Oak Ridge Today

Music Association appoints executive director

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Civic Music Association appoints Joy Bonamarte as executive director (Submitted photo)

The Oak Ridge Civic Music Association has appointed Joy Bonamarte as executive director. The appointment was announced by ORCMA President Larry Vance.

ORCMA is home to the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra, Oak Ridge Chorus, Chamber Music Series, and Coffee Concerts, and the organization is gearing up to celebrate its 80th anniversary in the upcoming 2024-2025 season.

“Bonamarte brings a dynamic blend of artistic passion and strategic leadership to her new role,” a press release said. “With over a decade of experience in arts management, marketing, and a deep commitment to community engagement, Joy is poised to lead ORCMA into its next phase of growth and impact.”

[Read more…]

Updated: Day of Peace features Symphony Orchestra on Tuesday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Dan Alcott

Note: This press release has been updated to include information about event changes if it rains.

The Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra on Tuesday will present the Oak Ridge premiere of “Adaptation Variations” by Japanese American composer Takuma Itoh.

It will be the featured musical selection during the United Nations International Day of Peace observance Tuesday, September 21, at the International Friendship Bell and Peace Pavilion in Oak Ridge, a press release said.

The outdoor Music for Peace performance will follow Haiku for Peace presentations and children’s activities by Oak Ridge Girl Scouts during a program focused on the Friendship Bell, Peace Pavilion, and the adjacent karesansui garden. Ziad Demian, architect who designed the Peace Pavilion dedicated in 2018, will speak about the tradition and technology in the pavilion design, the press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Orchestra, violist to pay tribute to trailblazing black, African American composers

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Derek Reeves

The Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra with special guest violist Derek Reeves will pay tribute to trailblazing black and African American composers in Musical Firsts on Sunday.

The concert is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. Sunday, February 9, in the Historic Grove Theater at 123 Randolph Road in Oak Ridge. Tickets are available at ORCMA.org, by phone at (865) 483-5569, or at The Ferrell Shop in Jackson Square. Tickets are also available at the door. Prices are $25 for adults, $10 for young adults ages 19-29, and free for youth 18 and younger through the Penny4Arts initiative.

The orchestra will perform music by acclaimed composers Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, William Grant Still, Daniel Bernard Roumain, and Jessie Montgomery. Reeves, the soloist, will be featured in the music by Still and also the “Viola Concerto” by Georg Friedrich Telemann before leading area viola students in a master class, a press release said.

“I’ve known Derek since he was a talented undergraduate student at Indiana University,” said Music Director Dan Allcott. “Now a seasoned professional, Derek belongs to that special category of musicians who has the ability to cross multiple boundaries and musical genres to engage all audiences. Oak Ridgers are in for a treat.”

[Read more…]

ORCMA ends concert season with Berlioz’s ‘Symphonie Fantastique’ on Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Symphony with Dan Allcott

The Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra is pictured above in an earlier concert with conductor Dan Allcott. (File photo by ORCMA)

 

The Oak Ridge Civic Music Association will ends its concert season with Hector Berlioz’s extraordinary “Symphonie Fantastique” on Saturday.

The Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra will be led by Music Director Dan Allcott.

“Symphonie Fantastique” is a musical tale of unrequited love as allegedly experienced by the composer himself in a dream sequence, a press release said.

The concert will be held at Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and it will also include “River Rouge Transfiguration” by living American composer Missy Mazzoli, and two pieces from Berlioz’s “Tristia,” “Death of Ophelia” and “Religious Meditation,” featuring the Oak Ridge Chorus, which will be led by Jaclyn Johnson. [Read more…]

Rock to Bach Music Festival on Saturday will benefit Oak Ridge Civic Music Association

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Kelle Jolly on ukelele (Submitted photo)

Kelle Jolly on ukelele (Submitted photo)

 

Note: This story was updated at 12:55 p.m.

The sixth Oak Ridge Rock to Bach Music Festival, presented by the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association, will showcase talented local musicians on Saturday, February 10, at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

A feast for music lovers, Rock to Bach will feature 19 live performances from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., a press release said. The performers include bands with singers, such as the Ridge City Ramblers and Mt. LeConte Jug Band, as well as string quartets, a flute choir, a jazz band, and two klezmer bands.

