Oak Ridge Today

World-renowned Poulenc Trio to perform in Oak Ridge

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Poulenc Trio

Poulenc Trio

 

The Poulenc Trio, the most active touring piano-wind chamber music ensemble in the world, will perform in Oak Ridge on Saturday, March 18, a press release said.

The concert is presented by the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association. It is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. March 18 at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church.

In a recent review, the New York Times praised the trio for its “elegant rendition” of Piazzolla’s “Tangos,” the press release said. The Washington Post said the trio “does its namesake proud” in “an intriguing and beautifully played program” with “convincing elegance, near effortless lightness, and grace,” the release said.

The trio includes oboist James Austin Smith, bassoonist Bryan Young, and pianist Irina Kaplan. [Read more…]

Saturday: Enjoy ‘La Bohème,’ ‘Falstaff,’ ‘Cosi Fan Tutte’ vocals—also Beethoven, Schumann

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University of Tennessee Opera Singers are, from left to right, Darius Thomas, Alexandria Shiner, Jack Francis, Breyon Ewing, Paul Bryson, Tyler Padgett, Marya Barry, Joshua Allen, and Ryan Colbert (vocal coordinator). Not pictured are Lisa Griggs and Cheryl Scappaticci of Music Arts. (Submitted photo)

University of Tennessee Opera Singers are, from left to right, Darius Thomas, Alexandria Shiner, Jack Francis, Breyon Ewing, Paul Bryson, Tyler Padgett, Marya Barry, Joshua Allen, and Ryan Colbert (vocal coordinator). Not pictured are Lisa Griggs and Cheryl Scappaticci of Music Arts. (Submitted photo)

 

By Dale Gedcke

In addition to Beethoven’s “Coriolan Overture” and Schumann’s “Spring Symphony,” the March 4 concert by the Oak Ridge Philharmonia will offer a special treat, with favorite opera selections from Mozart’s “Cosi Fan Tutte,” Verdi’s “Falstaff,” and Puccini’s “La Bohème,” sung by University of Tennessee students currently studying voice.

Lisa Griggs and Cheryl Scappaticci of Music Arts in Oak Ridge will be joining the UT singers for those opera excerpts, and will also perform the humorous “Cat Duet (Duetto buffo di due gatti),” written by Robert Lucas de Pearsall (1825) as a parody on Rossini’s “Otello” and “Katte-Cavatine” by Weyse.

This is an excellent opportunity to experience a live performance of the most enjoyable parts of these operas, without having to invest in each entire opera. The cast of UT singers comprises Darius Thomas, Alexandria Shiner, Jack Francis, Breyon Ewing, Paul Bryson, Tyler Padgett, Marya Barry, and Joshua Allen. In addition to singing two roles, Ryan Colbert organized and directed the singers for this performance. [Read more…]

Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge offers Spring Break activities

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Children get creative with crayons at a Children’s Museum camp. (Submitted photo)

Children get creative with crayons at a Children’s Museum camp. (Submitted photo)

 

Gardening, art, astronomy, and messy science experiments will be among Spring Break activities offered for children in first through fifth grades at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge from March 13-17.

The museum will offer morning activities from 9 a.m.-noon and afternoon sessions from 1-4 p.m. There will be a full day St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Friday, March 17, featuring an Irish lunch, “wearing o’ the green,” Highland games, and crafts, a press release said. Children may register for individual sessions, a day, all mornings, all afternoons, or the entire week.

The museum will also host “Wonderful Wednesday” programs from 11 a.m.-noon March 15 and 22. Kids love rocks, and on March 15, they can learn about rocks in our backyards. The East Tennessee Geological Society will have rocks, minerals, and fossils to explore. [Read more…]

ORHS Masquers performs ‘The Wizard of Oz’ this weekend

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Pictured above for the March 2017 performance of "The Wizard of Oz" by Oak Ridge High School Masquers are Lion: Tre Jackson; Scarecrow: Bronson Burdick, Dorothy: Lauren McCoig, and Tin Man: Dillon Nowhatchik. (Submitted photo)

Pictured above for the performances of “The Wizard of Oz” by Oak Ridge High School Masquers from March 3-5, 2017, are Lion: Tre Jackson; Scarecrow: Bronson Burdick; Dorothy: Lauren McCoig; and Tin Man: Dillon Nowhatchik. (Submitted photo)

 

Oak Ridge High School Masquers, the school’s drama program, will present “The Wizard of Oz,” the classic musical, for four performances in March.

