Briefs for Wednesday Feb. 14

Feb. 14—Young Musicians Showcase coming to Bluefield Feb. 18

BLUEFIELD — A free concert, Young Musicians Showcase, is coming Feb. 18 to the First Presbyterian Church in Bluefield, West. Va. The concert begins at 3 p.m.

First Presbyterian Church will present a concert featuring outstanding area young musicians performing on piano, strings and clarinet. The centerpiece of the program is Mozart's famous 'Quintet for Clarinet and Strings' performed by Anthony Orr, Finn and Cannon Smith, Bethany and Deacon Goins and Kate Thyng. Other performances will feature Elias Burgess, Mary Frances Ridlehuber and Jude Hypes.

The Smith-Goins Quartet has played at festivals, weddings and events throughout southern WV including Bluefield University's Spring and Christmas concerts. For the past two years they have received a superior rating at the West Virginia Music Educators Association Ensemble competition. All four members of the quartet were selected for WV All State Orchestra for 2024.

Clarinetist, Anthony Orr, is an area native who began his clarinet training under the guidance of Suzy Fry and is a graduate of Princeton High School. He is a recent graduate of the University of North Texas with a degree in Clarinet Performance. Highlights of recent performances are appearances at the Texas Music Teachers' Association State Conference in San Antonio and Bluefield's Granada Theatre. A champion of new music he has premiered works of composers including Michael Daugherty and Jack Stamp. Anthony and five musicians that formed a university chamber music ensemble from University of North Texas were recognized as winners of the American Virtuoso International Music Competition and were invited to perform at Carnegie Hall's prestigious Weill Recital in November of 2023.

Concord's artist lecture series to feature organist Daniel Spurgeon

ATHENS — Concord University's Fine Arts and Communications department is scheduled to present an organ concert with Daniel Spurgeon on Tuesday, Feb. 20, at 7 p.m. in the Anderson Family Theatre of the Alexander Fine Arts Center.

Spurgeon is the choir master at the Alexander Fine Arts Center.

The recital will include hymns, a Sousa March and classical selections.

Spurgeon has degrees in music education and organ performance from Marshall University and has additional training from the University of Cincinnati's College Conservatory, Westminster Choir College and with the French organist Daniel Roth.

He has performed in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Austria and Germany. He was also a prize winner in a competition sponsored by the American Guild of Organists.

No tickets are required.

Theatre West Virginia to hold auditions for outdoor dramas

BECKLEY — Theatre West Virginia will hold auditions for the casts of the 2024 outdoor dramas at Grandview Feb. 22-24, virtually and in person.

According to organization president Gayle Oaks, actors, singers, and dancers must arrange audition appointments between 7 and 9 p.m. Feb. 22 and 23 and between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Feb. 24.

All applicants must include up to five minutes of contemporary monologues and up to three minutes of any song from "Footloose," which will be performed. Dancers must include a dance reel.

Actors and singers must prepare two contrasting monologues and up to five minutes of performance for the audition.

Singers must send vocal auditions prepared from any song from the musical "Footloose" by email or a link before the in-person audition to theatrewestvirginiacasting@gmail.com.

All auditions will be recorded, and all applicants must bring or email a photograph and resume.

Virtual applicants must send a photo, resume, audition reels and links to theatrewestvirginiacasting@gmail.com. In-person auditions will be at the PawPaw Tree at 715 N. Kanawha St., Beckley, WV 25801.

Since 1961, Theatre West Virginia has gained world renown for producing summer outdoor dramas at the Cliffside Amphitheatre at Grandview, now part of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

The story of the state's tumultuous birth, "Honey in the Rock," was first performed in 1961 at the open-air theater, designed specifically for summer stock performances near the park's panoramic Grandview overlook.

The historical drama "Hatfields & McCoys" debuted on the stage at Grandview in 1970, and together, the two performances became leading tourist attractions in southern West Virginia.

"Honey in the Rock" will be performed on June 18, 20, 22, 26, 28, and 30.

"Hatfields & McCoys" will be performed on June 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, and 29.

"Footloose," a non-historic musical tale of teens who attempt to overturn a ban on dancing in their small town, will be performed on July 11-14, 16-21, and 23-28.

Spark Brass to perform for Concord's Azzara Music Colloquium

ATHENS, W.Va. — Spark Brass will perform at Concord University on Thursday, Feb. 29, at 7 p.m. in the Wilkes Family Chapel in University Point for the Carl S. Azzara Music Colloquium. The concert is open to the public with no admission.

Spark Brass is comprised of professional musicians and educators from across the United States (including Concord's associate professor of music, David Ball).

The group presents their life's work and personal journeys with audiences of all ages so that they too can discover the intrinsic value of music education and the thrill of a dynamic live performance.

The Carl S. Azzara Music Colloquium Endowment is dedicated to the memory of Carl Azzara, a 1954 graduate of Concord, for his lifelong passion and dedication to being a pianist, musician and teacher. Dr. Christopher Azzara and his brother, Dr. Daniel Azzara, along with other family members and friends, established the fund in honor of their father, Carl Azzara, and to acknowledge his devotion to Concord and the role it played in his life.

The intention of the fund is to provide educational opportunities in music for Concord students, faculty, staff and the community through professional presentations. Dr. Christopher Azzara, who is a pianist, arranger, author and educator, offered the first program for the Colloquium in 2018.

For additional information about the upcoming performance by Spark Brass, please contact Dr. Jacob Womack at jwomack@concord.edu or 304-384-5306.

Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com

Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com