Christmas carols ring from tubas at PCHS to the TLT Workshop

Published 10:40 am Friday, December 5, 2008

The King’s Singers Tonight Another opening, another show, just in time for the holidays! Tryon Little Theatre presents &uot;Jacob Marley&39;s Christmas Carol&uot; December 4-7 and 11-14 at the Tryon Little Theatre Workshop starring some of the most entertaining characters in town Sam Lovelace, Chris Riddle, Connie Clark, Elvin Clark, and Mike Johnson. Take a break from your busy schedule and enjoy a new twist on this classic holiday tale of redemption. Seating is limited in the workshop, so be sure to get your tickets early. Visit to www.TLTinfo.org, or call the Workshop at 828-859-2466. If the holidays give you the blues, you might find the acoustic roots blues sounds of the father and son duo Beaucoup Blue at The Purple Onion are just what you need to soothe your soul tonight. Friday&bsp;&bsp;&bsp;&bsp;&bsp;&bsp;&bsp;&bsp;&bsp;&bsp;&bsp;&bsp;&bsp; Walk off those extra calories from last weekend with the Tryon Christmas Stroll from 4:30 ‐ 8 p.m. Start your stroll across from the Post Office with Betsy Goree at The Book Shelf where local authors such as Anna Pack Conner and Claire Wharton will be signing books. The Upstairs Gallery continues to share their 30 year retrospective of artists work from the region called &dquo;String of Pearls.&dquo; As you leave the Upstairs and head downtown through roving carolers, stop to enjoy Mara & Ford Smith&squo;s photography at Grace Foothills Church office. Warm up at the Gallery Coffeehouse and see what innovative new artists Bill Ingham has filling his walls. Sing a tune or two with Brian Gee at the new Lilac Wine and Piano Bar. Follow the lights up Ola May Way to Simply Irresistible Gallery to find a treasure trove of folk art and artistic furniture. Finish off the evening enjoying hot cider and cookies while roasting s&squo;mores with Kathleen Carson and Bill Crowell at Saluda Forge. Saturday Keep the kids busy making Christmas cards and pottery ornaments at Tryon Arts & Crafts Holiday Open House from 10 a.m. ‐ 3 p.m. The will have a giving tree for donations to families struggling this holiday season as well as a visit from Santa to hear those Christmas wishes. Enjoy carolers from Polk County High School and Community Chorus singers while you wait to find out if your raffle ticket is a winner. Tired of those tinkling bells on every commercial? Let the mellow melodious sounds of over 70 tubas and euphoniums help you herald in the spirit of the season. For the 11th year Polk County High School Auditorium will resound with the sound of bass brass players from across the Carolinas and beyond with Tuba Christmas. This free concert is part of an international celebration started back in 1974 to honor artist and teacher William J. Bell who was born on Christmas Day in 1902. In over 200 cities across the globe American composer Alec Wilder is also remembered for creating the solo and ensemble arrangements of holiday music for tuba and euphonium before he left this earth on Christmas Eve, 1980. Marvel at the sound of a tuba quartet from Western North Carolina University performing Handel&squo;s Hallelujah Chorus. Delight in the beauty of &dquo;O Holy Night&dquo; played by soloist Renee Morgan from Canton, NC. Renee is a sophomore studying at Western North Carolina University under tuba specialist Dr. Michael Schallock. Dr. Shallock will conduct along with Polk County High School band director Cindy Gilbert. Jean Howell will lead the audience in singing along with the tubas and &dquo;Jiggle Bells&dquo; will be conducted by master tuba wrangler Stan Howell. The concert will feature large ensemble renditions of many holiday favorites starting at 1:30 p.m. Sunday Enjoy a lovely afternoon with Metropolitan opera singers Mary Meyers & Rob Linder for the Thermal Belt Outreach benefit &dquo;Strictly Broadway&dquo; featuring with Elisabeth Moore accompanied by Peter Kutt on piano. Hosts Ronnie Mosseller and Kipp McIntyre will introduce the singers and the music starting at 3 p.m. The reception following will include a full buffet catered by Giardinni&squo;s. Tickets are available at TFAC, The Frog and Swan, The Tryon House, The Bookshelf, or the Thermal Belt Outreach offices at 134 White Drive in Columbus. For more information call 828-894-2923. Tuesday Don&squo;t miss the Tryon Concert Association&squo;s Holiday Concert with The King&39;s Singers on December 9 at 8 p.m. in the Tryon Fine Arts Center. The King&squo;s Singers from Cambridge, England have toured the world for over 40 years to share a wide repertoire of a cappella music and are famous for their close harmonies. Rumor has it they may even have prepared a special piece for this concert arranged by Tryon composer Crys Armbrust. Tryon Concert Association subscriptions and ticket information for visitors is available from Dorothy Wyckoff at 828-895-6065 or on their website at tryonconcertassociation.googlepages.com. A Look Ahead Make plans now to attend one of the Community Chorus Holiday Concert performances next weekend on Friday Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. and Sunday Dec. 14 at 3 p.m. Tickets are available from Chorus and Rotary Club members including Donald Hawthorne at Noah&squo;s Ark Book Attic on Trade Street in Tryon. All sales benefit the Rotary scholarship fund. &bsp;

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