Oak Ridge Today

An Evening Out to benefit Child Advocacy Center of Anderson County

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Child Advocacy Center of Anderson County Kids Count 5k

Photo courtesy Child Advocacy Center of Anderson County

 

Some of East Tennessee’s most exciting performing artists will share one stage in Oak Ridge in a concert to raise funds for the Child Advocacy Center of Anderson County, or CACAC, a press release said.

The event attracts a cadre of talented singers, songwriters, dancers, and performers from the area, the press release said. This year, it’s scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Friday, April 28, at the Grove Theater at 123 Randolph Road in Grove Center.

Two of the area’s most talented performers will be highlighting the evening, the press release said. Kelle Jolly, “The Tennessee Ukulele Lady,” is one of East Tennessee’s most celebrated jazz musicians and a WUOT personality, the release said. Dominick White, a baritone with the Marble City Opera Company, will share his talent in the evening of fun.

Other singers, plus dance ensembles, will be performing including tango, lindy hop, and Greg Carney’s hip-hop. The emcee of the evening will be Zach Farrar who will also be handling the live auction.

“This event makes a difference in the lives of children,” said Sally Avery, president of the CACAC Board of Directors. “An evening of entertainment while supporting the kids, it is the event to be at this year!” [Read more…]

Roane State award-winning author Genovise has new book

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Elizabeth Genovise

Elizabeth Genovise

 

There’s a “bit of the magical” in her new work of fiction, author and Roane State assistant professor Elizabeth Genovise says.

Genovise’s latest literary effort, what she describes “one very long ‘short’ story,” is titled “The Stone Pear.” It’s now available for pre-order from publisher Anchor & Plume Press in Louisiana.

It’s the coming-of-age story of a girl coming to grips with her mother’s fragile health while also becoming obsessed with a pair of migrant workers boarding at her parents’ farm.

Genovise, who has taught English composition and literature at Roane State since 2010, says “The Stone Pear” is an unusual departure from what she calls her “strictly realistic stories.” [Read more…]

First United Methodist hosts ETSU BucsWorth Men’s Ensemble on Friday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

ETSU BucsWorth Men's Ensemble (Submitted photo)

ETSU BucsWorth Men’s Ensemble (Submitted photo)

 

As part of the Newsong Concert Series, First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge will host the East Tennessee State University BucsWorth Men’s Ensemble on Friday, April 21, at 7:30 pm in the Sanctuary. All are welcome to attend. The suggested donation is $10, a press release said.

BucsWorth Men’s Choir was formed in the early 1990s at East Tennessee State University as a primarily a capella chamber ensemble called “10 BucsWorth”—which referred to the number of guys in the ensemble and a play-on-words reference to the ETSU mascot, the Buccaneers, the press release said. In 2013, the ensemble was expanded to a full men’s choir under the direction of Alan Stevens. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Chorus will perform Broadway classics, American music

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Chorus Director Jaclyn Johnson is pictured above with the Oak Ridge Chorus. (Submitted photo)

Oak Ridge Chorus Director Jaclyn Johnson is pictured above with the Oak Ridge Chorus. (Submitted photo)

 

The Oak Ridge Chorus will perform Broadway classics and American music in a concert on Saturday, April 29.

The concert is presented by the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association. The chorus is led by Chorus Director Jaclyn Johnson, who was recently appointed.

It will be a “delightful evening of American music,” a press release said.

The concert will start at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at the First Baptist Church of Oak Ridge.

It will feature inspirational music of America and its people through folk songs, spirituals, and many well-known classics of the Broadway stage, including music from “Les Miserables,” “Hairspray,” and “Wicked,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Jefferson Middle School artists take second-place award in Dogwood Arts Festival Chalk Walk

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

ChalkWalk_JMS_StudentsPainting

Two Jefferson Middle School sixth-graders, Avery Parish and Anshra Ajaz, along with former JMS student Kiri Nelson, won second place in the Middle School Collaborative category at the Ninth Annual Dogwood Arts Festival Chalk Walk competition on Saturday, April 1, 2017. (Submitted photo)

 

Two Jefferson Middle School sixth-graders, Avery Parish and Anshra Ajaz, along with former JMS student Kiri Nelson, won second place in the Middle School Collaborative category at the Ninth Annual Dogwood Arts Festival Chalk Walk competition on Saturday, April 1.

