Desmond Darko
Desmond Darko, an Oak Ridge native, specializes in creating visual concerts in which the audience both hears and sees the music.
On Thursday, January 10, he and two other artists will present “Ice Cold: A Concert.” The event, sponsored by Pink House, will be held from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Historic Grove Theater, 123 Randolph Road in Oak Ridge.
Tickets cost $5 through a link on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/events/320437028559678/ ) or $6 at the door.
On Thursday Dec. 20, 2018, the Oak Ridge High School Choral Department will present its Holiday Concert. (Submitted photo)
The Oak Ridge High School Choral Department will present its Holiday Concert on Thursday.
“Please come and celebrate the season with these very talented students,” a press release said. [Read more…]
The AAUW Green Tea in 2017. (Submitted photo)
“Resonance”—a choir comprised of sophomore, junior, and senior Oak Ridge High School altos and sopranos—will sing at the AAUW (American Association of University Women) Holiday Tea on Sunday, December 9, 3-5 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 1051 Oak Ridge Turnpike.
Tea will be poured by AAUW members and holiday treats will be served. As in past years, a White House tree ornament will be available for purchase, a press release said. This year’s is for the 33rd president, Harry S. Truman.
The choir will be directed by Amanda Ragan, chorus director at ORHS.
The public is invited to this festive event. There is no charge.
The public is invited to come to the Oak Ridge Community Band’s “Christmas Concert & Sing-Along” on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 9, 2018. This free event will be held at 3:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church at 1101 Oak Ridge Turnpike. (Submitted photo)
The public is invited to come to the Oak Ridge Community Band’s “Christmas Concert & Sing-Along” on Sunday afternoon, December 9. This free event will be held at 3:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church at 1101 Oak Ridge Turnpike.
“The Christmas and Sing-Along concert directed by new conductor Shaun Salem is a good opportunity to relax from holiday stress, enjoy the true spirit of the season with familiar holiday music, and also have the chance to sing favorite Christmas carols accompanied by the band,” a press release said. [Read more…]
Shaun Salem
New conductor Shaun Salem will begin the Oak Ridge Community Band/Wind Ensemble’s 2018-2019 subscription season with the Fall Concert on Sunday.
The concert is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, October 14, at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center.
“The Community Band/Wind Ensemble is extending an invitation to Oak Ridgers and area residents to attend the October 14 performance and give a resounding welcome to Shaun Salem as he ushers in the ‘Prelude to a New Era’ season with indoor concerts from October through April,” a press release said. [Read more…]
Pictured is a scene from the 2017 version of “Kindred Spirits,” which drew crowds of about 350 to each of its two performances. This year’s “Kindred Spirits” production, with performances at 1 and 3 p.m., will be held on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, in the O’Brien Theatre on Roane State’s main campus in Harriman. (Photo by Roane State)
By Bob Fowler
Roane State staff writer
It’s an extravaganza for the Halloween season that features a cast of 130 singers, dancers, musicians, and actors, and it’s growing in popularity.
It’s the annual “Kindred Spirits” production, with performances at 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 27, in the O’Brien Theatre on Roane State Community College’s main campus at 276 Patton Lane in Harriman. Admission is $5.
“It’s one of the highlights of our year,” said Professor Brenda Luggie, Roane State’s choral director. “The music students absolutely love it.”
The hour-long, family-friendly show features Roane State music students, actors from Midway High School’s Drama Club, and about 100 dancers of all ages from Arts in Motion, with studios in Rockwood and Kingston. [Read more…]
Young Kim, pianist
First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge’s Newsong Concert Series is hosting Young Kim in a piano recital on Sunday, September 23, at 3 p.m.
Kim is an assistant professor of music at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee, where she teaches applied piano, class piano, and music theory; she also directs the LMU Choir.
Kim received a doctor of musical arts in piano performance with a minor in music theory from Louisiana State University, where she studied with Willis Delony. Under the guidance of Delony and minor professor David Smyth, Kim completed her monograph, titled “Practical Performance Considerations for the Andante con moto of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto in G Major, Op. 58.” [Read more…]
John McCutcheon
In a special appearance benefiting the ongoing maintenance of the Historic Grove Theater, music lovers will have the opportunity to witness the artistry of John McCutcheon on Friday, September 28, at 7 p.m.
