Oak Ridge Today

Children’s Museum Gala has Celtic theme

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Good Thymes Band

Good Thymes Band

 

Guests will dance jigs and reels to fiddlers’ tunes as they enjoy “A Celtic Holiday” at the annual Gala hosted by the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge. The Gala, celebrating the culture and cuisine of Scotland and Ireland, will be held from 6-11 p.m. Friday, December 5, at the museum, which is at 461 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge.

The Good Thymes Ceilidh Band, playing traditional Scottish music, will entertain after dinner with fiery Scottish tunes, as well as aires and waltzes. Guests will learn jigs and reels as the band plays with fiddles, guitar, penny whistle, bodhran, mandolin, and hammered dulcimer. The band formed in 2008 when several members of the Knoxville Scottish Music Club got together.

The Knoxville Pipe and Drums, wearing the ancient Mackenzie Tartan, will also entertain during the lively Celtic evening. The group has been together since the early 1990s, when three pipers began playing bagpipes together, adding a number of pipers and drummers over the years.

Becky Hook will perform Celtic music on the harp during dinner, a traditional Scottish feast prepared by Chef Mark Ferguson of The Scottish Cottage in Asheville, North Carolina. The Oak Ridge High School Chorus and an ORHS String Quartet will also entertain during the Gala. [Read more…]

Vocalist, pianist to perform Hispanic music in Coffee Concert on Sunday

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Judy DiGregorio and Vera Maya

Vocalist Judy DiGregorio, left, and pianist Vera Maya will perform Hispanic music during the first Coffee Concert of the season on Sunday. (Submitted photo)

 

The first Coffee Concert of the season will feature a vocalist and pianist performing Hispanic music on Sunday.

Mezzo soprano Judy DiGregorio and pianist Vera Maya will perform Ladino folk songs from Sephardic Jews and works by composers such as Valverde, Granados, Dominguez, Lara, Grever, Sanchez de Fuentes, Padilla, and Lecuona, a press release said.

It’s the first Coffee Concert of the season for the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association, and it starts at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, October 26, at First Presbyterian Church in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

The Volunteers, a U.S. Army band, perform for free at Grove

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The Volunteers

The Volunteers

The Volunteers of the U.S. Army Field Band will play for free this afternoon at the Grove Theater in Oak Ridge.

The show starts at 4 p.m. today (Sunday, October 19). It’s presented by Masskus Productions.

The Volunteers are the musical ambassadors of the U.S. Army in Washington, D.C., a press release said.

“Since 1981, The Volunteers has been bringing the Army story to life through rock, pop, country, and patriotic music,” the release said. “Whether rocking out major arenas around the country, thrilling crowds at community events, or entertaining veterans in more intimate shows, these soldier-musicians proudly represent their fellow soldiers for hundreds of thousands of Americans each year.” [Read more…]

St. Mary’s Fall Festival on Friday, Saturday

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The annual St. Mary’s Fall Festival on Friday and Saturday in Oak Ridge will feature a spaghetti dinner, auction, children’s activities, baking contest, food, and entertainment.

The 64th annual festival starts Friday, October 17, with the Knights of Columbus spaghetti dinner in the Parish Life Center. Those who can’t stay for dinner can try the new “take-out” option. Doors open at 5 p.m., and take out dinners can be picked up under the covered walkway at the entrance of the Parish Life Center. Dinner prices are $8 for adults, $4 for kids, and no more than $25 per family.

The live auction will start promptly at 7 p.m. Friday, so you won’t want to leave directly after dinner, a press release said. Some of the items up for auction this year are many furniture pieces, exercise equipment, and a variety of certificates to events and places in the area. There will also be children’s activities to keep the kids happy and entertained. Those will also begin at 7 p.m. and continue through 9 p.m. with a bounce house, crafts, and “Charlie Brown Pumpkin” and “Frozen” playing on the big screen, the release said. [Read more…]

Unitarian Universalists celebrate new church with week of free music, craft fair

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The Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church is celebrating the opening of their new church with a week of music and an annual craft fair.

The new church is at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike, on the north side of the Joe L. Evins Federal Building.

The week of music includes a performance by the Y’uns on Friday, October 17. Also beginning on October 17 and continuing on Saturday, October 18, the ORUUC will have its annual craft fair, a press release said.

The music events started Saturday, October 11, and end Sunday, October 19. The community is invited to attend, and all music events are free, the press release said. [Read more…]

Clinch River Antiques Festival continues through Saturday

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Clinch River Antiques Festival

The Clinch River Antiques Festival in 2012 is pictured above. (Photo by Carl Warner)

 

The 14th Annual Clinch River Antiques Festival kicked off on Friday evening, October 10, from 6-9 p.m. in Historic Downtown Clinton with shops open late, food vendors, and live entertainment. It continues through Saturday evening.

