Calendar of Events

The King’s Academy invites you to attend our Spring Information Session on Sunday, March 28, 2010 beginning in the Ashe Cafeteria for prospective students and their families. Lunch is provided with a program following having the opportunity to meet and interact with the faculty, administrators, and a tour of the campus. Reservations required-Phone 865-573-8321 or jmink@thekingsacademy.net

At the DoubleTree Hotel in Oak Ridge. All-Tennessee faculty of presenters includes John Egerton (non-fiction); JT Ellison (fiction); Katy Koontz (editing); Linda Parsons Marion (poetry); and Candie Moonshower (writing for young people). Special sessions presented on Cartooning, Starting a Critique Group, Column Writing, Videography, and Internet Research. Keynote speaker is Sam Venable. For information: 865-671-6046, www.tmwi.org

includes master classes, violin ensembles, concerts, lectures, and technique classes. Guest Artist–Kevork Mardirossian from Indiana University, Jacobs School of Music
Violinists register online at www.music.utk.edu/violinfestival/ to participate.
Free Concerts, open to the public: Saturday, March 27 at 8:00 p.m. - Faculty recital–Kevork Mardirossian and Lee Phillips; and Sunday, March 28 at 4:00 p.m. - Closing Gala featuring faculty, UTVF All-Violin Orchestra, UTVF Advanced Orchestra, James Fellenbaum conducting.

UT School of Music offers over 180 concerts a year, and most of them are free! Unless otherwise noted, all UT School of Music concerts are FREE and open to the public, and are held in the Music Hall Auditorium at the UT School of Music, located at 1741 Volunteer Blvd., or in one of three performance halls in the Alumni Memorial Building located at 1408 Middle Drive on the campus of the University of Tennessee. (The James R. Cox Auditorium is located in the Alumni Memorial Building.) Information: 865-974-5678, www.music.utk.edu/events.

Finally, and by popular demand, three of McMinn County’s finest male voices are joining together to bring an evening of entertainment to the public. Under the direction of Pam Thigpen, the Athens Area Council for the Arts will present Mike Simmons, Rusty Patterson, and Tim Frazier as OUR THREE TENORS on Saturday, March 27, 7:00 PM and Sunday, March 28th at 2:30 at The Arts Center in Athens, Tennessee. The three tenors have performed throughout the region for many years, but never exclusively together on the same stage. Mike Simmons, principal of Athens Junior High School, has played a variety of roles in community musicals, including Camelot, Broadway Babies, Once Upon a Mattress, and Jazzy Little Christmas. Mike has also been a featured soloist with the Knoxville Chamber Orchestra. Rusty Patterson is the PM5 Paper Machine Superintendent with AbitibiBowater whose musical credits began with Hello Dolly and also include Broadway Babies, A Gem of a Show, Jazzy Little Christmas, My Fair Lady, and a recent Tellico Village production of A Cole Porter Review. Tim Frazier is a Quality Technician at Johnson Controls and has been minister of music at Rocky Mountain Baptist Church for 21 years. Tim’s community appearances include performances in Jazzy Little Christmas, The Music Man, and A Gem of a Show. The three tenors’ accompanist is the multi-talented Kay Simmons whose many performing credits began with the extensive experience she received accompanying her father’s voice students at Auburn University. Kay is the founding director of the Athens Area Children’s Choir, and has performed and accompanied in several plays and musicals with the Athens Community Theater. The evening with Our Three Tenors will feature a variety of hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. The doors open at 6:30PM and show time is 7:00 PM in the Sue E. Trotter Theater at The Arts Center, 320 North White Street in Athens. Seating will be at tables by reservation and tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for students. Tickets are available by phone at 423-745-8781, on line at www.athensartscouncil.org, and at The Arts Center.

At the Oak Ridge High School Auditorium.

The BIG EARS FESTIVAL is proud to announce another weekend of visionary music, exploratory art, and southern hospitality. This time, BIG EARS is especially proud to host the legendary American composer TERRY RILEY as Artist in Residence for the weekend with a series of concerts throughout the weekend celebrating Riley's 75th Birthday year. In addition, the weekend will feature an exciting array of artists and performers from the worlds of rock, jazz, classical, and avant garde music along with installations, exhibitions, interactive experiences, talks, and workshops. RILEY himself will perform in several different concerts of his work during the weekend, with a variety of musicians. Also, the Calder String Quartet will present a program of his work. And a sure highlight of the weekend will come when many of the artists performing during the weekend join together for an unforgettable performance of IN C. Featuring over 30 artists/bands expected to perform some 50 concerts in at least 8 venues this year. In addition there will be art exhibitions, installations, film screenings, workshops, interactive experiences, lectures and discussions, along with even more artists! Information: 865-684-1200, www.bigearsfestival.com

