The FirstARTS series at First United Methodist Church will host the St. John’s Men’s Chorus in concert on Sunday, April 3 at 4 p.m. in the church sanctuary.
The concert will feature music for the Lenten season under the direction of Rosemary Kinard. Janie Rollins will accompany at the piano and James Epperson will recite selected Lenten-based readings. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall.
The church is located at 217 S. Church Street. For more information call 704-636-3121.
Concert in the yurt
GOLD HILL — Kerrville New Folk winner Hans York will perform in the yurt at Sacred Grove Retreat on Friday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m.
York is a German-born singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist that has made himself a name as a DADGAD player (D modal tuning, an alternative guitar tuning most associated with Celtic music) whose voice has drawn comparisons to Sting, Paul Simon, Kenny Rankin or Michael Franks. For more info visit www.hansyork.com.
The cost is $15 and there will be a potluck dinner at 6:30 p.m. Guests are invited to bring a dish to share and a drink of choice. Call 704-463-0768 to register or email info@sacredgroveretreat. com, info@bedandbikeinn.com.
Sacred Grove Retreat is located at 15750 Mattons Grove Church Road.
Scrabble Scramble 8
The eighth annual Scrabble Scramble will be held at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 12, at the Holiday Inn on Jake Alexanader Boulevard.
The event includes a buffet dinner and three rounds of team Scrabble.
The cost is $25 per person or $250 table of 10, and benefits the Rowan County Literacy Council.
Call 704-216-8266 by April 7 for reservations.
‘It’s Hip to be Square’
Rail Walk Studios & Gallery will open a new show, “It’s Hip to be Square,” on Saturday, April 2. Participating artists for this show are Sharon Forthofer, Karen Frazer, Annette Ragone Hall, Patt Legg, and Marietta Foster Smith.
The show’s focus is paintings on square canvases and other works created in a square format or with a “square” theme. It runs through May 28.
The public is invited to a reception for the artists on Saturday, April 2, from 5-7 p.m.
Refreshments will be served and the public is invited to join the artists in dressing “square.”
Rail Walk Studios & Gallery is located at 409 N. Lee St., in the Railwalk Arts district. Call 704-431-8964 or visit www.railwalkgallery.com.
Pfeiffer Jazz Ensemble
On Wednesday, April 6 at 7 p.m., Pfeiffer University’s Jazz Ensemble will open Rebbie Jackson’s “Pick Up The Phone Tour” concert at the McGlohon Theatre at Spirit Square, located at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center at 345 North College St. in Charlotte.
Jackson is the eldest of the Jackson siblings and was the caretaker to the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, and Janet Jackson and the Jackson 5.
This event is a benefit concert to raise awareness for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI); Jackson’s daughter has battled mental illness.
Tickets begin at $35. The concert promoters have reserved a block of 200 seats near the front of the auditorium for Pfeiffer friends and family. Ticket purchases may be made through the Blumenthal Center at www.blumenthalarts.org.
For additional information about this performance, contact Dr. David Kirby at 704- 463-3182 or david.kirby@pfeiffer.edu .
Comedy workshop
CONCORD — Comedian, author and screenplay writer Sid Davis will present a comedy workshop on April 5 featuring on-the-spot “punch-line coaching” to individuals in the audience, useful tips for delivering jokes and telling stories , as well as and humorous personal stories and inspiring ideas.
There is no charge for the event and refreshments will be served. It takes place at 7 p.m., Tuesday April 5 at the Cannon School, 801 Poplar Tent Road and is sponsored by the Yawn Patrol Zone Toastmasters.
For details call 704-701-1120 or visit www.CatawbaToastmasters.org.
Emile Pandolfi concert
ALBEMARLE — The Stanly County Concert Association is pleased to offer all piano students in the area free admission to An Evening With Emile Pandolfi on April 16 at the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center. Accompanying adults will be admitted at a reduced rate of $10.
Pandolfi is one of America’s most accomplished and popular musicians.
The 7:30 p.m. concert is part of the SCCA outreach program. Piano instructors are encouraged to inform and participate with their students. For tickets contact Pam Medlin at 704-983-1684 or pammedlin@carolina.rr.com. Tickets will also be available at the door.
The Stanly County Agri-Civic Center is at 26032-B Newt Road. For details, visit www.emilepandolfi.com or www.stanlyconcert.com.
Salute to Big Band Drumming
Catawba College senior and drummer Austen Peters presents “I Got Rhythm: A Swingin’ Salute to Big Band Drumming” with the Salisbury Swing Band on Saturday evening, April 2, at 7 p.m.
The performance is in Elmer R. Hoke Hall at Catawba College. Austen has been the drummer for the Salisbury Swing Band for three years and is graduating from Catawba College as a music business major in May.
The concert is free and open to the public and will run just over an hour as Austen and the band explore the groove of foxtrots, shuffles, Dixieland marches, boogie-woogie and much more including tunes such as “In The Mood”, “Sing, Sing, Sing”, and “Jumpin’ at the Woodside” featuring an extended drum solo reminiscent of jazz greats Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Ray McKinley, and Louie Bellson.
‘Bootleggers’ on exhibit
WINSTON-SALEM — Unlike many of his contemporaries in the 1920s and ’30s, artist Thomas Hart Benton often chose to tell a story. In the new Reynolda House Museum of American Art exhibition, visitors will see his large-scale oil masterpiece “Bootleggers” alongside three lithographs. The lithographs are based on scenes the artist created for the mural program of the Missouri State Capitol Building.
“Thomas Hart Benton, America’s Master Storyteller” will be on view through July. The exhibition is included in the cost of admission, which is $10, $9 for seniors and AAA members.
For information, call 336-758-5150 or visit reynoldahouse.org.
Tour de Yadkin
YADKIN RIVER — Tour de Yadkin, a series of river events to encourage a cleaner river, will take place April 2-30. All events are free.
9 a.m., April 3: Tour de Yadkin kick-off Paddle at W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir. Join the Yadkin Riverkeeper and paddle to Badin Lake; paddle for a few hours or a day, join the festivites along the way.
5:30 p.m., April 5: Historic blue Ridge River Walk with musician R. G. Absher. Hear stories about George Washington, ghost stories and the history of the river. Coffee house Tavern, 1401 Willow Lane, North Wilkesboro.
1 p.m., April 9: “Munchies Music and Free Wine Tasting” at Carolina Heritage Vineyard and Winery in Elkin with Elkin Creek Boys bluegrass band.
Tour de Yadkin, a series of river events to encourage a cleaner river, will take place April 2-30. All events are free.
8:30 a.m., April 16: Earth Day River Cleanup with REI starts at Old US 421 Park in Lewisville and continues to Tanglewood Park.
9 a.m.-3 p.m., April 17: “Paddle and Picnic:” paddle from Huntsville to Tanglewood Park in Winston-Salem to picnic on the river.
April 23: Easter egg hunt at Tamarac Marina on High Rock Lake and a 1 p.m. river paddle.
April 30: Tour de Yadkin final paddle day. Paddle the Uwharrie River to Morrow Mountain State Park with a wrap-up celebration at Badin Inn, tastings from local wineries and Riverkeeper Dean Naujoks presenting pictures of the month-long tour.
Sponsored by REI. See YadkinRiverkeeper.org for donation information.