Arts and entertainment briefs

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, May 18, 2011

The Salisbury Symphony offers an evening of great American melodies and some fine dancing in ěDance,î its pops concert for the season. It begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday night, May 21, in Keppel Auditorium at Catawba College.
Music Director David Hagy has programmed two selections by Richard Rodgers, two by George Gershwin, and two by Leonard Bernstein. Concert-goers will hear music from Oklahoma, Carousel, On the Town, An American in Paris, and West Side Story.
Dancers from Piedmont Dance Theatre ó featured in ěThe Nutcrackerî each season ó will perform the Symphonic Dances from West Side Story.
Dennis and Kathi Hill are the concertís sponsors. The Symphony Guild will have available light refreshments for sale during intermission, to benefit the Symphony.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $6 for students (ages 9-18), and $4 for children. Livingstone and Catawba College students are admitted free with student ID. Tickets outlets are Belk (Salisbury Mall), A Step In Time, Rowan Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Sidewalk Deli in Salisbury; Green Goat Gallery in Spencer; and Crescent Pharmacy in Rockwell.
Tickets also may be purchased at www.salisburysymphony.org or by calling the Symphony office at 704-637-4314.
ëSalisbury’s Got Talentí
Salisbury High Schoolís Me Time Girlsí Mentor Group, Junior Civitan Service Organization and TRU, the Anti-tobacco Club, present the second annual ěSalisburyís Got Talentî benefit showcase this Friday, May 20, at 7 p.m. in the Salisbury High School auditorium.
The show features original heavy metal, pop, step, comedy, dance and drama performances by SHS students and guest performers. Raffle prizes will be given away.
Admission is $5. Proceeds benefit the local chapter of the American Red Cross. Phone 704-636-1221, ex. 211 for details.
ëLetís Get Connectedí
The eighth ěLetís Get Connected Day,î an annual festival of faith, will be held on Saturday, May 21 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
The event takes place at Kelsey Scott Park, 1920 Old Wilkesboro Road, and features the Community Choir under the direction of Dr. Phillip Burgess; the Salisbury High drum and dance team under the direction of Sakinah Riley; presentations of art and essay contest winners, free hot dogs and hamburgers.
The Circle of Prayer is at noon, and the dedication of the fifth Peace Pole which proclaims ěmay peace prevail on earthî in eight languages.
The event is sponsored by The Covenant Community Connection, sub-group of Salisbury Rowan Human Relations Council.
Last laser shows
The final two laser shows of the school year feature a celebration of the USA and a look at the music of U2.
ěLaser Spirit,î a beautiful, fast-paced family show with music and full-color laser light images, will be presented on Saturday, May 21 at 5 p.m. Artists include Lee Greenwood, Aaron Copeland, The Beatles, Kansas and others.
Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for guests 12 and under.
At 7 p.m. that same evening, the rock laser show ěLaser U2î presents the instrumental sounds of Bono and his band, with favorite U2 songs.
Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students 12 and under.
The planetarium is located at 1636 Parkview Circle. Park and enter in the back of the building accessible from Lilly Ave. For more information call 704-639-3004.
North Rowan Concerts
The North Rowan High School Concert and Jazz Bands and North Rowan Middle 8th Grade Bands will present their annual Spring Concert Tuesday, May 24 in the North Rowan High School auditorium.
The concert band will be featured performing ě1812 Overtureî and David Crews, NRHS English Department chair, will offer the audience a brief historical explanation of this monumental piece.
The program will also include ěMountain Danceî by Davidson County resident/composer Ed Kiefer, the North Jazz Band will perform jazz/swing selections and the 8th grade band will perform ěDevil With the Blue Dressî and other selections.
The North Rowan HS and MS Bands are directed by Keith and Andrew Howe. Tyler Howe, 2011 Catawba College graduate will guest conduct the jazz band. The 7 p.m. concert is free.
NC Music Hall of Fame
KANNAPOLIS ó The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame Museum, 109 West A St. honors musicians, singers, songwriters and producers from the state of North Carolina who have made great contributions to American music.
More than 50 major inductee exhibits including Randy Travis, Charlie Daniels, Roberta Flack, John Coltrane, Andy Griffith, Shirley Caesar, Doc Watson, Chairmen of the Board, Earl Scruggs, Maurice Williams and others.
Located in the renovated old Kannapolis jailhouse building, the museum will be open 10 a.m.-noon, 2-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Admission is free, donations are appreciated. Call 704-934-2320 or visit www.NorthCarolinaMusicHallofFame.org for more information.
Fiddlers Festival
UNION GROVE ó The Fiddlers Grove Ole Time Fiddlerís and Bluegrass Festival happens May 27-29 at the Fiddlerís Grove Camground.
This is the oldest fiddlerís competition in North America and includes competitions for bands and individuals, free workshops and on-site camping. The event is family-run and family-friendly.
For details, contacct info@fiddlersgrove.com, call 828-478-3735 or visit www.fiddlersgrove.com.
David Ring speaks
As part of the rally benefiting Nazareth Childrenís Home, David Ring, a cerebral palsy victim, will share how he became a cerebral palsy victor.
His presentation is on Saturday, May 21 at 7 p.m. in the East Rowan High School auditorium, 175 Saint Luke Church Road.
This is a free event. A love offering will be taken. Call 704-213-6379 for more details.
Community recital
The Catawba College Community Music Program hosts several spring semester performance events for students enrolled in the program, performances that showcase the classes and private lessons taught through Community Music, including class piano for senior adults, group guitar, and suzuki violin classes.
On Sunday, May 22, at 2 p.m., The Catawba Childrenís Choir and Youth Chorale will perform in Omwake-Dearborn Chapel on the Catawba College campus.
Directed by Randi Skaggs, the childrenís chorale will be singing a variety of styles while the Youth Chorale, directed by Dean Orbison, will be singing such hits as ěWizard of Oz,î ěAinít Misbehaviníî and a medley from ěLes Miserables.î
An integrated recital of violin, guitar, piano, flute, and clarinet students will be performing at 3:30 p.m. in the same location. Students will represent the studios of Community Music instructors Dr. Dan Skidmore, David Edwards, Karen Franks, Jacob Hahn and Emily Schuttenberg.
CIS fundraiser
On Saturday, May 21, Communities in Schools will benefit from a fundraiser featuring the music of Ron Turbyfill and the Rowan Swing Band All Stars. Starting at 7:30 p.m., they will play big band favorites as well as some shag and other tunes.
From 6:30-7:30 p.m., Diana Moghrabi of Salisbury Community Planning Services will hold an introductory dance lesson prior to the actual event.
Admission is $10. For more information, contact Diana Moghrabi at 704-638-5240.
Planes at Dan Nicholas
The Rowan Aero Modelers will be flying radio controlled airplanes at Dan Nicholas Park this Sunday from 1-5pm at the front field of the park. The public is invited to come watch. There will be planes ranging from small ěfoamiesî to a gas-powered plane with an 80 inch wingspan.
Contemporary Art Musuem opens
RALEIGH ó The premiere groundbreaking exhibitions at the Contemporary Art Museum ó dubbed CAM Raleigh ó feature Dan Steinhilber in the main galleries and Naoko Ito in the Independent Weekly Gallery.
CAM is located at 409 W. Martin St. Admission is $5 and is free for members, children 10 and under, members of the military, NC State students, faculty, and staff. Call 919-513-0946 or visit camraleigh.org for more information.