Parisian Excursion: Where Music Meets Art at the Rita Deanin Abbey Art Museum in Las Vegas

There are evenings when everything simply comes together.

On June 9, I drove through the desert landscape of northwest Las Vegas to attend Parisian Excursion, presented by Desert Roots Rising Stars at the Rita Deanin Abbey Art Museum.

Founded by violinist, educator, and arts advocate Shakeh Ghoukasian, Desert Roots Rising Stars is a Las Vegas nonprofit dedicated to nurturing the next generation of musicians through mentorship, performance opportunities, and access to accomplished artists.

I expected an evening of classical music. What I discovered was something I hadn't expected. The evening wasn't just about listening to music; it was about experiencing how music, art, and people can influence one another.

The first surprise was the museum itself.

The Rita Deanin Abbey Art Museum rises from the desert landscape of northwest Las Vegas.

Rising unexpectedly from the desert against a backdrop of mountains and open sky, the Rita Deanin Abbey Art Museum feels like a hidden cultural treasure. The expansive galleries, soaring ceilings, and monumental works of art create a sense of anticipation before a single note of music is played.

As an artist, I immediately found myself captivated by the setting. The museum's vibrant paintings and sculptures seemed alive with movement and energy, making it the perfect venue for an event built around the relationship between visual art and music.

The evening opened in the main gallery with Ruth Crawford Seeger's String Quartet III, Andante, performed before Rita Deanin Abbey's Kelp Forest (2012).

The first performance took place before Rita Deanin Abbey's Kelp Forest (2012).

The pairing felt especially fitting. Abbey's work explores color, line, texture, pattern, and form as a way of understanding the interconnectedness of the world around us. In describing her artistic process, Abbey wrote of her desire to discover "deeply felt distinctive images" while embracing change, motion, curiosity, and discovery.

As the musicians performed, I found myself moving between listening to the music and studying the artwork behind them. The composition's flowing forms and vibrant colors seemed to echo the tension and movement within the piece itself. It was easy to see why the organizers chose this setting. The music and artwork felt as though they were engaged in a conversation with one another.

As guests moved from gallery to gallery, there was a sense of anticipation about what might be waiting around the next corner. Rather than sitting in a single seat for the entire evening, we became part of the experience itself, following the music through spaces filled with Abbey's artwork.

Guests followed the musicians through multiple galleries during the evening.

In the Wall of Creation gallery, musicians performed Jean-Philippe Rameau's Entrée de Polymnie. The setting itself was remarkable. Created from opaque plexiglass rather than traditional paint, Rita Deanin Abbey's Wall of Creation represents one of the artist's explorations beyond the hard-edge painting style for which she became known. Sweeping curvilinear forms move across the massive installation, creating a sense of rhythm and motion that felt perfectly suited to the music unfolding before it.

Surrounded by the luminous plexiglass murals, the ensemble's performance felt both elegant and expressive. The combination of the music and the artwork made it easy to forget we were standing in the middle of the Nevada desert.

One of the evening's highlights was soprano Cecilia Violetta López performing Puccini's beloved Quando me'n vo from La Bohème. Playful, flirtatious, and full of personality, her performance immediately connected with the audience. Her voice filled the gallery with ease, while her stage presence brought smiles throughout the room.

Soprano Cecilia Violetta López brought warmth and personality to the evening's French repertoire.

Charles Aznavour's Ave Maria followed, shifting the mood into something more introspective. The performance invited listeners to pause and reflect before the evening continued.

A change in the program created an unexpected opportunity to showcase two remarkable soloists. The audience moved again to another room, the Bridgemountain Room, home to a stunning five-panel artwork of the same name, a colorful biomorphic abstract masterpiece that seemed to glow under the gallery lights.

Standing before one of Abbey's radiant paintings, Emily S. Richardson delivered a performance that was deeply moving. You could see her complete focus as she played, and the room seemed to grow quieter with every phrase. The combination of Bach's timeless music and the vibrant artwork behind her created one of the evening's most memorable moments.

Violinist Emily S. Richardson performs before one of Abbey's vibrant abstract works.

Cellist Jeremy Russo followed with a solo movement from Bach's Third Cello Suite. Rich, resonant, and emotionally powerful, the performance showcased both his technical mastery and musical sensitivity. The sound of the cello seemed to fill every corner of the gallery.

The evening returned to the music of Charles Aznavour with Formidable and La Bohème. Formidable brought a lively energy to the room, while La Bohème explored the complexities of love, longing, and memory. There was passion, tenderness, heartbreak, and romance woven throughout the performance.

The concert concluded with the timeless classic La Vie en Rose.

As the final notes floated through the gallery, surrounded by Rita Deanin Abbey's luminous artwork, the audience sat quietly, reluctant for the evening to end. It was a fitting finale to a program that celebrated beauty, creativity, and human connection.

While the music itself was extraordinary, what impressed me most was the mission behind the event.

Founder Shakeh Ghoukasian welcomed guests and shared the vision behind Desert Roots Rising Stars.

Throughout the evening, it became clear that Ghoukasian's vision extends far beyond presenting concerts. By bringing together accomplished performers, emerging talent, visual art, and community, Desert Roots Rising Stars creates opportunities for young musicians to learn, grow, and gain valuable experience alongside established artists.

In a time when arts education programs often face funding challenges, organizations like Desert Roots Rising Stars play a vital role in preserving and strengthening our cultural community. Their work not only supports young musicians but enriches the entire Las Vegas arts landscape.

For me, the evening was also a reminder of how special the Rita Deanin Abbey Art Museum is. Despite its significance to Nevada's cultural landscape, many Las Vegans still haven't discovered this remarkable place. Dedicated to preserving the work and legacy of one of Nevada's most influential artists, the museum offers visitors an opportunity to experience world-class art in an unexpected desert setting.

The evening concluded surrounded by Rita Deanin Abbey's artwork and the shared mission of Desert Roots Rising Stars: connecting young musicians, visual art, and community through meaningful cultural experiences.

As I left the museum that evening, I couldn't help but think about how perfectly the event's theme had come to life.

The music never competed with the art.

The art never overshadowed the music.

Instead, they elevated one another, creating an experience that was greater than either could have achieved alone.

And perhaps that is the true lesson of Desert Roots Rising Stars: when artists, educators, mentors, and community come together, something extraordinary can happen.

To learn more about Desert Roots Rising Stars, upcoming performances, educational programs, or opportunities to support young musicians through donations and sponsorships, visit www.desertrootsrisingstars.org.