Oak Ridge Today

Ukelele-strumming duo at Friday fundraising coffeehouse

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Claire Berger and Catherine Payzant

Claire Berger and Catherine Payzant strum their ukeles as they sing. (Submitted photo)

“Clear-toned,” “folksy,” and “spine-tingling” are apt descriptions of the performance Claire Berger and Catherine Payzant will give at Friday evening’s coffeehouse at First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge.

Strumming ukeleles and singing with a unique take on both old and new songs, they plan to bring something new to each song they perform.

“When this duo plays, the room is instantly hushed,” said organizer Sumner Byrne. “They cast a spell whether playing Patsy Cline or a recent cover.” [Read more…]

Musicians to perform as coffeehouse opens second season Friday

Posted at
By 1 Comment

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…]

Register for ORICL courses, trips by May 15

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

ORICL Trip

On an ORICL-sponsored trip to Chattanooga during the winter-spring term, Carolyn Krause, left, Richard Wright, Murray Martin, and Pat DeRoos enjoy the trip along the Tennessee River in a catamaran. (Submitted photo)

Would you like to know how to develop an estate plan, protect your life’s savings from investment mistakes, take better photos with a digital camera, and control the growth of kudzu?

If so, you may want to consider becoming a member of the Oak Ridge Institute for Continued Learning, or registering for summer classes and trips if you already are.

The summer semester of ORICL starts June 10 and ends Aug. 9. The early registration deadline is May 15. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Peace Forum donates $7,500 to Rotary Peace Centers

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Peace Forum Donates to Rotary Foundation

Past District Governor and Zone 30 Coordinator Karen Wentz, right, presents a check for $7,500 from the Oak Ridge Peace Forum to Rotary Foundation Chair Wilf Wilkerson, left, and Rotary International President Sakuji Tanaka at Duke University. (Submitted photo)

The Oak Ridge Peace Forum has donated $7,500 of its net proceeds to the Peace Centers Endowment of The Rotary Foundation.

“The Rotary Peace Centers offer an avenue for extending peace activities throughout the world through its growing cadre of Peace Fellows,” said Fred Heitman, chair of the Peace Forum planning committee, which decided in early April to make the donation.

The Oak Ridge Peace Forum is sponsored by Rotary District 6780, which is now led by District Governor Jack Bailey of Oak Ridge.

More than 250 people attended the Peace Forum on March 9 in Pollard Auditorium. The planning committee consisted mostly of representatives of three Rotary clubs in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Final ORSO concert Saturday features Tennessee composer, soloist

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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…]

Presbyterian leader to deliver lecture on science, religion tonight

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

James Bradley Miller

James Bradley Miller

The Rev. James Bradley Miller—general missioner of the Presbyterian Association on Science, Technology and the Christian Faith—will deliver the Tenth Annual Jackson B. Davidson Lecture on Science and Religion at 7 p.m. today at First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge.

The title of the free lecture is “From Wow to Work: Science and Congregational Worship, Education and Mission.” It will be held in the church sanctuary, located at the southeast corner of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Lafayette Drive.

“We live in and are part of an ever-amazing creation,” Miller said. “However, I will focus on particular implications that a scientifically mediated understanding of God’s creation has for the worship, education, and mission of Christian congregations.” [Read more…]

ORCMA, ORICL benefit from John Million bequest

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

John George Million Jr.

John George Million Jr. (Submitted photo)

John Million had a lifelong love affair with classical music, opera, and classic books. Before he died on March 21, 2012, he made sure that two Oak Ridge nonprofit organizations that contributed to his cultural enjoyment would benefit greatly from his legacy.

Dan Allcott, conductor of the Oak Ridge Symphony and Chorus, said: “The Oak Ridge Civic Music Association is honored to be the recipient of a significant bequest from the estate of John Million. The six-figure donation to ORCMA gives us stability during tough economic times.

[Read more…]

Rotary International president visits Oak Ridge for peace forum

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Sakuji Tanaka

Sakuji Tanaka

When Rotary International President Sakuji Tanaka of Japan visits Oak Ridge on Friday and Saturday, he will talk about and hear innovative ideas on how to achieve peace through service.

On Friday, Thom Mason, director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, will give Tanaka a tour of ORNL. At 3 p.m., the RI president will tour the Secret City Commemorative Walk built by the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge. City Manager Mark Watson, who is president-elect of this Rotary club, will present a gift to Tanaka, who will make some remarks.

At 3:45 p.m. Tanaka will then visit the International Friendship Bell, where he will be welcomed by Oak Ridger Jack Bailey, district governor of RI District 6780, which encompasses 65 clubs in East Tennessee. Shigeko Uppuluri will present a history of the bell and give a bell replica to Tanaka, who will make remarks and ring the bell.

[Read more…]

Saturday concert features music by two Tennessee composers, dulcimerist


Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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.

[Read more…]

‘Dialogue with Dan’ on Monday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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.”

[Read more…]

ORCMA Coffee Concert features violin, piano, voice

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

“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.

[Read more…]

Why is Rotary International president coming here?

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Jack Bailey

Jack Bailey

For the second time since Rotary International was born in 1905 in Chicago, a sitting RI president will visit Oak Ridge. He will serve as keynote speaker and hear innovative ideas at the Oak Ridge Peace Forum on Saturday, March 9, at Oak Ridge Associated Universities’ Pollard Auditorium.

The only other time a sitting RI president spoke in Oak Ridge was in 2000 when Frank Devlyn of Mexico came here. Why will RI President Sakuji Tanaka of Japan be in Oak Ridge Mar. 8-10?

[Read more…]