Oak Ridge Today

Saturday concert features music by two Tennessee composers, dulcimerist


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Stephen Seifert

Stephen Seifert

Dan Allcott has been conducting research—and two professional orchestras: the Bryan Symphony Orchestra in Cookeville and Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra.

He has been studying the life and music of composer Charles Faulkner Bryan, a native of McMinnville who died in 1955 at the young age of 44. The Cookeville orchestra is named after him.

Accompanied by ORSO, the Oak Ridge Chorus on Saturday will sing “The Bell Witch,” a cantata written by Bryan in 1947 while studying with Paul Hindemith at Yale University. The concert will start at 7:30 p.m. at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center.

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Oliver Springs contestant impresses ‘American Idol’ judges again

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Information from WYSH Radio

Janelle Arthur of Oliver Springs had another strong performance on Tuesday night’s edition of “American Idol.”

Arthur, one of the last 10 women remaining in the competition, impressed the judges with what they call her “traditional country voice” and prompted Mariah Carey to label her “America’s Sweetheart.”

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‘Dialogue with Dan’ on Monday

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Stephen Seifert

Stephen Seifert

Dan Allcott, music director of the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association and conductor of the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, will speak at noon Monday in the lobby of the historic Grove Theater, High Places Community Church. This will be the fourth “Dialogue with Dan” of the concert season.

His topic will be the “Spring in the Mountains” ORSO-Chorus concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Mar. 9, at Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center. The featured artist will be Stephen Seifert, mountain dulcimerist from Tennessee, in keeping with the ORSO season theme—“Tennessee Sounds Good to Me.”

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Paintings, jazz featured at Sunday service at Unitarian Universalist church

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A Sunday service at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church will feature paintings and jazz.

The paintings by regional artist Rickey A. Beene will be displayed in the church sanctuary. They are portraits of his neighbors in Petros in Morgan County.

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Gospel concert in Oliver Springs helps infant with serious health problems

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Ava Rose Brown

Ava Rose Brown

A concert in Oliver Springs tonight will help a family with an infant with serious health problems.

The gospel benefit concert for Ava Rose Brown is scheduled from 6-9 p.m. today at Beech Park Baptist Church on East Tri County Boulevard in Oliver Springs.

It will help Ava Rose’s parents, Tiffany and Eddie Brown, purchase a van and remodel their home, concert organizer and family friend Kevin Craft said. He said Eddie and Tiffany Brown, who also have two other children, are now living with a relative in Oak Ridge, and their home is partially remodeled.

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ORCMA Coffee Concert features violin, piano, voice

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“A Night of Violin, Vocal, and Piano Music” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church in Oak Ridge.

This first free coffee concert of the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association season will feature violinist John Michael Fox, tenor singer George Deaton, and pianist Pam Robertson.

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‘American Idol’ contestant from Oliver Springs advances

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Information from WYSH Radio

Oliver Springs native Janelle Arthur has made it through the first phase of the “American Idol” semifinals.

She was one of the last two women in the top 40 contestants to learn whether they would be moving on, but she learned that she will during Wednesday’s episode of the popular Fox TV show.

She will be back during the next phase as one of the top 10 female semifinalists.

Community Band concert Sunday features composers who aren’t well-known

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The band director at Oliver Springs High School will be the featured soloist in a Sunday afternoon concert in Oak Ridge.

It’s the Oak Ridge Community Band’s “One Note Wonders” concert, and it features the music of composers who aren’t well-known, a press release said. The concert is at the Grove Theater Performing Arts Center, and it starts at 3:30 p.m.

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Sing with Sweet Honey in the Rock vocalist Friday

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Ysaye M. Barnwell

Ysaye M. Barnwell

A member of the vocal group Sweet Honey in the Rock will lead a Friday evening session of singing songs from African and African-American traditions, a press release said.

The songs will be led by Ysaye M. Barnwell, a composer, arranger, author, and actress who has performed on more than 25 recordings with Sweet Honey in the Rock as well as with other artists.

“Everyone who attends will share the common experience of learning in the oral tradition and singing rhythms, chants, traditional songs from Africa, and a variety of songs from African-American culture,” the press release said. “All are welcome, and no experience is necessary. Come and be moved by the power of the music and community.”

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Free concert Saturday features Rachmaninoff piano concerto

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Chih-Long Hu at Piano

Chih-Long Hu (Submitted photo)

A free concert Saturday will feature the music of Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff.

Pianist Chih-Long Hu, a faculty member at East Tennessee State University, will play Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Oak Ridge Community Orchestra, a press release said.

The concert starts at 2 p.m. Saturday in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of Oak Ridge. Although there is no admission charge, modest donations to help support the orchestra’s routine operating expenses will be appreciated, the press release said.

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Reminder: Tune Junkie Weekend starts today

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Traditional Irish Arts of Knoxville has organized a weekend of Irish music, culture, and fun at the Grove Theater in Oak Ridge and Boyd’s Jig and Reel in Knoxville, and it starts today.

It’s the 5th Annual Tune Junkie Weekend, and it will feature workshops, sessions, and a showcase concert.

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Moscow Nights perform at Children’s Museum International Festival Saturday

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Moscow Nights

Moscow Nights (Submitted photo)

Moscow Nights, an ensemble of energetic musicians from Russia, will be featured performers at the International Festival on Saturday, Feb. 16, at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge. Moscow Nights’ concerts offer audiences an entertaining glimpse of Old Russia through music, humor, song and dance, inviting audience participation.

Festival goers will experience entertainment, crafts and cuisines from cultures around the world at the family friendly event, with musical entertainment on stage throughout the day. Participants will dine on international cuisine, children will make international crafts to take home, and all will visit booths displaying crafts and traditions from world cultures.

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