Fifty years ago, the Beatles, the pop and rock group from England, arrived in America to perform before screaming fans. Now, one of them, Paul McCartney, composes classical music.
Imagine the Beatles walking one way as they pass Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, and Haydn walking in the opposite direction.
That’s the mental image you might have if you attend Oak Ridge’s fourth Rock to Bach Music Festival on Saturday, Mar. 1.
The annual festival has a new venue this year. It will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the New Hope Center of the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge.
“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, and the world-class Chamber Music Series.
At least 16 groups will perform pop, rock, blues, bluegrass, folk, jazz, Celtic, patriotic, swing, klezmer, and classical music.
Among the performing groups and performers are the Tennessee Schmalz, Knoxville Youth Jazz Orchestra, Early Bird Special, Liz and Tim, Jack Russell and the Terriers, Kukuly Uriarte, Walker Marema, Silver Winds Choir, and the Broadway Review singers led by Oak Ridge Chorus Director Seth Maples.
A musical tribute will be presented by Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra Conductor Dan Allcott (on cello) with Tennessee pianist Josh Davis (who played a Rachmaninoff piano concerto with ORSO in 2012).
Musically talented string and band students from Oak Ridge High School and Jefferson Middle School will perform, including violin, cello, and woodwind students of talented music teachers Karen Kartal (ORSO concertmaster), Jennifer van Tol, Alicia Hooker, and Martha Damiano.
The performances will be in two venues: the auditorium and lobby. Each presentation will be approximately 25 minutes long. Volunteers will run the event, and all performers are volunteering their talents.
The festival will include a silent auction. Coffee, tea, water and soda pop, along with homemade baked goods and snack foods in packages, will be sold by ORCMA volunteers. Lunch will be catered. You can sit and eat while listening to music in the lobby.
The cost of the festival is $12 per person and $30 for a family of three or more people. Children 12 years old and under will be admitted for free.
Attendees receiving a bracelet may leave and return as they please during the daylong festival. For more information, call the ORCMA office at (865) 483-5569 or visit www.oakridgesymphony.com.
