Arts Council gallery
CONCORD ó Exhibits opening Jan. 14 at the Arts Council Galleries in Concord include photographer Phil Moody’s “Textile Towns” and a “Fiber Group Invitational” featuring 12 members of the Piedmont Craftsman artist guild. Also being featured are two collections of photographs by Chad Mitchell, “Fieldcrest Cannon ó Angles and Elements” and “Rural Miscellany.”
Free gallery talks will be presented in conjunction with the exhibitions: Phil Moody, Jan. 24, 7 p.m.; Jane Doub, Jan. 29, 10 a.m.; and Chad Mitchell, Feb. 21, 7 p.m.
Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays. Group tours can be arranged at other times by appointment.
For more information, call 704-920-ARTS (2787) or visit www.cabarrusartscouncil.org.
‘A Patriot’s History’
Did white hunters kill all the buffalo? The answer, according to Dr. Larry Schweikart is “most of them … but that is only part of the story that textbooks tell in trying to proclaim Indians as ‘great ecologists’ or ‘conservationists.’ ” 
In reality, he claims, recent studies agree that Native Americans were on a path to exterminate not only buffalo, but also the white-tail deer, and while descendants of European settlers accelerated the process, they also took the actions that eventually saved the buffalo from extinction. 
Many textbooks, Schweikart asserts, distort American history in order to present politically biased views of everything from Reaganomics to the Cold War.
Schweikart is the speaker at the next Catawba College Community Forum for what promises to be a politically-incorrect look at the study of American history. 
The presentation, which is free and open to the public, will take place at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, in Tom Smith Auditorium of Ralph W. Ketner Hall on the Catawba campus.  
A native of Arizona, Schweikart completed a bachelor’s degree in political science at Arizona State University before going on the road as a drummer in a rock and roll band. After several years of performing, he returned to Arizona State for a master’s degree in history. From there, he moved on to the University of California at Santa Barbara for his Ph. D. He has taught at Dayton University for the past 20 years.
Schweikart’s recent books include “A Patriot’s History of the United States and America’s Victories: Why the U. S. Wins Wars and Will Win the War on Terror.” He has been interviewed by talk show guru Rush Limbaugh and featured on various television programs, including Fox News, Book TV, and the Michael Medved Show. 
His next book, due out this year, is “Fifty Liberal Lies of History.”
Schweikart’s visit is co-sponsored by Hillsdale College and the North Carolina History Project.
Met auditions
CHARLOTTE ó This Saturday at Queens University in Charlotte, 32 singers are competing for the opportunity to advance to the Metropolitan Opera National Council Southeast Regional Auditions in Atlanta.
Each singer must have prepared five operatic arias in the original language and key.
The public is invited to attend the auditions, beginning 10 a.m. at Dana Auditorium, 1900 Selwynn Ave.
Admission is free, but a donation of $3 is suggested.
For more information, call Leslie Paliyenko at 704-845-4624.
Timpani clinic
Peter Zlotnick, principal timpanist with the Salisbury Symphony, will conduct a timpani workshop for the public 5-6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18, on the stage of Catawba College’s Keppel Auditorium.
Drum students and anyone interested in the world of drumming are invited to attend. Zlotnick will talk about timpani and demonstrate different techniques, comment on drum students’ pieces, and answer questions.
Hot apple cider and cookies will also be served at this free event, and participants are welcome to stay for the symphony’s rehearsal beginning at 7:30 p.m. RSVP to the symphony office at 704-637-4314 by Thursday, Jan. 17.
Zlotnick will be featured on the next Salisbury Symphony concert, 7:30 p.m., Jan. 19, in Keppel Auditorium, where he will be performing Russell Peck’s “Harmonic Rythmn,” a concerto for timpani.
Zlotnick hails from Rochester, N. Y., having studied at the Eastman School of Music and earning his master’s degree in music education and performance at Northwestern University. Now living in Greensboro, he shares his talents not only with the Salisbury Symphony, but with the Greensboro and Winston-Salem symphonies as well.
The Salisbury Symphony has purchased new timpani, courtesy of a grant from The Blanche and Julian Robertson Family Foundation.
For more information, visit www.salisburysymphony.org. or call 704-637-4314.
Arts Council moving
The Rowan Arts Council has announced plans to move their office back to downtown Salisbury from their current location in Spencer. The new office will be in the Rail Walk Studios and Gallery building at 409-413 N. Lee St. in the historic warehouse arts district.
The Arts Council plans to be in their new location by early February. The organization will still be reached through their phone number 704-638-9887 and mailing address of PO Box 4234, Salisbury NC 28145. The Web site is www. rowanarts.org
Young Guns 2008
The Young Guns 2008 Teen Nationwide Online Battle of the Bands and Songwriting Contest offers two grand prizes to high school-age musicians.
Young Guns 2008 is a project of the Music Business Students Association of Catawba College.
The winner of the Young Guns Muzak Heart and Soul Prize for best band will win $5,000 and have the opportunity to open for Grammy award-winning band BLANK live in concert.
The recipient of the Young Guns ASCAP Jam Prize for best original song will travel to Los Angeles to perform as a special guest at one of the music industry’s premier events, the ASCAP I Create Music Expo.
Teen musicians living anywhere in the United States may enter Young Guns 2008 Jan.15 through March 15 by visiting www.YoungGuns2008.com. The Young Guns Web site features an individual page for each competing band as well as educational content of interest to popular musicians about creating songs, recording demos, taking publicity photos and writing bios. Visitors to the site can listen to the music of all entrants and help pick the Young Guns winner through online voting.
The Muzak Heart & Soul Foundation is serving as Presenting Sponsor for Young Guns 2008. The contest is also sponsored by other organizations within the music industry, including ASCAP, “In Tune Monthly,” Hear Technologies, Disc Makers, and Host Baby.
For more information about Young Guns 2008 , visit the competition website or contact Dr. David Lee Fish, Catawba College director of popular music and music business, at dlfish@ catawba.edu or by phone at 704-637-4280.