30,000 tulips of various shades of Pink have been planted this year to serve as the backdrop to a variety of special activities and exhibits. Historic Crescent Bend House & Gardens is one of the Southeast finest house museums and gardens. Built in 1834 by Drury Paine Armstrong, Crescent Bend was once a 900 acre working farm and so named for its prominent setting overlooking a majestic crescent bend in the Tennessee River just west of downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. The Armstong-Lockett House Museum at Crescent Bend contains an extensive fine antique collection from notable artisans like Michael Allison, Honore Launnier, Benjamin Frothingham, Samuel McIntire, and Sir Thomas Lawrence. One can view the outstanding American and English Silver collection with eminent smiths like Paul de Lamerie, Paul Storr, and seven women smiths that includes the works of Elizabeth Godfrey and Hester Bateman. Unlock the mystery behind the hidden trap door of this antebellum home. Hear the tale of how Jean Zuber wallpaper made its’ travels to Crescent Bend by the way of a United States President and a Pirate. The William P. Toms Memorial Garden at Crescent Bend is a three-acre formal Italian terraced garden of perennials, Japanese Maple, rose, and thousands of colorful blooming annuals are set to the backdrop of the dancing waters from five large fountains.

Crescent Bend House & Gardens, 2728 Kingston Pike Knoxville, TN 37919. Hours: Tues-Fri 10-4; Sat 10-2; Sun 1-4 (closed Easter Sunday). Admission: $7 adults, $5 students, FREE children 12 and under. For information: 865.637.3163, Brett@CrescentBend.net.

Come see some of East Tennessee’s finest works of art that will be showcased at Crescent Bend House & Gardens during the Dogwood Arts Festival. Many of the prints are still available for purchase. For more information on The Dogwood Arts Festival and the Limited Edition Prints one can go to www.dogwoodarts.com or call 865-637-4561.
Crescent Bend House & Gardens, 2728 Kingston Pike Knoxville, TN 37919. Hours: Tues-Fri 10-4; Sat 10-2; Sun 1-4 (closed Easter Sunday). Admission: $7 adults, $5 students, FREE children 12 and under.

Opening night, March 26

1714 Andy Holt Avenue on the UT Campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. For information: 865-974-5161, www.clarencebrowntheatre.org

Reception: Tuesday, March 23, 7:30-9PM (awards ceremony, 8:30PM)

Ewing Gallery, 1715 Volunteer Blvd, Knoxville, TN 37996. Hours: Monday & Thursday: 10AM-8PM; Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday: 10AM-5PM; and Sunday: 1-4PM. For information: 865-974-3200, www.ewing-gallery.utk.edu

The Wild Thyme Players and The Silver Stage Players present THE WAY THE STORY GOES... An original production by artists age 10 - 85 writing and performing stories from their lives. With the support of TN Arts Commission, this production is touring free to the venues and the public, with audience donations being split between the artist organizations and the host venues. Tour schedule:
March 18 - UT Seniors for Creative Learning - The John T. O'Connor Center 1 PM
March 19 - St. Thomas' Episcopal Church - Tiffany Drive, Knoxville 7:00 PM
March 20 - The Rebecca Johnson Theater - Historic Rugby, Rugby 7:30 PM
March 25 - Homewood Residence @ Deane Hill - 6 PM
March 26 - First Farragut United Methodist Church - Farragut 7:00 PM
March 27 - Echo Ridge Retirement Community - Gleason Drive, Knoxville 2:00 PM
March 29 - John T. O'Connor Senior Center - Winona Street, Knoxville 2 PM
April 2 (First Friday) - URBhana - Gay Street, Knoxville 5:00 PM
April 3 - Theatre Knoxville Downtown - N. Gay Street, Knoxville 8 PM
Admission is FREE and donations are appreciated. For information call 932-6738.
The Silver Stage Players are an education/outreach partnership between The Wild Thyme Players and The John T. O'Connor Senior Center.

East Tennessee’s Own WDVX-FM kicks off its’ Spring Fund Drive on St. Patrick’s Day March 17th with a special 90 minute Blue Plate Special featuring Matt McNeely, Shamrock Road, Four Leaf Peat, and Cutthroat Shamrock. The internationally recognized Blue Plate Special is a free live radio show which is broadcast weekdays from noon to 1pm Monday through Thursday from the WDVX studios in the Knoxville Visitor Center on the corner of Summit Hill Drive and South Gay Street, and on Fridays from The Square Room on Market Square. The fund drive will continue on through March 28th, with special guest hosts and performances throughout. WDVX is an independent, community-supported radio station playing an eclectic mix of music celebrating the arts and culture of the Southern Appalachian region. The station can be heard in Knoxville and surrounding areas on the radio at 89.9 or 102.9 or online at www.wdvx.com. To make donations or to volunteer at WDVX, contact the station at (865) 544-1029 or 1-866-946-WDVX (9389) or visit the website www.wdvx.com.