The performances are scheduled for Friday, March 3, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, March 4, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 5, at 2 p.m. All performances are in the Oak Ridge Performing Arts Center. Advanced tickets are $8 and are available at the ORHS office and The Ferrell Shop. At the door, tickets will be $10.

Under the direction of Dana Wham, who has directed, choreographed, or acted in numerous adult and children productions throughout the region, this year’s “The Wizard of Oz” continues the ORHS Masquers tradition of bringing excellent performances, impressive sets, amazing orchestration, and technical panache to the stage, a press release said. “The Wizard of Oz” combines an ambitious theatrical experience with the classic story for Frank L. Baum, the press release said. [Read more…]

Author Mascaro to speak at Roane State Oak Ridge campus March 1

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Knoxville area author Marilyn Mascaro will be the featured speaker at the new Arts and Lectures series at Roane State’s Oak Ridge campus.

Mascaro—an educator, writer, traveler, and East Tennessee native—will discuss her latest book, “Surviving History: The Life of B.Y. Harris in East Tennessee.”

It’s described as “creative non-fiction” and is about a relative who fought in the Civil War.

The event will be held in the Oak Ridge City Room (A111) at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1. Mascaro will be introduced by DeAnna Stephens, a Roane State assistant professor of English and humanities. Stephens organized the new Arts and Lectures series, titled “Writers at Roane State.” [Read more…]

Children’s Museum hosts International Festival Saturday

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Obayana Ajanaku will play the djembe drums Saturday at the Children’s Museum International Festival. (Submitted photo)

Obayana Ajanaku will play the djembe drums Saturday at the Children’s Museum International Festival. (Submitted photo)

 

Obayana Ajanaku, who leads Indigenous Vibes, has traveled to Brazil, Russia, and Africa as a professional drummer. He teaches African drumming at Austin East High School in Knoxville, and he has introduced drumming in other Knox County schools.

On Saturday, Ajanaku’s Indigenous Vibes will be the featured entertainer at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge International Festival, a family-friendly gathering offering entertainment, crafts, and cuisines from cultures around the world. Music, dance, comedy, and martial arts will be on stage throughout the day, and children may make and take home a variety of international crafts.

“Our purpose is to reach out to the community, to talk about unity, diversity, and our outreach program with youth,” Ajanaku said, adding that at-risk youth benefit from learning drumming and participating in performances.

He said he has been drumming since he was six years old, encouraged by his mother. She was interested in the African culture and encouraged her children to learn African drumming and dance. He entertains and educates with the djembe drums, a set of drums that all work together, he explained. [Read more…]

Senior Center offers free guitar lessons

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Guitar Intermediate Class

Free guitar lessons for senior citizens will begin with an orientation class on Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, at 9 a.m. at the Oak Ridge Senior Center, which was recently relocated to the Oak Ridge Civic Center at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike. This is a picture of last year’s intermediate guitar class. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

 

Free guitar lessons for senior citizens will begin with an orientation class on Friday, February 24, at 9 a.m. at the Oak Ridge Senior Center, which was recently relocated to the Oak Ridge Civic Center at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Regular classes will begin the following Friday, March 3, and are open to area seniors ages 50 and older. All levels of guitar players are welcome. Beginner’s lessons start at 9 a.m., with intermediate lessons following. Bass guitar lessons are also included. [Read more…]

‘Music of the British Isles’ concert on Sunday, Feb. 12, at ORHS

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Dianne Farris

Dianne Farris

 

The Oak Ridge Wind Ensemble/Community Band will feature music of England, Ireland, and Scotland in a “Music of the British Isles” concert next week.