The girls planned their masterpiece for several months and spent eight hours drawing it onto the pavement at Market Square, a press release said. Their work depicted an old painting of a Kraken attacking a ship and then beginning to emerge in vivid colors from the frame. [Read more…]

Author to discuss the Civil War, how it affected Morgan County

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Aaron Astor

Aaron Astor

 

Author Aaron Astor of Maryville College will discuss the Civil War and how it affected Morgan County in Wartburg on April 15.

The program, which includes a discussion and book signing, is hosted by Obed Wild and Scenic River. It’s scheduled from 1-2 p.m. Saturday, April 15.

Astor is the author of the book “The Civil War along Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau,” and he will be on hand to sign copies of his book following the program, a press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Civic Ballet to present ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ ‘The Firebird’ on Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Civic Ballet Association will present “Beauty and the Beast,” and “The Firebird” on Saturday, April 8, at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center. (Photo by ORCBA)

The Oak Ridge Civic Ballet Association will present “Beauty and the Beast,” and “The Firebird” on Saturday, April 8, at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center. (Photo by ORCBA)

 

The Oak Ridge Civic Ballet Association will present “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Firebird” on Saturday.

You will also have a chance to meet “Belle” and her royal friends at the Princess Tea Party on Saturday.

Both events are at Oak Ridge High School. The Princess Tea Party is Saturday morning, April 8, and the shows are Saturday afternoon and evening.

“Beauty and the Beast,” is the classic tale of an arrogant prince who is turned into a hideous Beast until he learns to love and be loved in return, a press release said. Directed and choreographed by Sharon Nicklow-Cousins and Sarah Jett, the talented dancers of the Civic Ballet bring to life Belle, the Beast, and their castle servants.

“The whole family will enjoy the ballet as our gifted dancers enter the world of ‘Beauty and the Beast,’” said Christy Rickman, ORCBA president. [Read more…]

St. Mary’s student participates in National Honor Choir in Minnesota

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Anna Kasemir, an eighth-grader at St. Mary’s School in Oak Ridge, participated in the American Choral Directors Association 2017 National Junior High/Middle School Honor Choir in March in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was accompanied by her music teacher, music teacher, Carol Villaverde. (Photo courtesy St. Mary's)

Anna Kasemir, an eighth-grader at St. Mary’s School in Oak Ridge, participated in the American Choral Directors Association 2017 National Junior High/Middle School Honor Choir in March in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was accompanied by her music teacher, Carol Villaverde. (Photo courtesy St. Mary’s)

 

Anna Kasemir, an eighth-grader at St. Mary’s School in Oak Ridge, recently participated in the American Choral Directors Association 2017 National Junior High/Middle School Honor Choir.

More than 4,400 singers auditioned to participate in the three conference honor choirs. Of the 298 singers selected to sing in the Junior High/Middle School choir, Kasemir was the only singer from the state of Tennessee.

The ACDA National Conference was hosted at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from March 8-11. The event involved more than 5,000 attendees, in which all fifty states were represented as well as 30 foreign countries, a press release said.

The Junior High/Middle School Honor Choir performed in two concerts on Saturday, March 11. [Read more…]

Reception for Roane State Student Art Show is April 27

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Roane State Community College will host an April 27 reception as part of its annual Student Art Show in the O’Brien Art Gallery on the Roane County campus.

The reception and awards ceremony is Thursday, April 27, at 1 p.m. in the art gallery. The public is invited.

This annual event (April 12-27) is open to all Roane State student artists and is an opportunity for students to hone their skills and gain exhibition experience. This year’s juror is Brian Jobe.

For more information, please contact Stacy Jacobs at jacobssl@roanestate.edu, (865) 354-3000, ext. 4311; or Bryan Wilkerson at wilkersonbs@roanestate.edu, (865) 354-3000, ext. 4748.

