Art notes: HarpSong of the Blue Ridge to play benefit

From staff reports
Published: August 13, 2008

FROM STAFF REPORTS

A group of local harpists is putting on a benefit concert for The Gateway this weekend.

HarpSong of the Blue Ridge, an ensemble of Central Virginia students who study under Virginia Schweninger, is scheduled to play at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Grace Memorial Episcopal Church.

They’ll be playing seven gold antique harps, dating from 1790-1919, which have been restored by Lynchburg’s H. Bryan and Co. Howard Bryan, the harp maker, will be at the concert to give a brief history of each harp.

“Howard has got such a keen engineer’s eye and a musician’s ear,” says Bill Spruill, one of the event’s organizers. “He just makes them sound spectacular.”

The hour-long program will feature solos, as well as small and large ensembles, of music from the 17th to the 20th centuries.

Spruill says he’s heard two harps being played at once and can’t imagine how rich the sound will be with five more.

“Seven’s gonna be slap-down amazing,” he says.

The Gateway, located at 300 Twelfth St., is a transitional home for men in recovery from addictions. It has 23 to 24 residents, most of whom work 40 hours a week and participate in 12-step meetings five days a week.

In June, the facility lost federal and state grant funding, putting it at risk. But since their plight went public, The Gateway has received about $10,000 from individual donors.

There is no charge for the concert, but an offering will be taken for The Gateway.

Spruill says Grace Memorial has been involved with The Gateway for years.

“We were horrified at the triple whammy they got with their funding cut,” he says. “(We want to) make it happen in terms of keeping their doors open.”

One-man band to play White Hart Aug. 16
Jason Ring, a one-man blues-country-bluegrass band, will play at the White Hart at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 16.

The Galax native can play almost anything with strings, including guitar, banjo, mandolin, dobro and bass. His music blends the sounds of blues, bluegrass, jazz and ragtime. For more on the artist, visit http://www.jasonringlive.com.

LSO seeks musicians for new season
The Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra is seeking musicians for all sections of the orchestra for the new season. All woodwind and brass musicians who normally transpose should be proficient in transposition to the normal orchestra keys. Candidates should be proficient in sight reading and they should prepare two short pieces that demonstrate technical proficiency and musicality.

To be considered, interested musicians should furnish a resume that clearly indicates their musical abilities, noting in particular their orchestral experience. Materials can be mailed to the symphony office at 621 Court St., Lynchburg, VA 24504; or e-mailed to . Phone inquiries for auditions will not be accepted. The LSO season begins in early September and goes through June 2009.

LSYO, Strings holding tryouts for members
The Lynchburg Symphony Youth Orchestra and Junior Strings will hold auditions for new members Sept. 13, at Court Street United Methodist Church. Instruments needed include all strings, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, French horn, trombone and percussion. The junior strings practice from 4 to 5:15 p.m. on Tuesdays. The youth orchestra rehearsal is from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays. For more information or to schedule an audition time call (434) 845-6675 and leave your name, phone number and instrument.

Cantate holding auditions for youth
Cantate, the Children’s and Youth Choir of Central Virginia, is holding auditions for its 2008-2009 season from Aug. 18-21 and Sept. 2-4.

Children in third grade and above are eligibile for the community choir, which is dedicated to bringing classical music to the youth of Central Virginia.

E-mail director Peggy Howell at , or call her at (434) 528-1138, extension 20, to arrange an audition.

Courthouse Theatre casting ‘Secret Service’A
ppomattox Courthouse Theatre will hold an open call audition for its next play, “Secret Service.” Audtions are open to adults 18 and over from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 12 and 21; and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 16 and 23, at the theatre located at 331 Court St., Appomattox. Parts are available for nine men ages 20 through 60; and four women ages 20 through 50. No experience or prepared monologue is necessary. The performance will be presented throughout November.

For more information call (434) 352-7611.