The concert is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, February 12, at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center, which is at 1450 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

It’s part of the Wind Ensemble/Community Band’s “Exploring Our Roots” series for the 2016-2017 season. [Read more…]

Photos: ORHS Fusion Orchestra on ‘Blue Plate Special’ radio show on WDVX

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Oak-Ridge-High-School-Fusion-Orchestra-1-Feb-3-2017-Web

The Oak Ridge High School Fusion Orchestra performs on the “Blue Plate Special” on WDVX 89.9 FM at the Grove Theater in Oak Ridge on Friday, Feb. 3, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge High School Fusion Orchestra performed on the “Blue Plate Special” radio show on WDVX FM 89.9 on Friday. Here are photos from the show.

The groundbreaking fusion orchestra is now in its second year at ORHS, and it is the brainchild of ORHS Orchestra Director Doug Phillips, a press release said. According to Phillips, the class is a result of his doctoral studies during the past seven years at one of the top music universities in the world: Boston University.

“The class is a unique way to teach orchestra students for several reasons,” Phillips said. “First, in a traditional orchestra, all of the students are guided by notes on a paper that tell them exactly what to do and when to do it, how loud to play it, when to stop, etc., while the teacher acts as an overseer and dictates of all activities. [Read more…]

ORHS Orchestra has 17 students in All-East Tennessee Orchestra Clinic

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Oak Ridge High School Orchestra Feb 4 2017 600x422

Oak Ridge High School Orchestra students pictured from left above are Jade Dush, Hannah Constance, Lindsey Young, Olivia Mahathy, Mandy Pitz, Jamimie Clark, Meghan Campbell, HyeJi Bang, Aaron Beavin, Logan Roeling, Alek Wereszczak, Noah Constance, Kenny Moon, Eagle Yuan, Jared Anderson, Michael Ma, and Jay Casey. (Photo courtesy Doug Phillips)

 

Oak Ridge High School Orchestra placed 17 students in the All-East TN Orchestra Clinic. The clinic was held in Gatlinburg this weekend. The students are pictured above. They are: [Read more…]

Children’s Museum to host International Festival Feb. 18

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Obayana Ajanaku of Indigenous Vibes will create positive vibes on the djembe drums Feb. 18, 2017, at the Children’s Museum International Festival. (Submitted photo)

Obayana Ajanaku of Indigenous Vibes will create positive vibes on the djembe drums Feb. 18, 2017, at the Children’s Museum International Festival. (Submitted photo)

 

Indigenous Vibes, a culture-based entertainment group that creates positive vibrations using traditional West African drums, will be the featured performer when the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge hosts its annual International Festival on Saturday, February 18.

Led by Obayana Ajanaku, Indigenous Vibes drummers use the djembe drums to bring the message of diversity, confidence, unity, and pride through their entertainment, a press release said. The festival audience will be invited to participate in dancing to the drum rhythm.

The family-friendly International Festival will present entertainment, crafts, and cuisines from cultures around the world, with musical and dance entertainment on stage throughout the day and crafts for children to make and take home, the press release said.

The festival entertainment will be from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. February 18 at the Children’s Museum, which is at 461 West Outer Drive, with doors opening at 9:30 a.m. [Read more…]

Community-wide Valentine’s Dance at First United Methodist on Feb. 11

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first-united-methodist-church-of-oak-ridge-jan-2017

First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge will celebrate recent renovations with an open house on Sunday evening, Jan. 8, 2017. The church is located at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and North Tulane Avenue. (Photo courtesy Jeff Kile)

 

First United Methodist Church has its Third Annual Community-wide Valentine’s Dance on Saturday, February 11.

The Valentine’s Day dance is scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. February 11 in the Multipurpose Room at First United Methodist Church, which is at 1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

“Come dressed to impress for a fun-filled night of dancing and fellowship!” a press release said.

Admission is free, and light refreshments will be served, the press release said. [Read more…]