Martinsville Bulletin, Inc.
P. O. Box 3711
204 Broad Street
Martinsville, Virginia 24115
276-638-8801
Toll Free: 800-234-6575
|
|
 |
|
|
| For White House music program |
|
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
By BULLETIN STAFF REPORTS -
Eight young musicians from Henry County and Martinsville are heading to the White House.
The students will be in Washington today to participate in a music series that celebrates the arts and demonstrates the importance of arts education, according to a news release.
The students will be part of a group of 120 middle- and high-schoolers from across the country taking part in the event, which will feature country music. Country artist Brad Paisley, as well as Alison Krauss and Union Station, will lead an educational workshop for the youth. Both also will perform in an evening concert, as will country singer Charley Pride.
Paisley — a singer, songwriter, guitarist and entertainer — has earned three Grammy awards, 12 Academy of Country Music Awards and 11 Country Music Association Awards, according to the release.
Krauss and Union Station, which includes Barry Bales (bass), Ron Block (guitar/banjo), Jerry Douglas (dobro) and Dan Tyminski (guitar/mandolin), is the most prominent band in contemporary bluegrass music and has received numerous awards, the release said.
Both Paisley and Krauss will participate in the educational workshop from 2 to 3 p.m. Students will learn about the craft of song-writing and country’s musical traditions, according to the release.
The musicians then will perform at 7:30 p.m., and President Obama will make remarks.
The local students were selected after U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello’s office asked local music teachers to recommend students interested in country music. Background checks were done, and the students got the official word about their selection Monday, said guitar teacher Linda Clark of Martinsville.
Several of Clark’s students will attend.
According to Perriello’s spokesperson, Jessica Barba, the following students will participate:
• Heather Cassidy Hawley, daughter of Tim and Nancy Hawley of Collinsville
• Sidney Broaddus Allen IV, son of Pam and Sidney B. Allen III of Martinsville
• Sarah Elizabeth Russell, daughter of Jay and Debra Russell of Martinsville
• Jackson Garth Rigney, son of Mike and Sheryl Rigney of Martinsville
• Parker Andrew Gunn, son of Tony and Emily Gunn of Martinsville
• Lindsay Mae Roberson, daughter of Mark and Heidi Roberson of Martinsville
• Molly Spencer Roberson, daughter of Mark and Heidi Roberson of Martinsville
• Luke Alexander Erikson, son of Matt and Nancy Erikson of Martinsville.
Local musicians Doug and Telisha Williams, who also teach music, will attend as chaperones, Barba said.
The Country Music Celebration is presented with assistance from the Country Music Association, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and produced by the Grand Ole Opry and Great American Country Television. The event will be held in the East Room.
Eddie Stubs, a native of Gaithersburg, Md., fiddle player and an announcer on WSM’s Grand Ole Opry, will be performance emcee.
Jay Orr, who holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the College of William & Mary (1974) and a master’s degree in library science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1981), will serve as the workshop moderator.
First Lady Michelle Obama launched the White House Music series to encourage arts and arts education.
Jazz was featured last month, and classical music will be featured this fall, according to the release. |
| |
|
|
.jpg)