The First United Methodist Church’s firstARTS presents its final 2008 offering in the series Fridays@first this upcoming Friday at noon with a jazz trio from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
They will perform secular music for the holiday season in various jazz styles.
For a donation, a light lunch will be served in the fellowship hall following the performance.
For more information, contact Matthew Brown, at 704-636-3121, ext 226.
Andrew Ross
Catawba College alumni Andrew Ross is currently on his second North American Tour with the multi-Platinum Christmas arena rock act Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Ross graduated from Catawba in 2001 with a BFA in Musical Theatre. He appeared in numerous musicals and plays while at Catawba, and attended intensive classes with the theatre department’s professors James Parker, Jim Epperson, Dana Anderson, Dave Pulliam and Christopher Zink.
While in Salisbury, Ross was an active member of Catawba’s Blue Masque Theatre Group, and held a part time job at Las Palmas Restaurant on Fisher Street.
Shortly after graduating he moved to New York City and was approached by Paul O’Neill, producer of Trans-Siberian Orchestra, to sing lead vocals on a number of the tour’s songs for last year’s national Christmas tour.
This year, Ross is on the road again, performing in major arenas across North America. His voice will also appear on the band’s upcoming album “Night Castle” soon to be released in 2009.
Ross will be performing close to his Asheville home when the show comes to Knoxville, Tenn., at the Thompson-Boling Arena on Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, call 865-974-0953 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
For more information about Trans-Siberian Orchestra, go to www.trans-siberian.com.
Old Stone House
The Rowan Museum Inc. is sponsoring its 24th annual German Christmas Celebration at the Old Stone House (1766) on Stone House Road in Granite Quarry 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27, and noon-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28.
The house is closed during November through March, but will open for the holiday celebration the weekend just following Christmas. The Old Stone House will be decorated as it would have been during pre-Revolutionary days, very simply with natural greenery, herbs, fruits and berries.
Tours of the historic house and the enhancement of a colonial family’s Christmas celebration in Rowan County will highlight the weekend. Guides in period costumes will be on site, and guests will enjoy learning about customs and participating in crafts, musket firing, woodworking (benches, bowls and spoons), weaving, candle making, open fire cooking, music, children’s games, blacksmithing, and more.
Holly sprigs will be available for all to toss into the fire to burn their troubles away for the year, looking forward to a new year.
Admission to the celebration is $4 for adults and $2 for students.
The house is located one half mile down Old Stone House Road off Highway 52 in Granite Quarry.
For more information, call the Rowan Museum at 704-633-5946 or email rowanmuseum@carolina.rr.com.
Arts in education
Jan. 16 is the deadline to apply for funds through a new grant program, The Rowan Investment Company Arts-In-Education grants.
These awards consist of three $1,000 grants to unite artists and arts organizations with elementary, middle and high school students in Rowan County, encouraging their creativity and knowledge of art. The grant is administered by the Rowan Arts Council with funding from Rowan Investment Company, F&M Bank, other businesses and individual sponsorships.
Individual artists, non-profits and cultural organizations that are members of the Rowan Arts Council are eligible to apply. Individuals and organizations that do not have an IRS determination letter are eligible, but must secure a tax-exempt organization that is a member of the Rowan Arts Council to act as a fiscal agent.
Projects that take place outside of the public school system are permitted, provided the participating students are of elementary, middle or high school age. All persons participating in the program must have Act 40 clearances.
Funded projects should be completed by Dec. 31, 2009.
Application deadline is Friday, Jan. 16, 2009, at 5 p.m. Applications and guidelines may be found on the Rowan Arts Council Web site, www.rowanarts.org, or at the Arts Council office in the Rail Walk Studios and Gallery Building, 413 N. Lee St.
For more information, call 704-638-9887.