The Beaufort County Concert Association is heading into its 38^th season with a lineup of concerts spanning a variety of genres, all provided by nationally known performers.

Broadway, bluegrass and folk music of the 1960s will grace the stage at Washington High School’s Performing Arts Center from fall to spring. It’s no accident these musical performances reach a broad audience: each year, a team of BCCA members travels to Nashville, Tenn., to pick and choose from an assortment of acts they feel will appeal to the folks back home.

“We fill a niche,” said Larry Ahlman, president of BCCA. “I think there’s people who like what we do. It isn’t all bluegrass or all country. Not too many people have comedians come out, but have one every now and then.”

Ahlman and five others will head to Nashville in a few weeks to pick the lineup for the 2015-16 season. Over a three-day period, they’ll watch about 35 performances, courtesy of entertainment broker Live On Stage, and share trends with other concert association members in attendance. What they’ll walk away with is a tentative program for the following year, Ahlman said.

However, this season is kicking into gear now, as BCCA is in the middle of its membership drive. A BCCA membership buys the opportunity to hear five star-quality performances on a local stage, starting with Broadway diva Susan Egan on Nov. 17. Egan has starred in the lead role of Broadway’s “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” as Sallie Bowles in “Cabaret” and played the original Belle in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.” The Tony-award winning Egan has been referred to as a “high-voltage performer” by the Los Angeles Times, one whose voice will change the way a listener hears the likes of “Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserable and the Gershwins’ “Someone to Watch Over Me.”

“We’ve got a real Broadway star — she’s Broadway all the way,” Ahlman said.

Ahlman also said part of the reason why the BCCA brings in talent is not just for entertainment lovers, but for local schoolchildren. Each year, at least one of the acts will spend time with groups of middle or high school students, introducing the children to what they do and how they learned to do it.

“It’s just to get these kids thinking about music and the things that happen in that sphere of influence,” Ahlman said.

BCCA memberships are currently being sold for five concerts, three of which have been moved to Sunday matinees from the former evening spots, at the request of members. While tickets will be sold individually for the shows, buying the whole package is a much better deal, according to Ahlman.

“Financially, it makes more sense to buy five tickets at $10 a piece than one ticket for $25,” Ahlman said. “I encourage people to get out there and pay that $50. It’s well worth it.”

For more information about the Beaufort County Concert Association membership, visit gobcca.org or contact membership chair Margaret Wheaton at mawheaton@suddenlink.net or 252-940-4410.