CHARLOTTE ó Beginning its 21st year as a premier family musical event in Charlotte, the Tosco Music Party announces the first of three concerts for 2009 (Jan. 31, April 25, and Sept. 12) at the Halton Theater at CPCC, 1206 Elizabeth Ave. this coming Saturday.
But if you didn’t already purchase a ticket for the Jan. 31 show, it’s too late. It’s sold out.
One of the groups featured on this Saturday’s show is Salisbury’s very own polka band, the Polka Dots.
The band is headed up by accordion player Lorna Brown. Other group members are Anne Cave, who provides vocals, guitar and piano, her husband, Dr. John Cave, clarinet, Dr. Steve Etters, euphonium, George Hill, cornet, and Foster Owen, tuba.
The format of the Tosco Music Party concerts is a performance of one or two songs by each of a variety of about 20 scheduled acts (professional and amateur) who donate their time and talent. The evening offers an eclectic mix of all styles of music and includes Tosco’s trademark sing-alongs. It is a smoke-free, family-friendly event.
In addition to the Polka Dots, other styles of music that will be presented Saturday include bluegrass, gospel, Mexican, New Orleans jazz, a classical cellist and violinist, Brazilian guitarist-vocalist, alternative blues-rock, folk/Americana, a 14-year-old guitarist, a Hawaiian slack-key guitarist, soul/funk band, a West African xylophonist, and more.
Visit the Tosco Music Party Web site, www.ToscoMusic Party.org, for additional information.
For more information about the Polka Dots, visit www.salisburyartists.org/polkadots or call 704-636-3024.
Faculty recital
Members of the Catawba College music faculty will present an “Homage to Winter on Jan. 30, featuring Schubert’s “Die Winterreise.”
This recital begins at 7 p.m. in Omwake-Dearborn Chapel on campus and features the voices of baritone Scott MacLeod and mezzo-soprano Martha Bartz, accompanied respectively on the piano by Dr. Julie Chamberlain and Professor Paul E. Oakley.
Juxtaposed to Schubert’s “Die Winterreise” is a modern-day companion to it, “December Songs,” with text and music by Maury Yeston. This 20th century cycle of songs in English was commissioned for the Centennial Celebration of Carnegie Hall in New York City.
The performance this Friday is free and open to the public.
Locals in film
Viewers of the documentary film “Coffee Culture USA” being shown at the Looking Glass Artist Collective this Monday at 7 p.m. will see some familiar faces and places.
The film includes footage shot in Salisbury, and interviews with local filmmaker Sam Post, and Jacqui Watson, owner of Escape the Daily Grind. Other Salisburians are seen in the film as well.
Filmmakers Julie and Kenneth van Schooten decided to combine their love for visiting coffee houses and traveling in this entertaining and educational documentary. They traveled around the U.S. and visited unique coffee houses, ranging from a small Alaskan bail bonding and espresso shack run by a reverend, an Italian cafe in New Orleans damaged by Hurricane Katrina, a coffee house operated by teenagers to a full service community center/coffee house in Austin.
There’s also coffee painters, coffee collar makers, a coffee house film director and an exclusive interview with the “Grandfather of Gourmet Coffee,” Alfred Peet.
There is no admission for Monday’s movie showing, which is part of the LGAC’s First Monday Night Movie series. It’s sponsored by Coffee News.
LGAC is located at 405 N. Lee St.
For more information, contact Sam Post at 704-232-0923.
Pfeiffer exhibit
MISENHEIMER ó The collection of work titled, “Help the Confused: Jim Daniels” will be exhibited Feb. 1-28 in the Grace and Cameron West Gallery in Goode Hall at Pfeiffer University. An artist reception, including the opportunity to hear Daniels speak, will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 2. The exhibit and reception are both free and open to the public.
Daniels’ current work reflects and explores his fascination with repetition. He holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Southeast Missouri State University. He currently resides in St. Louis with his wife and son.
The gallery’s general hours are 10 a.m-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except during special events.
For more information, contact Joshua Cross, art gallery director, at 704-463-3160 or joshua.cross@pfeiffer.edu.
Lincoln symposium
RALEIGH ó In honor of Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday, the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, Office of Archives and History, will present “The Lincoln Bicentennial: A Symposium” on Feb. 12 at the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a reception following.
The symposium will take a look at a variety of topics such as Lincoln as a political leader and as a wartime commander-in-chief. The all-North Carolina speaker roster of leading historians from five universities includes two winners of the coveted Lincoln Prize.
Also, in honor of the bicentennial occasion, the State Archives will exhibit several Lincoln documents from its collection. The display will be in the Museum of History.
One document is from March 16, 1861, a letter sent to N.C. Governor John Ellis with the original Thirteenth Amendment, known today as the “ghost amendment” that would have denied the federal government the ability to intervene with slavery in any of the states where that condition existed.
A $10 registration fee for the symposium includes the closing reception.
Information is available at www.ncculture.com and www.nccivilwar150.com.
To register, call Karen Pochala-Peck at 919-807-7281.
Youth art
MOORESVILLE ó March is Youth Art Month in Mooresville, and parents and teachers may enter their children’s art to be displayed at the Depot Fine Arts Gallery, 103 W. Center Ave..
Cash prizes and ribbons will be awarded in four age categories from kindergarten through high school. Artwork should be matted, but not framed.
Artwork will be accepted Feb. 21, 22 and 24 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Depot. Entry forms are available at www.mooresvilleartistguild.com or at the Depot. For more information, call 704-987-5117.