About the "Sand-Between-the-Toes" Performers

Sheldon Sands

A gifted composer, keyboardist, teacher and concert producer, Sheldon Sands’ dizzying array of musical projects this year alone have included performances with the Rachid Halihal Ensemble (Middle Eastern Music), the Boulder Klezmer Orchestra, Soul Sacrifice/a tribute to Santana, Bat Kol (Sacred Jewish Liturgic Music), Barbara Edwards (Vocalist), Wildflower School of Music, and Marta Burton/ Stray Dog (Sand-Between-the-Toes). He is the musical director at Boulder's Congregation Nevei Kodesh, and through the vehicle of Shalhevet Productions produces concerts of world music, with an emphasis on promoting understanding and peace between people of diverse cultures.

In 1995 Sands released "Across Many Oceans," a critically acclaimed CD of original compositions that cross cultural borders, celebrating our planet's human and ecological diversity in a light-hearted journey through multiple ethnic and contemporary styles. In 1997 Sheldon was awarded a seven month artistic residency in Arad, Israel. His time there provided a rich opportunity to study Middle Eastern music, compose, roam the desert and to get deeply in touch with the spirit of the land and its diverse peoples, culminating in a series of recording sessions in Tel Aviv in the Spring of 1998 with some of Israel's top Jewish and Arabic musicians. The much acclaimed CD, "Dead Sea Strolls," was released in March 2002. www.sheldonsands.com

Marta Burton

Marta Burton’s exceptional gifts as a concert artist have brought her into concert halls and theatres throughout the U.S. and abroad. She has starred with dozens of major orchestras including the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center. Her symphonic performances in A Celtic Celebration: Music of the Emerald Isle and A Celtic Faire: Starring Divine Celtica and Christopher Layer have been described as “hauntingly beautiful, spellbinding and soaring.” She is a leading interpreter of the poetry and songs of Robert Burns and is a frequent guest of the Moab Music Festival. www.martaburton.com

Stray Dog

Stray Dog is a Denver based band that plays their own brand of original acoustic and traditional music. “A peculiar blend of Irish, folk, blues and bluegrass distilled in Denver’s own backyard.” Anne Zinschlag, Eric Woods, Joe Rigley and Jeff Hooton are Stray Dog. They draw upon a diverse musical appreciation, instrumentation and background. “People find our music uplifting. We have a great time playing together and our audience feeds off this." www.straydogcolorado.com

A sign language interpreter will be provided upon request with five business days notice. Call 720-913-8484 TTY or contact Lorrie.Kosinski@ci.denver.co.us.