Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 23, 1993 TAG: 9304220158
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Donna Alvis-Banks
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
"Man, if you gotta ask, you'll never know," he replied.
How's that for improvisation?
Improvisation - that wonderful spontaneity that's unique to jazz - is what makes the music different every time it's played.
The Virginia Tech University Jazz Orchestra will play its own brand of jazz music Wednesday at 8 p.m. in Squires Student Center's Haymarket Theater. The theme for this spring concert is "A Salute to American Music."
The orchestra will perform John Green's "Body and Soul," "Emancipation Blues" by Oliver Nelson, "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" by Jimmy Van Heusen and "Milestones" by Miles Davis.
A highlight of the performance is Rob Elkins' piano solo in the classic American ballad, "When Sunny Gets Blue." Elkins is a Virginia Tech senior music major.
Jazz violinist Joe Kennedy Jr. conducts the orchestra. Dayl Burnett, associate director, will assist at Wednesday's concert.
All tickets are $2 for the general admission seating and will be available at the performance.
\ NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Radford High School Music Director Lois Castonguay and her students are getting acquainted with some new friends from Canada at this very moment.
The Radford High School Concert Choir and Symphonic Band recently invited students from Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School in London, Ontario, for a visit. The Laurier Secondary Stage Band, Wind Ensemble, Strings and Choir accepted the invitation.
The 43 young musicians in grades nine through 13 (yes, Ontario schools have 13 grades!) will stay in Radford through Sunday. They will give a free public concert Saturday evening, starting at 7:30, in the Radford High School auditorium.
The Radford and Ontario students will do a combined performance of "Anthem of Peace," an arrangement by Mack Wilberg.
"The arrangement is two folk songs that speak of people joining together for peace," Castonguay said. "We thought it would be appropriate for the two countries."
Castonguay, who has relatives in Canada, arranged the musical exchange program with the Laurier Secondary School. The Radford students will visit Ontario for a performance there May 13.
\ SPRING SWING: Blacksburg High School's Jazz Band wants you to trip the light fantastic at its annual swing dance tonight. The event runs from 8 to 11 p.m. in the school's commons area.
The band will play a diverse program of dance tunes from the past.
Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for students. You may purchase them from any band member or at the door tonight.
\ SOUL MUSIC: WBLB is bringing gospel singing to Pulaski Middle School tonight and Saturday. Shows both evenings begin at 7:30.
Tonight's lineup features The Sounds of Victory, The Martin Family, The Nippers and guest soloist Jason Camp.
On Saturday, Dominion, Chosen Generation, The Carpenter's Tools and The Nippers will perform.
Admission is free but donations will be accepted to help WBLB with its transmitter fund.
For more information, call the radio station at 980-3411 or 980-4800.
\ WORTH CELEBRATING: Earth Fest '93 is the culmination of a week's worth of activities for Earth Week at Virginia Tech. It's happening today from 3 to 8:30 p.m. on Henderson lawn across from College Avenue in Blacksburg.
Organizers of the event say environmental organizations from all over Southwest Virginia will converge on the campus to show their support for a clean and healthy environment.
In addition, there will be lots of entertainment, including live music ranging from folk to country to rock.
Food and other goodies will be sold by Blacksburg merchants and vendors, but admission to the festival is free.
\ CURTAIN GOING UP: Playmakers & Company community theater's latest production, "Talking With . . ., " opens Thursday at Blacksburg Presbyterian Church.
The play by Jane Martin is a series of monologues by and about women. Producer Sandy Wiedegreen says it is designed to give audiences more insight into the female psyche and to leave them with a better understanding of how people cope in challenging situations.
The actresses are Elaine Fields, Susan Shome, Nora Hansen, Margie Hendricks, Abbie Thye, Patty Worley, Sonya Shipley, Donna Stalcup, Dee Davidson, Tonya Hall, Robbin Nuckolls and Suzy Klagge. Eric Wiedegreen is the director.
The production runs from Thursday through May 1, May 6-8 and May 13-15. Curtain is 7:30 each evening.
Shows will be on the newly refurbished stage in the fellowship hall at the church. Blacksburg Presbyterian is at Church and Eakin streets.
Admission is $6 for adults or $5 for students and senior citizens. Proceeds from the third week's production will go to the Montgomery County Mental Health Association.
\ CLAY USA: That's the catchy name of the current exhibit at Radford University's Flossie Martin Gallery. It shows through May 1.
On display is earthenware, stoneware, porcelain and raku by some of the area's finest ceramic artists. Raku, by the way, is a lead-glazed Japanese earthenware used in tea ceremonies.
The exhibit contains works by David Crane of Blacksburg; Anna Fariello of Christiansburg; John Frantz of Fries; Lynn Gordon of Walton; and Silvie Granatelli, Donna Polseno, Bruce Gholson and Ellen Shankin, all of Floyd.
Admission to the gallery in the Silverman Fine Arts Center at the university is free. Hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday, 6 to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.
by CNB