A! Magazine for the Arts Archive

Behind the Music: Composers in the Region

Music is all around us in this region, and many of us are familiar with the performers whether they're country, Celtic, classical or rock "n roll; but we often do not think about the people behind the scene — the composers — those unseen men and women beh

In This Issue

• Perspectives on Kathleen Norris: The January Buechner Lecture Series Speaker Kathleen Norris presents the fifth annual Buechner Institute Lecture at 7 p.m., Jan. 26 at First Presbyterian Church in Bristol, Tenn
• Behind the Music: Dan Gawthrop Dan Gawthrop, who lives in Jonesborough, Tenn., is a prolific composer, perhaps best known for his piece, "Sing Me To Heaven."
• Behind the Music: Maria Niederberger Maria Niederberger is a professor of music theory and composition at East Tennessee State University and serves as interim chair of the music department during the 2012-13 academic year.
• Local Composer Scott Gendel featured in Major AIDS benefit In December local composer Scott Gendel, resident of Emory, Va., was showcased as part of an evening-length benefit concert for HIV/AIDS outreach, entitled AIDS Quilt Songbook @ Twenty, presented by Sing for Hope.
• Noah Stepahov wins Barter Theatre's Young Playwright Festival When Noah Stepanov wrote his play in class at Abingdon High School this year, he got quite the surprise: he won Barter Theatre's Young Playwrights Festival.
• Backcountry Makers: Samuel Shaver Portrait painter Sitting for portraits can try one's patience, illustrated by the discarded shoe and fierce glare of concentration on the face of this young sitter (pictured).
• Governor's Arts Awards Nominations Sought The Tennessee Arts Commission announced a Call for Nominations for the 2013 Governor's Arts Awards.
• February A! Magazine Deadlines Deadlines for February 2013 Print Edition
• Sneak Previews of Spring's Arts Related Events The first five months of this year are replete with arts activities. Following are some of the highlights, so that you may begin your planning.
• Ted Olson writes new book of poetry Dr. Ted Olson, a professor in East Tennessee State University's department of Appalachian studies, has released his second full-length book of poetry, "Revelations: Poems," published by Knoxville's Celtic Cat Press.
• The Crooked Road receives NEA grant National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Rocco Landesman announced that The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail received an NEA ArtWorks grant.
• Paper Windows Session Eight Winners named Eight out of 12 sessions of the Paper Windows project have been completed. This session named "Falling for Bristol" was number eight in the series.

A! Extra

• Barter Theatre opens 80th Season Barter Theatre is ready to raise the curtain on its 80th anniversary season in February.
• Jefferson Historian opens "Sunday with Friends" The annual Sunday with Friends writers' series at the Washington County Public Library begins with an appearance by Henry Wiencek.
• Southwest Virginia Museum Announces 2012 Festival of Trees Winners The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park congratulates the winners of the 17th Annual Festival of Trees.
• The Crooked Road receives D'Addario Foundation grant to support Traditional Music Education Program The D'Addario Foundation announced that The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail will receive a $2,000 grant.
• Reality Show for TriCities Man Larry Harley's expertise in knives and edged weapons makes him a natural for TV show.
• Treasures under the Interstates Heading north to Virginia Tech? Radford? Roanoke? Going south to Hillsville? Mount Airy? Charlotte? Well, likely, you have been driving over a historic site — and never even known it.
• Something about the Mantras You've Never Heard Something about the Mantras you've never heard. North Carolina's five-man melting pot band spin to the Galaxy Lounge in Johnson City on Jan. 17. Among their landing gear arrives a sound that blends Middle Eastern music with pop, rock, heavy metal, electro
• Guy Clark follows 'L.A. Freeway' to Abingdon November, 1971. Guy Clark entered Nashville's city limits with a dream in his head, songs in his heart and "L.A. Freeway" in his back pocket.
• Blue Highway Makes Stops in Tri-Cities Last year waved as a banner year for Blue Highway. "After we put out "Sounds of Home' in 2011, last year was our best year ever," said Tim Stafford, co-founding member of Blue Highway. "We may start putting out a new one every year."
• Spain provides Funds for ETSU's Dr. Robert Sawyer as Co-Investigator for Shakespeare Project Working with 12 other researchers led by Dr. Clare Calvo of the University of Murcia, Spain, Dr. Robert Sawyer of East Tennessee State University's Department of Literature and Language has been involved with a group award.
• Milligan presents Fide et Amore award to David Runner Milligan College presented its Fide et Amore award to Dr. David Runner for his loving and faithful service to the college.
• Emerging Power: Stage for Success Theater people often have trouble putting down roots. The lucky ones find jobs – acting, producing, singing – that enable them to travel all over the country, performing in shows.
• Barter Hires Director of Advancement Barter Theatre announces the hiring of Katherine Foreman as its new director of advancement.
• Barter opens 80th season ABINGDON, Va. –– The octogenarian barely looks her age. Her lobby is sleek and modern, thanks to a recent renovation, and her actors are fresh and youthful. But she carries the weight of 80 years of history on her back – a history unique to Abingdon, uniq
• ETSU's Dr. Ted Olson and John Fleenor nominated for Grammy Awards East Tennessee State University's Dr. Ted Olson, a professor in ETSU's Department of Appalachian Studies, and John Fleenor, media collections manager in the school's Archives of Appalachia, are among those nominated in the "Best Historical Album" category
• Two Milligan Professors awarded ACA Fellowships Milligan College professors Simon J. Dahlman and Noah DeLong are among the recipients of the 2013-2014 Appalachian College Association Faculty Fellowship.
• Birthplace of Country Music starts Building New Bristol Va Home Construction has begun on the Birthplace of Country Music museum, some eight years and three months after the concept was initially unveiled.
• Hep-cat, honky-tonkin' jazz band: Barlow Gin and the Hatchetmen Presenting, Barlow Gin and the Hatchetmen. They play hep-cat, honky-tonkin' jazz with a rockabilly beat.
• 2012 a Marque Year for BCMA From a Grammy Award nomination to hosting Mumford & Sons and beginning work on its highly anticipated museum, 2012 has been a marquee year for the Birthplace of Country Music organization.