a tour of musical instruments from around the world while holding demonstrations.

"Students have the most genuine interest and really open their minds and ears up to something they didn't even know existed," he said. "To me, that is the most fun thing. It's essential for kids to get exposed and pick up an instrument just to have that experience."

Green isn't a stranger to Sidney or the state. He first played in Sidney nearly 15 years ago.

"Nebraska and Minnesota are the two best states for bringing in performing artists," he said. "It's really rewarding and nice to see people coming to these states to play, especially when there has been so many budget cuts in school for the arts. These two states are also the best places to perform in. I've done 25 to 30 different performances in Nebraska,"

His artistic mission is to "help bring down the barriers that divide us by experiencing other cultures through their music."

Despite what your personal music interests include, Green's concert promises to combine elements of both familiar and unfamiliar sounds.

The event is hosted by the High Plaines Arts Council, Nebraska Arts Council and the Mid-America Arts Alliance.