Calendar of Events

Requiem by Herbert Howells and A Little Jazz Mass by Bob Chilcott
Featuring Ascension Parish Choir

Friends of Music and the Arts, a support society for music at The Episcopal Church of the Ascension, augments the calendar of liturgical feast-days with concerts and organ recitals throughout the year.

Contact info
(865) 588-0589 or info@knoxvilleascension.org
800 S. Northshore Dr., Knoxville, TN. 37919
https://www.knoxvilleascension.org/boxoffice

Singer songwriter STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN at the Bijou Theatre.
SUNDAY, MAR 10, 7:30 PM.

Bijou Theatre, 803 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information/tickets: 865-522-0832, https://knoxbijou.org/

Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 3:00 PM
Pre-concert talk begins at 2:30 PM
First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge
1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN 37830

Canta Libre is a chamber ensemble specializing in the harp quintet repertoire, featuring harp, flute, and strings. Founded in 2002 by flutist Sally Shorrock, the ensemble aims to promote and perform music composed specifically for this unique combination of instruments. With a repertoire spanning from French salon music to contemporary compositions, Canta Libre captivates audiences with their exquisite performances.

Individually, the members of Canta Libre bring a wealth of experience and talent to the ensemble. Bernard Tamosaitis, the cellist, has performed with esteemed orchestras and founded the St. Thomas Orchestra in Mamaroneck, New York. Veronica Salas, the violist, holds a DMA from the Juilliard School and has performed as a soloist with various orchestras across the globe. Karen Lindquist, the harpist, has appeared at renowned festivals and performed as a soloist with major orchestras. Bradley Bosenbeck, the violinist, is known for his versatility, having collaborated with icons across genres from classical to Broadway. Sally Shorrock, the flutist, is a passionate advocate for music education and founded the Canta Libre Chamber Ensemble to share her love for chamber music with audiences worldwide.

https://orcma.vbotickets.com/events.
Adult (30+): $25, Young Adult (19-29): $10, Youth (under 18): FREE

For more information, please call 865-483-5569 or visit https://orcma.org

Each spring, the UT College of Music hosts the Knoxville International Piano Festival & Competition at the Natalie L. Haslam Music Center on the University of Tennessee – Knoxville campus! Activities include:

Showcase Concerts
Lectures
Competitions
Masterclasses from UT faculty & Guest Artists

Join us March 8-10, 2024 for the newest installment of this event: “Back to the Future – A Celebration of Contemporary Music.”
https://music.utk.edu/events/piano-festival/

HADESTOWN includes 8 performances from March 5-10, 2024. Winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, and the 2020 Grammy Award® for Best Musical Theater Album, this acclaimed new show from celebrated singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and innovative director Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) is a love story for today … and always. Intertwining two mythic tales – that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone – HADESTOWN is a haunting and hopeful theatrical experience that grabs you and never lets go.

Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. For information/tickets: 865-684-1200, www.tennesseetheatre.com

They Sang What They Lived: The Story of Carl and Pearl Butler is the first retrospective exhibition of Carl and Pearl Butler, the iconic country music duo whose timeless lyrics and harmonious melodies left an indelible mark on country music. With a career spanning over four decades, Carl and Pearl Butler became celebrated figures in the world of country music. “Carl made scores of major-label records during the 1950s,” says Bradley E. Reeves, the exhibition’s guest curator and author of the new book Honky Tonkitis: On the Road with Carl Butler and Pearl. “These are some of the best bluegrass, gospel, and hard country records ever made, although none could be called a massive hit.” That honor would come in 1962, when Carl and Pearl recorded “Don’t Let Me Cross Over.” The song remains among the fastest ever to ascend to No. 1 on Billboard Hot Country Singles. Carl and Pearl’s unique “Knoxville sound,” along with heartfelt lyrics, earned them a dedicated fan base who supported them at performances across the United States and Canada through the 1970s. The exhibition offers visitors a rare glimpse into the lives of these music legends.

Key highlights of the exhibition include:
1. Rare Family Archives: Museum guests will have the opportunity to view the Allen “Junior” Butler Family Collection, which has been made publicly available for the first time and includes never-before-seen photographs, home movies, original instruments, and stage costumes that belonged to Carl and Pearl Butler. “I’m grateful to Allen Butler and his family for opening their home and archives to share with us,” says Reeves.
2. Musical Journey: Explore the duo's musical journey through a feature film, which transports visitors through various periods of their career and traces their unfiltered, raw singing style, one that derived from and advanced the “Knoxville sound.”
3. Behind-the-Scenes: Gain insight into the lives of Carl and Pearl Butler through never-before-seen family photographs and recently uncovered anecdotes from the family and fellow musicians, including Dolly Parton who viewed the Butlers as her “second parents.” “Despite their successes,” says Adam Alfrey, Assistant Director for Historical Services at Knox County Public Library, “Carl and Pearl faced personal and professional struggles, which are intimately documented through the family’s photographs.”
4. Interpretive Experience: Engage with the exhibition to understand how both Knoxville and Nashville played a role in the development of country music. Also, learn how chart-topping artists can quickly become all but forgotten, even in their hometown. “The Butlers somehow fell through the cracks,” reflects Reeves. “It’s my hope that this book and exhibition will contribute to a reappreciation of their great body of work.”
They Sang What They Lived: The Story of Carl and Pearl Butler promises to be a heartfelt educational experience for country music enthusiasts and fans of all ages. It serves as a testament to the enduring influence of Carl and Pearl Butler on the world of music.

At 5:00 pm, Friday, October 6, 2023, there will be an opening reception for They Sang What They Lived: The Story of Carl and Pearl Butler. The event will include a meet and greet with Carl and Pearl Butler’s family, a book signing by guest curator Bradley E. Reeves, and an exhibition of Appalachian musical pioneer paintings by artist Amy Campbell. At 7:00 pm, there will be a “Tribute to Carl and Pearl,” opened by a performance of the Paul Brewster and Friends Band, comprised of 14-year-old mandolin prodigy Wyatt Ellis and Grand Ole Opry performers Daniel Grindstaff, Kent Blanton, Stephen Burwell, and John Meador. A screening of 8mm home movies shot by the Butlers (watch for an appearance by 10-year-old Dolly Parton), as well as some of the Butlers’ rarest television appearances, will conclude the evening.

East Tennessee Historical Society, 601 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Museum hours: M-F 9-4, Sa 10-4, Su 1-5. Information: 865-215-8824, www.eastTNhistory.org/lights-camera