Friday entertainment—Live entertainment on Friday evening from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Hoskins Lane Park in Gazebo Park with the unique music of The Walker Boys. The Walker Boys are a gospel and traditional bluegrass band consisting of five brothers and their father. The family has performed for several years at churches, festivals and special events. They live locally in Clinton. [Read more…]

CASA’s Evening with the Arts is Friday

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CASA’s fifth annual Evening with the Arts is Friday, October 10.

It’s scheduled from 7-10 p.m. at Melton Lake Park.

“(The park) will be transformed from the Oak Ridge riverfront to New Orleans!” a press release said.

Tickets include wine and New Orleans-style food—including shrimp and grits. [Read more…]

Food, music at Taste of Oak Ridge to benefit Free Medical Clinic

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Taste of Oak Ridge

 

The format will be the same, but this year’s Taste of Oak Ridge will be held at the new Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church on Oak Ridge Turnpike—instead of in Jackson Square. It was moved because organizers weren’t sure when construction work might start on a revitalization project at Jackson Square.

Taste of Oak Ridge features food from Oak Ridge restaurants and performances by local musicians.

The sixth annual festival, scheduled from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, will raise money to benefit the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge. The Free Medical Clinic provides free medical care to residents of Anderson, Roane, and Morgan counties who don’t have insurance and can’t afford to pay for care.

Area restaurants will showcase some of their finest food in small portions. The price range for the “tastes” from each vendor will be $1 to $4 per item. Tickets will be available for purchase at entrances to the event. Attendees can buy as many tickets as they want for $1 each. In addition, beer and wine will be available to buy.

This year’s Taste of Oak Ridge will be held in the parking lot of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at its new address at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike, north of the Joe L. Evins Federal Building. [Read more…]

Concert debut: Lefkowitz conducts ORCO in Tchaikovsky, Khachaturian, Sibelius

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Gabriel Lefkowitz

Gabriel Lefkowitz

New Music Director Gabriel Lefkowitz will conduct the Oak Ridge Community Orchestra in September performances of compositions by Tchaikovsky, Khachaturian, and Sibelius.

During the September 13 concert, the orchestra will play the “Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture” by Tchaikovsky, “Adagio from Spartacus” by Khachaturian, and “The Karelia Suite” by Sibelius, a press release said.

“This is some of the finest orchestra music one can listen to,” the release said.

The free ORCO concert will be performed in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of Oak Ridge at 2 p.m. Saturday, September 13. It will be Lefkowitz’s debut with the ORCO as music director and conductor. [Read more…]

Community Band has free Labor Day concert in A.K. Bissell Park

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Oak Ridge Community Band Concert

The Oak Ridge Community Band performs at a 70th anniversary concert on Independence Day. (File photo)

The Oak Ridge Community Band will perform its annual Labor Day concert on Monday, September 1, at 7 p.m. in A.K. Bissell Park.

This is a free event, and the public is encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for outdoor seating, a press release said. Refreshments will be available for sale.

To help kick off the Community Band’s 2014-2015 subscription season of indoor concerts, the first 200 people attending the Labor Day Concert will be given free tickets to the band’s October 12 concert, which will be held at the Oak Ridge High School auditorium, the press release said. [Read more…]

ORCMA Chorus kicks off 2014-15 season

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Oak Ridge Chorus 2014

 

Seth Maples

Seth Maples

The ORCMA Chorus began the 2014-15 season with its first rehearsal on Monday, August 11, in the Oak Ridge High School Choir Room. The group practiced the Schubert “Mass No. 5,” a press release said.

Under the direction of Seth Maples, the chorus, along with orchestral accompaniment, will perform on November 1 in the Pellissippi State Auditorium.

Membership is open to all singers who are at least high school age and love the thrill of being a part of a community choral group. All skill levels, from beginning amateur to seasoned professional, are welcomed. Rehearsals are generally every Monday evening.

Annual dues are $25, which offsets the cost of renting music and covers operating expenses such as flowers and mailings. Members may also purchase music for personal use. Performance attire will be discussed during rehearsal periods. [Read more…]

TORCH has Brew Review, a beer-tasting fundraiser

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Torch Logo

A nonprofit organization that helps homeless people and low-income families has a new fundraiser, a Brew Review.

It’s a one-of-a-kind fundraiser for Trinity Out-­Reach Center for Hope, or TORCH. The Brew Review will be Friday, September 12, from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Historic Grove Theater located at 123 Randolph Road in Oak Ridge.

“The evening will include beer tasting, finger foods, silent auction, and live music,” a press release said. “Guests can mingle in the lobby with their food and beer, dance to live music in the auditorium, and bid on fantastic items in the silent auction.”

Beer is being provided by Cheeroke Distributing, Alliance Brewing Co., Yazoo, and Downtown Brewery, with more breweries to be announced closer to the event, the release said. Hard cider will also be available for those who cannot drink beer or would like to try something different.

The silent auction items include signed Lee Child and Tess Gerritsen books, a Jackie Collins autographed picture, gift cards, a Keurig Platinum K-Cup, gift baskets, crafts, a two-night stay in Pigeon Forge, and many other exciting items, the release said. [Read more…]