Solo artists are Allen McBride on the hammer dulcimer and vocalist Kelle Jolley, one of East Tennessee’s most celebrated jazz musicians. She is the host of Knoxville’s radio show on WUOT 91.9FM, “Jazz Jam with Kelle Jolly,” an hour-long show on Friday at 8 p.m. that celebrates great local, national, and international singers of jazz, the press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra celebrates 73rd season with free concert

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Part of the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra is pictured above. (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Civic Music Association)

Part of the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra is pictured above. (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Civic Music Association)

 

The Oak Ridge Civic Music Association will celebrate the beginning of its 73rd season with the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra’s Free Family Concert on Sunday, September 17, at 3 p.m. at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center.

This year’s concert, titled “String Fling,” will celebrate the string instruments of the orchestra, including a special opportunity for local string players to join the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra on stage for a play-along, a press release said.

“The Free Family Concert is perfect for families and music lovers of all ages and includes informative pieces and instrument demonstrations so that first-timers can learn about the symphony orchestra,” the release said.

“I am always excited to conducting the annual Free Family Concert with the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra,” Music Director Dan Allcott said. “We look forward to performing alongside string players of all ages and giving young people a chance to get their hands on a variety of string instruments at our instrument petting zoo!” [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…]

Celebrated violinist Rachel Barton Pine to perform in Oak Ridge

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Violinist Rachel Barton Pine (Submitted photo)

Violinist Rachel Barton Pine (Submitted photo)

 

There will be a series of performances and outreach activities featuring internationally renowned violinist Rachel Barton Pine in late March and early April, a press release said.

The events, scheduled from March 30-April 2, are presented by the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association.

Pine is an American violinist who made her solo debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at age 10, and she was the first American and youngest ever gold medal winner of the International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition, the press release said.

Saturday, April 1: [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Civic Music Association has new choral director

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Jaclyn Johnson

Jaclyn Johnson

 

The Oak Ridge Civic Music Association has a new choral director, Jaclyn Johnson.

A press release said Johnson has made it her life goal to share her passion for music with ensembles and audiences around the world. Before completing her doctoral degree in choral conducting at the University of Michigan, Johnson had a thriving career as a high school choral educator and church musician, the press release said.

Ensembles under her direction have received numerous honors and awards, including performances at the American Choral Directors Association National Conference (2011), Western Division Conference (2010), and Central Division Conference (2014), the press release said. In 2014, Johnson represented the United States as an international exchange conductor to China. She is currently the associate director of choral activities at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

“I am honored to be the new choral director for ORCMA and to work with such brilliant individuals,” Johnson said in the press release. “Oak Ridge has a rich and unique musical history, and I aspire to further this excellence with inspiring and exciting programs. We welcome any new members who have a passion for singing!” [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra to perform in Free Family Concert on Sunday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Family Concert Instrument Petting Zoo

Family Concert Instrument Petting Zoo (Photo courtesy ORCMA)

 

In what has become a fun-filled, family tradition, the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association will present the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra’s Annual Free Family Concert for families and music lovers on Sunday, January 29, at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center.

The concert is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. Sunday. It is appropriate for all ages and includes informative pieces and instrument demonstrations so that first timers can learn about the symphony orchestra, a press release said.

Music Director Dan Allcott recently instituted another tradition, whereby a special prize is awarded to the winner of the Ralph Einstein Youth Aliyah Concert competition. Allcott offers an opportunity for the winner to perform with the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra on the Family Concert.

“I think it is very inspiring for young people to see young performers,” Allcott said. “We want them to know that someday they could be on stage with us. The soloist for this year’s concert will be 17-year-old violinist, Mitchell Cloutier.” [Read more…]

Free student admission for Cumberland Piano Trio on Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

cumberland-trio-2

The Cumberland Piano Trio is pictured above. (Submitted photo)

 

Students will be admitted for free to the Cumberland Piano Trio concert in Oak Ridge on Saturday.

The concert is presented by the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association. It starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, January 21, at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church.

Established in 2013 as an outgrowth of the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association’s Isotone series, the Cumberland Piano Trio has become well-known for championing the works of 21st-century composers, a press release said.

The Cumberland Piano Trio made its New York recital debut at Symphony Space with Isotone in May of 2016. [Read more…]

Cumberland Piano Trio to perform in Oak Ridge on Jan. 21

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

cumberland-trio-2

The Cumberland Piano Trio is pictured above. (Submitted photo)

 

The Cumberland Piano Trio will perform in Oak Ridge on Saturday, January 21.

The concert is presented by the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association. It starts at 7 p.m. January 21 at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church.

The Cumberland Piano Trio includes violinist Susan Eddlemon, cellist Dan Allcott, and pianist Emi Kagawa. It

The January 21 concert will feature Gabriel Faure’s “Piano Trio in D minor” and Johannes Brahms’ “Piano Trio No. 1 in B major.” [Read more…]