Oak Ridge Today

Musicians to perform as coffeehouse opens second season Friday

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Sumner Byrne

Sumner Byrne

Guitars have been tuned, harmonies rehearsed and dance steps practiced in preparation for Friday’s opening of the second season of the Coffeehouse at First Presbyterian Church. The coffeehouse was started by college students last summer as a musical venue to enjoy together while raising funds for the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge.

“We had no idea how much fun the coffeehouse events were going to be when we started last year,” said organizer Sumner Byrne, a college student at George Washington University. “It became clear that the young adult crowd needed a place to hang out, listen to some great music, and reconnect with friends who are normally away at school. [Read more…]

Secret City Sounds concert features The Freight Hoppers

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The Freight Hoppers

The Freight Hoppers

The second show in this year’s Secret City Sounds concert series features The Freight Hoppers, a band that plays old-time string music.

The free concert starts at 7 p.m. today at the pavilion at Alvin K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge.

A press release said The Freight Hoppers have been playing old-time string band music for more than 20 years. [Read more…]

Community Orchestra concert Saturday features founder, English composers

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Oak Ridge Community Orchestra

Oak Ridge Community Orchestra

The Oak Ridge Community Orchestra has a free concert Saturday featuring the music of three British composers from the 19th and 20th centuries, and one 21st century Oak Ridge composer—Nancy England.

England founded the ORCO 20 years ago, and she is still with the orchestra today, playing cello. The English composers featured at Saturday’s concert are Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gustav Holst, and Edward Elgar, a press release said.

The concert starts at 2 p.m. in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of Oak Ridge, at the corner of the Oak Ridge Turnpike and Lafayette Drive. “Admission is free, but modest donations at the door to support the orchestra’s routine operating expenses will be appreciated,” the release said. [Read more…]

Secret City Sounds begins Friday with The Breakfast Club

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Breakfast Club

Breakfast Club

The 2013 Secret City Sounds concert series starts Friday with The Breakfast Club.

Friday’s free concert starts at 7 p.m. at the pavilion at A.K. Bissell Park.

The Breakfast Club was formed in 1993, and it is a 1980s tribute band. A press release said the group, a longtime local favorite, has shared the stage with numerous music legends, including Whitesnake, The Romantics, Poison, Drivin’ N’ Cryin’, Hootie and The Blowfish, White Lion, The Smithereens, and Edwin McCain. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Chorus ends season Saturday with concert at First Baptist

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The Oak Ridge Chorus ends its season Saturday with a concert at First Baptist Church.

The Oak Ridge Chorus ends its season Saturday with a concert at First Baptist Church.

The Oak Ridge Chorus ends its season on Saturday.

Conductor Dan Allcott will introduce Seth Maples, the new Oak Ridge Chorus Director. Maples will sing a solo as well as share the conductor duties with Allcott.

The Chorus will sing Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel’s “Scarborough Fair,” Franz Joseph’s Schubert’s “To Music,” Johannes Brahm’s “Four Gypsy Songs,” Morten Lauridsen’s “Sure on this Shining Night,” and Charles Bryan’s selections from the opera “Singin’ Billy.” [Read more…]

Sound Company performs greatest hits of past decade this weekend

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Sound Company Children's Choir of Oak Ridge

The Sound Company Children’s Choir of Oak Ridge will perform their greatest hits of the last 10 years during a performance this weekend. (Submitted photos)

Sound Company Children’s Choir of Oak Ridge will celebrate their 10th anniversary by performing their greatest hits from the past decade this weekend.

There will be three performances, one at 9:30 a.m. Friday, a second at 7 p.m., and a third at 3 p.m. Saturday. All shows will be performed at the Historic Grove Theater at High Places Church.

Organizers have invited all Sound Company alumni to attend and sing a few songs with current Sound Company performers. Here are some of the songs to be performed during this anniversary show: [Read more…]

Arts Council has Tribute to the Arts on Thursday

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Arts Council of Oak Ridge

Arts Council of Oak Ridge

The Arts Council of Oak Ridge and its member organizations are having a premier Tribute to the Arts on Thursday.

It’s scheduled from 6-9 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel in Oak Ridge.

“This exciting cultural event will recognize artists and arts supporters from our area for the outstanding contributions they have made through their hearts and talents,” a press release said. “The Arts Council member organizations have long contributed to the culture and vitality of our region, and ACOR believes there is a need to acknowledge these groups and individuals for their service and talents.” [Read more…]

Final ORSO concert Saturday features Tennessee composer, soloist

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Rachel DeVore Fogarty

Rachel DeVore Fogarty

Sabrina Laney Warren

Sabrina Laney Warren

Two talented Tennessee women are playing major roles in the final Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra concert of a season devoted to showcasing Tennessee music, composers, and performers.

The women, who both live in Nashville, are Rachel DeVore Fogarty—an emerging composer, church musician and collaborative pianist—and soprano soloist Sabrina Laney Warren, who was recently lauded by a German publication for her “bell pure soprano voice.”

You can hear them, and ORSO conductor Dan Allcott, talk about the concert music at the “Dialogue with Dan” gathering at noon Friday in the lobby of the Historic Grove Theater. [Read more…]

Janelle Arthur eliminated from American Idol

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Janelle Arthur

Janelle Arthur

Oliver Springs singer Janelle Arthur was eliminated from “American Idol” on Thursday.

Arthur, 23, had been part of the first-ever all-female Top 5 on the popular televised singing competition.

She became the first Top 10 female finalist to be eliminated this season after she performed Vince Gill’s “When I Call Your Name” and Dolly Parton’s “Dumb Blonde.”

Arthur had auditioned for the show three times.

Janelle Arthur competes on ‘American Idol’ tonight, Roane State scholarship established

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Janelle Arthur

Janelle Arthur

Oliver Springs native Janelle Arthur will perform again tonight on “American Idol” as she competes in the Top 5.

Following tonight’s show, America’s votes will decide who goes home and who gets to return to the stage next week. The popular televised singing competition on Fox is broadcast on WTNZ, Channel 43, and it starts at 8 p.m. tonight and Thursday.

Separately, a scholarship has been established in Arthur’s name to be awarded annually to a Roane State Community College student pursuing a music degree. The scholarship will be administered by the Roane State Community College Scholarship Foundation. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Community Band has last concert of season Sunday

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The Oak Ridge Community Band will be presenting its final subscription concert of the 2012-2013 season on Sunday afternoon, April 14, at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center.

The “Music by the Numbers” concert will focus on marches and challenging classical pieces, a press release said. It starts at 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission at the door is $8 for adults and $6 for senior citizens and students, and it includes free refreshments at the end of the program. [Read more…]

Tickets for Soles4Souls concert on sale

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Tickets have gone on sale for the benefit concert for Soles4Souls, a shoe drive to collect shoes for the needy in our community and abroad. Tickets can be purchased at Razzleberry’s Ice Cream Lab, the Oak Ridge Universalist Church, and can also be purchased at the Youth Advisory Board’s “Battle of the Bands,” which will be held April 19.

The Soles4Souls concert will be Friday, April 26, from 7 to 10 p.m. at Robertsville Middle School. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for 18 and under. There is limited seating available. [Read more…]