Oak Ridge Today

Rock to Bach Music Festival returns to Oak Ridge Jan. 26

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Rock to Bach Music FestivalImagine Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms walking one way as they pass the Beatles walking in the other direction.

That’s the mental image you might have if you attend Oak Ridge’s third Rock to Bach Music Festival on Saturday, Jan. 26, at Pollard Auditorium.

“Rock to Bach” is an all-day music festival presented by the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association as a benefit for ORCMA music organizations, such as the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.

More than a dozen groups will perform rock, pop, blues, bluegrass, folk, jazz, gospel, Big Band, swing, klezmer, and classical music.

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Oak Ridge music association receives Tennessee arts grant

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The Oak Ridge Civic Music Association recently received a $20,800 grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission for the 2012-13 season.

The money is being used to help support Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra and Chorus concerts, which can cost $10,000 apiece.

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Oak Ridge Symphony presents Veterans Day concert Sunday

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John Becker

John Becker

The Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra and Chorus will present a Veterans Day concert on Sunday in Maryville.

World War II veterans will be admitted free, and all other veterans can enjoy the concert at a reduced price, a press release said.

John Becker, WBIR news anchor, will narrate “The Greatest Generation” by Greg Danner, a composer from Cookeville, Tenn. Since April 2008, Becker has produced the TV series “Service and Sacrifice” on the lives of East Tennessee veterans.

ORSO will open the concert with “The Star Spangled Banner” (lyrics by Francis Scott Key and melody by John Stafford Smith) and close it with Morton Gould’s “American Salute” and Robert Lowden’s “Armed Forces Salute.”

The Oak Ridge Chorus, accompanied by ORSO, will sing Randall Thompson’s “Frostiana,” which provides a choral setting for seven poems by Robert Frost (1874-1963). These poems take a nostalgic look at New England country life.

The chorus and orchestra also will play John Williams’ “Hymn to the Fallen” (from the movie “Saving Private Ryan”).

 The theme of the concert is “American Celebration,” and the theme of the season is “Tennessee Sounds Good to Me” in celebration of Tennessee composers and performers.

The concert starts at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Clayton Center for the Arts at Maryville College, 502 East Lamar Alexander Parkway.

Tickets can be purchased at the door for $25 (adult), $10 (college students 19 years or older, with ID), and $5 (students 18 years and younger).

Schedule, ticket and concert information, as well as driving directions to Maryville College, are available on the ORCMA website at www.orcma.org. To renew a season subscription or become a new subscriber at a discount, call the ORCMA office at (865) 483-5569.