The concert will take place in the large auditorium of the Historic Grove Theater, which is located at 123 Randolph Road in Oak Ridge. Local up-and-coming Americana player Eli Fox will open the show.
The Theater has an opportunity through the generous gift by a local anonymous donor to match dollar for dollar to build funding for the maintenance of this busy historic property. Proceeds from this performance, after expenses, will be going to this effort.
“John McCutcheon is not only one of the best musicians in the USA, but also a great singer, songwriter, and song leader. And not just incidentally, he is committed to helping hard-working people everywhere to organize and push this world in a better direction.”
— Pete Seeger
“The most impressive instrumentalist I’ve ever heard.”
— Johnny Cash [Read more…]
Dale Pendley and the Oak Ridge Community Band are pictured above in this submitted photo.
Submitted
As summer comes to a unofficial close on Labor Day, it is official that Dale Pendley’s many years of outstanding service as conductor of the Oak Ridge Community Band from 2001 to 2018 comes to a close as he heads into retirement. The Community Band is inviting all Oak Ridgers and area residents, particularly former Community Band members, former band students of Pendley during the years he worked as an educator in the Oak Ridge Schools, family, and friends to come on down to A.K. Bissell Park on Monday, September 3, at 7 p.m. to join with band members in giving Dale Pendley a warm send-off and many best wishes for his retirement.
Dale Pendley has been with the Oak Ridge Community Band since 1996, originally as a member of the trombone section, later becoming assistant conductor in 1998, and he was appointed the band conductor in 2001 after the retirement of former director Steve “Doc” Combs. Pendley is a graduate of Tyner High School in Chattanooga and received his bachelor and master’s degrees from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He taught in the Knoxville City Schools and started the band program in the Grainger County Schools. From 1980 to 2012, he taught band in Oak Ridge Schools at both Jefferson Middle School and Oak Ridge High School. In addition to teaching and conducting, Pendley has performed with the University of Tennessee Trombone Choir, the Babahatchie Community Band, the Oak Ridge and Knoxville Symphony Orchestras, and numerous jazz and dance bands. Dale and his wife Rita have three grown children and one grandchild. [Read more…]
The Mad Hatter’s Arts Festival in Jackson Square on Saturday will feature arts and crafts vendors, poetry, music, food, dancers, authors, and interactive arts stations.
The free festival, the first of its kind, is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s presented by Through the Looking Glass Antiques and Collectibles in Jackson Square.
A Jabberwocky Poetry Slam is scheduled at Razzleberry’s Ice Cream Lab and Kitchen from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. An open mic will start at 2 p.m. for walk-ins who didn’t sign up for the family-friendly event but want to perform.
Sixteen local songwriters will perform original acoustic music all day, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the square. There will also be musicians playing cover songs at the festival, said Linda Johnston of Through the Looking Glass.
At noon, the Oak Ridge Civic Ballet dancers will perform in the square. [Read more…]
The Oak Ridge Community Band is pictured above at A.K. Bissell Park. (Submitted photo)
Although Oak Ridge students returned to school this week, it is still officially summer, and you are invited to “come on down” to A.K. Bissell Park on Sunday evening, August 5, for the 7 p.m. “Summer” concert performed by the Oak Ridge Community Band. This is the third concert of the summer season, and if you missed the Memorial Day and July 4 concerts, make your plans now to hear the Community Band in Sunday evening’s performance, a press release said.
This is a free event and a great opportunity for family and friends to enjoy a casual evening in the park, the press release said. Bring chairs or blankets for outdoor seating. Refreshments will be available for sale.
This concert will have a variety of music featuring jazz, swing, show tunes, marches, and Broadway hits, the press release said. [Read more…]
Lee Willis and Soulful Sounds Revue will play Jazz on the Hill in Clinton tonight (Saturday, July 7).
The show will be at the Green McAdoo Cultural Center and Museum in Clinton. It’s free, and everyone is invited. The show is scheduled from 6-9 p.m. Saturday.
An event flyer said Soulful Sounds Revue and Lee Willis will perform with K-Town Rhythm Section.
You are encouraged to bring your lounge chairs and blankets. There will be local food vendors, and this is a kid-friendly event, the event flyer said. [Read more…]
