The After-School Strings classes will present a concert at Isenberg Elementary School 5:30 p.m., Dec. 17.
Every Monday and Thursday afternoon, Isenberg Elementary School is filled with the sound of violins, violas and cellos as 30 students are learning to play these instruments. Since the first beginner class filled quickly, a second beginner class was added and there is a waiting list for a third class.
An intermediate/advanced class is made up of seven students who have played for at least one year.
Students in these after-school strings classes, sponsored by the Salisbury Symphony, come from Bostian, Cleveland, Granite Quarry, Isenberg, Koontz, North, Overton, Rockwell and Woodleaf elementary schools. There are also students from home schools and Davie County Community College.
The classes are taught by Karen Franks, elementary music specialist at Isenberg and Bostian and Martha Smith, elementary music specialist at Mt. Ulla and Woodleaf. Support is provided by Isenberg Elementary School principal Nathan Currie and his staff.
The program is also supported by First United Church of Christ Foundation and Salisbury Symphony Positive Note donors.
For more information on the program, contact Susan Trivette, education director of the Salisbury Symphony at strivett@catawba.edu or 704-637-4730.
PPT set construction
Volunteers are invited to help with set construction for the upcoming Piedmont Players Theatre show “Sweet Bird of Youth.”
All skill levels are encouraged to participate 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 12 and 19 and 1-5 p.m. Dec. 13. Lunch is provided both Saturdays.
Enter through the backstage door at the Meroney Theater, 213 S. Main St.
For more information call 704-633-5471 or visit www.piedmontplayers.com.
Nazareth supporters
Students in the Independent Living program at the Nazareth Children’s Home will be attending a performance of the Nutcracker ballet thanks to Nancy and Bill Stanback, long-time supporters of the Salisbury Symphony and Artistic Sponsors for the upcoming performance. As sponsors, they received a supply of tickets to the production which they elected to give to these Nazareth students.
For more information about “The Nutcracker,” call 704-637-4314, or visit www.salisburysymphony.org.
Candlelight Tours at Fort Dobbs STATESVILLE ń On Dec. 12, Fort Dobbs State Historic Site in Statesville will give candlelight tours at 6:30 and again at 7 p.m. Visitors will be given a tour of the Provincial camp and fort site, witness a rare night time firing of the Fort’s artillery, and join in colonial caroling.
Visitors are also welcome to enjoy the tastes of the 18th Century at the Fort’s Visitor Center where mulled cider and ginger snaps will be available.
The fee for the candlelight tours is $2 per person, with children 5 years and under free. Pre-registration is encouraged.
The candlelight tours are part of the weekend-long event, “Winter on the Western Frontier,” which will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 12 and 13. The daytime programs are free.
For more information, call 704-873-5882 or visit www.fortdobbs.org.
Grateful Dead
CHARLOTTE ó Grateful Dead members Phil Lesh and Bob Weir are embarking on a tour with their new band, “Furthur.” They will be coming to Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte Feb. 10.
Tickets go on sale Dec. 11 at 10 a.m. at www.livenation.com or by calling 800-745-3000.
For information about Furthur, visit www.furthur.net.
Laser shows
Margaret C. Woodson Planetarium presents a program of favorite holiday music and laser light images at 4 and 5 p.m. on Dec. 19. Young and old will delight to the sounds of Sleigh Ride, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Jingle Bell Rock, Frosty the Snowman, and more.
Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for guests 12 and under.
At 7 p.m. that same day there will be a rock laser show featuring music of Metallica, including For Whom The Bell Tolls, Master of Puppets, Fuel, Enter Sandman and others set to full-color, full-dome laser graphic images and designs.
Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for guests 12 and under.
The Planetarium is located at Horizons Unlimited, 1636 Parkview Circle. Tickets will go on sale 30 minutes prior to show time.
Guests are asked to park in the back lot accessed from Lilly Avenue.
For information, contact Horizons Unlimited at 704-639-3004 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
‘The World Aloft’
SPENCER ńA deeper look into the history of the Wright Brothers will join railroad and automotive exhibits at the N.C. Transportation Museum this December. “The World Aloft ń 1908: The Year the Airplane Went Public,” features the history of efforts to make powered flight known worldwide. A full size replica Wright Flyer, period artifacts, models and pieces of the original Wright Flyer, with an amazing history of their own, will all be displayed.
Featuring 16 photo panels, “The World Aloft” was created by East Carolina University history professor Dr. Larry Tice and his students.
“The World Aloft” will be accompanied by several items on loan from other museums and individuals, the largest of which is a full size replica Wright Flyer, loaned by The Wright Brothers Memorial in Kitty Hawk. displayed. the Wright Brothers first flight.The exhibit opens Dec. 17, the 106th anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ first flight. Located in the N.C. Transportation Museum’s Bob Julian Roundhouse, the exhibit and all associated items will be displayed through June, 2011.
Visit www.nctrans.org for more information.