Oak Ridge Today

Roane State will host April 6 alumni concert

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Roane State Community College’s Music Department will host an alumni concert on Saturday, April 6, from 7-9 p.m. in the O’Brien Theatre on the Roane County campus in Harriman.

Admission is free.

The concert will feature alumni from Concert Choir, Celebration Singers, Jazz Band, and Bluegrass Band. As this year’s virtual choir project, the Music Department will debut an original composition, “Diversity, Similarity,” by Roane State professor Geol Greenlee with lyrics by student Chris Arnold. [Read more…]

Janelle Arthur survives another round of ‘American Idol’

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

Singer Janelle Arthur of Oliver Springs survived another round of fan voting on “American Idol” Thursday night, and she will be part of the television show’s final seven competitors.

Arthur will perform again next week and await the results of another round of viewer voting on Thursday night.

A video of her performance this week is available on Hulu.

Music Arts has student recital

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Music Arts Recital

Pictured at a recent Music Arts recital are, front row, from left to right, Melody Guo, Torie Scott, Eli Ferguson, Atticus Harris, Catherine Albert, and Sam Neary; and second row, instructor Jodi Harbin, D.J. Roberts, instructor Lois White, Joseph LaFreniere, Kelsey LaFreniere, instructor Andy Bryenton, Bonnie Moon, and Melody Simmons. (Submitted photo)

Music Arts students recently played cello, piccolo, flute, and piano during a recital at West Village Christian Church on Robertsville Road.

“The performances went off without a hitch on Sunday afternoon, with applause filling the room as each of the students and instructors finished their performances,” a press release said. “This was something that we put on as a showcase of the many talents that abound here at Music Arts and was the first of 2013.”

Students that took part in the Feb. 24 recital were Sam Neary, Catherine Albert, Melody Guo, Eli Ferguson, Atticus Harris, D.J. Roberts, Joseph LaFreniere, Kelsey LaFreniere, Bonnie Moon, and Melody Simmons. [Read more…]

Janelle Arthur still on ‘American Idol’

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

Oliver Springs native Janelle Arthur has made it to the final eight contestants on “American Idol.”

Arthur, who sang the Beatles’ “I Will” on Wednesday night, survived another round of viewer voting and will be back on the show next week.

A video of her performance on the popular television show is available on Hulu.

Arte Musica to perform Friday at Roane State

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Arte Musica

Crossover band Arte Musica will play in the City Room at Roane State Community College’s Oak Ridge campus on Friday. From left are Wade Darnell, Rudolph Nemeth, and Travis Witherington. (Submitted photo)

Crossover band Arte Musica will play at 7 p.m. Friday at Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge.

The concert is free and open to the public. “Visitors can enjoy Arte Musica’s blend of classical, jazz, blues, and rock in the campus’s refurbished City Room, which features new seating,” a press release said.

“Crossover is an interesting style combination,” said pianist and Roane State adjunct professor Rudolph Nemeth. “It blends different genres and different instruments in new and exciting ways.”

[Read more…]

Janelle Arthur of Oliver Springs moves into Top 9 on ‘American Idol’

Posted at
By 1 Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

Oliver Springs native Janelle Arthur survived another round of voting Thursday night and will be part of the Top 9 on “American Idol” next week.

This is the third time that Arthur has competed on “American Idol,” and this is the farthest she has advanced in the competition.

Janelle Arthur sings again on ‘American Idol’

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

Oliver Springs native Janelle Arthur performed again on “American Idol” Wednesday night, singing Montgomery Gentry’s song “Gone.”

Her family was in the audience, but the community was also watching as Oliver Springs held a viewing party at City Hall. An “Idol” film crew was there documenting the support Janelle is getting.

The next round of voting is under way, and Janelle should learn tonight if she will be moving on to the next round.

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…]

‘American Idol’ contestant from Oliver Springs makes Top 10

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

Janelle Arthur of Oliver Springs is among the 10 finalists on the Fox-TV show “American Idol.”

Host Ryan Seacrest called her name last night during the girls’ elimination round. This is the farthest Arthur has made it in the competition in this, her third appearance.

After she was sent through to the Top 10, she sang a Dierks Bentley song and expressed her gratitude to her friends, family, and fans in East Tennessee.

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…]

Oliver Springs contestant impresses ‘American Idol’ judges again

Posted at
By 3 Comments

Information from WYSH Radio

Janelle Arthur of Oliver Springs had another strong performance on Tuesday night’s edition of “American Idol.”

Arthur, one of the last 10 women remaining in the competition, impressed the judges with what they call her “traditional country voice” and prompted Mariah Carey to label her “America’s Sweetheart.”

[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…]