Music Archives - Oak Ridge Today

New conductor starts Community Band/Wind Ensemble season with Sunday concert

Posted at 2:37 pm October 12, 2018
By Barbara Gritzner Leave a Comment

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…]

Halloween spectacular ‘Kindred Spirits’ is Oct. 27 at Roane State’s Roane County campus

Posted at 1:24 pm October 12, 2018
By Owen Driskill Leave a Comment

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 to perform at First United Methodist

Posted at 5:17 pm September 22, 2018
By Seth O'Kegley Leave a Comment

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…]

Labor Day Concert: Dale Pendley retiring as conductor

Posted at 11:26 am September 3, 2018
By Barbara Gritzner Leave a Comment

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…]

Arts festival in Jackson Square on Saturday

Posted at 11:27 am August 10, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

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…]

Celebrate summer in the park with Community Band on Sunday

Posted at 10:19 pm August 1, 2018
By Barbara Gritzner Leave a Comment

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, Soulful Sounds Revue play at Jazz on the Hill tonight

Posted at 12:26 pm July 7, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

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…]

Oak Ridge Community Band has July 4 concert

Posted at 11:12 pm June 28, 2018
By Barbara Gritzner Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Community Concert Band in a July 4 concert. (Submitted photo)

The Oak Ridge Community Band will present its annual Independence Day concert on Wednesday, July 4, at Alvin K. Bissell Park.

The concert is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. The concert is free, and it will be followed by the Oak Ridge fireworks show.

“Because the concert and fireworks traditionally attract large crowds, the public is encouraged to come early for good seating,” a press release said. “Bring chairs or blankets and plan to enjoy an exciting evening of music and fireworks celebrating the 242nd anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.” [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Community Band director retiring

Posted at 11:16 am June 14, 2018
By Barbara Gritzner Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Community Band is pictured above in a concert directed by Dale Pendley at Oak Ridge High School. (File photo/Submitted)

Oak Ridge Community Band Director Dale Pendley is retiring, and the band is searching for a new director.

Pendley’s retirement will be effective after the Labor Day concert, a press release said.

Those interested in applying for the director position can send an email to [email protected] or send mail to Lanny Huddleston at 225 Iroquois Rd., Oak Ridge, TN 37830.

People who would like to apply should submit a cover letter, resume, three examples of programs from performances they have produced and conducted over the past five years, and video recordings of performances, the press release said. Applicants will be reviewed by the selection committee, and selected applicants will be invited to conduct one or more Community Band rehearsals. Finalists will be interviewed by the Selection Committee and Board of Directors, the press release said. [Read more…]

Lavender Festival is Saturday in Jackson Square

Posted at 4:14 pm June 13, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Lavender Festival (Image Credit: Shawn Millsaps)

The Lavender Festival in Jackson Square on Saturday will celebrate health, herbs, crafts, local foods—and lavender. There will also be music, children’s activities, and a wine tasting. It’s the 20th year of the festival, which is the only Lavender Festival in Tennessee.

“The Lavender Festival is a perennial crowd favorite, full of tradition, fun, and always something new,” a press release said.

The 20th annual Lavender Festival is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 16, in Historic Jackson Square in Oak Ridge.

The festival, which attracted about 8,000 people last year, is always free, with plenty of free parking available in surrounding city and business lots, and on side streets.

As is tradition, a bagpipe player will open the festival at 8 a.m., playing from upper Blankenship Field into Jackson Square. Also keeping with tradition, Alan McBride will follow with the hammered dulcimer in the bandstand. A complete music schedule is found below.

Informative presentations will be held in the lobby of Pinnacle Financial Partners, and they will include Thyroid Health & Tips for Optimal Brain function (10 a.m.), Home-Crafted Lavender Products (11:30 a.m.), and Turning Back the Bones of Time (1 p.m.).

Also returning for its third year is “A Taste of Tennessee Wines,” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., benefitting the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Tucker to be honored, money raised for journalism education at Front Page Follies

Posted at 12:22 pm June 7, 2018
By Kay Brookshire Leave a Comment

Anne McKinney, left, Myranda McGhee, Sharon Lord, and Adina Chumley rehearse for the 40th anniversary Front Page Follies on June 14, 2018, at the Bijou Theatre. (Submitted photo)

Maurice Hendricks, a baritone with the Knoxville Opera and the Marble City Opera, will solo the reprise of “Let My People Golf” in the 40th annual Front Page Follies, which roasts state and local newsmakers, on June 14 at the Bijou Theatre in Knoxville. The cast of local media folks and friends is ready to present the musical revue of the year’s news and newsmakers, a press release said.

Front Page Follies offers an evening of laughs as the Front Page Foundation, host of the show, raises funds for journalism and broadcast scholarships and media education programs for students. Lori Tucker, WATE-TV news anchor, will be the honoree at this year’s Follies.

Regarding his role in the performance next week, Hendricks said: “I got an email from a friend saying they were looking for someone to sing this song. I like being involved in all-around fun craziness as an artist, meeting and singing with new people, and networking. So I said, ‘yes, let’s do it!’”

Hendricks has won the Encouraging Award in national auditions for the New York Metropolitan Opera.

The song, “Let My People Golf,” skewers the attitudes that prevented then-University of Tennessee basketball coach Wade Huston, an African-American hired in 1989, from joining a local country club. “It’s interesting to see that situation was only in 1989, not in the ‘60s,” Hendricks said. “We’ve come a long way but still have a long way to go.” [Read more…]