This press release was submitted by Owen Driskill.

Roane State music students attend Country Radio Seminar in Nashville

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

These five Roane State music students attended the Country Radio Seminar held in downtown Nashville last month. In front, from left: Bryce Laughlin, Raegan Kennedy and Elana Douglas. Behind them: Olivia Parker, left, and Cassi Maggard. Also attending was Roane State Humanities Dean Myra Peavyhouse. (Photo courtesy Roane State)

These five Roane State music students attended the Country Radio Seminar held in downtown Nashville last month. In front, from left: Bryce Laughlin, Raegan Kennedy, and Elana Douglas. Behind them: Olivia Parker, left, and Cassi Maggard. Also attending was Roane State Humanities Dean Myra Peavyhouse. (Photo courtesy Roane State)

 

For the fourth consecutive year, Roane State was the only two-year educational institution in Tennessee whose students were invited to participate as volunteers at the Country Radio Seminar in downtown Nashville.

The three-day event brings together some of the leading notables in country music, a press release said. It’s an annual convention designed to educate and promote the exchange of ideas and business practices in the country music industry. There were more than 2,500 attendees last year.

The seminar’s agenda included performances, presentations, informative panels, and educational opportunities.

Attending were Roane State music students Elana Douglas, Bryce Laughlin, Cassi Maggard, Raegan Kennedy, and Olivia Parker. Myra Peavyhouse, Roane State’s Dean of Humanities, also attended. [Read more…]

Local students selected for master class with renowned violinist

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Top row from left above are Kate Hausladen, Michael Ma, and Rachel Barton Pine; and bottom row from left are Sidney Matlock and Hannah Shipstad. (Submitted photos)

Top row from left above are Kate Hausladen, Michael Ma, and Rachel Barton Pine; and bottom row from left are Sidney Matlock and Hannah Shipstad. (Submitted photos)

 

Four East Tennessee students have been selected to participate in a special master class with celebrated concert violinist Rachel Barton Pine on Friday.

The master class is from 3-5 p.m. Friday, March 31, at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center. It’s part of a series of concerts and outreach activities featuring Pine and presented by the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association.

Kate Hausladen is a 15-year-old sophomore at Oak Ridge High School. She began playing violin at the age of four, studying with Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra violist Susan Shor, and has been studying with Karen Kartal for the past six years. She has been a member of the Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestra Association since 2010, and she has played in the Youth Orchestra for the past two years. She has been chosen to play in the Youth Aliyah annual concert in Oak Ridge several times and was selected to the All East and All State orchestras in 2016.

Hausladen is also a competitive soccer player and was All State for the 300-meter hurdles in 2016.

She will perform “Rondo,” the last movement in “Symphonie Espagnole” by Edouard Lalo.

Michael Ma is a senior at Oak Ridge High School. [Read more…]

Service of Psalms on Apr. 2 at First United Methodist Church

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Choir directors Seth O’Kegley (FUMC) and Anna Thomas (FPC), as well as organist Simon Hogg (SSEC) chat while composer John Purifoy plays piano. (Submitted photo)

Choir directors Seth O’Kegley (FUMC) and Anna Thomas (FPC), as well as organist Simon Hogg (SSEC) chat while composer John Purifoy plays piano. (Submitted photo)

 

Six choirs, with members from three states, will perform in the third and last Service of Psalms for the Lenten season, which will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 2, at First United Methodist Church, 1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The service will consist of reflections by local pastors and choral and instrumental performances of psalms selected for Lent that have been set to music by Knoxville composer John Purifoy, a press release said.

An offering collected during the service will be donated to Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachia. ADFAC, an independent nonprofit agency located in Oak Ridge that is celebrating its 30th anniversary, serves the basic needs of primarily low-income residents in Anderson and surrounding Appalachian counties.

Running from Ash Wednesday to Easter, Lent is a season in the church year that is marked by an examination of one’s personal faith and spiritual journey.

Steve Boyce, cantor, will sing solo verses or passages to which the choir and congregation will respond. [Read more…]