— People & Places —

Published 12:00 am Sunday, June 29, 2014

PIANO
The piano students of Diane Freeman performed in recital on Sunday, June 8.
Beginner, intermediate and advanced students performed solos including their judged entries in the North Carolina Festival of Music Clubs. Several students also performed duets accompanied by Mrs. Freeman, parents and siblings.
Performing piano solos were: Coltan Ash, Larissa Ash, Addi Bost, James Bristol, John Bristol, Tom Bristol, Madison Goodman, Landrie Hess, Benjamyn Hogan, Bethany Hogan, Brittney Hogan, Kinsey Leahey, Julian Malnar, Merritt Mason, Jackson Safrit, Jacob Safrit, Jadyn Safrit, Camrie Sifford, Celia Sifford and Greyson Trexler.
Just for fun Merritt Mason, accompanied by Bethany Hogan playing jazz tunes on the piano, performed yo-yo tricks for the audience after the program.
Awards, certificates and ribbons were given for year-long achievements including memorization, practice and performance. In addition, several students received certificates for consecutive Superior ratings in the North Carolina Festival of Music Clubs. Special recognition was given to Tom Bristol for outstanding practice.
A reception for students, parents and friends followed the 2 p.m. program held at Calvary Baptist Tabernacle on Stokes Ferry Road.
VOICE
The voice students of Diane Freeman performed in recital at Calvary Baptist Tabernacle on June 7.
To complete a year of music study from “The Wizard of Oz,” a small ensemble sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” accompanied by Mrs. Freeman to open the program.
Each student performed a vocal solo of their choice during the evening. The same ensemble closed the program with small groups singing verses from “If I only had a brain, if I only had a heart and if I only had the nerve.”
Those voice students featured in the program were: Bella Altemare, Reagan Carpenter, Nancy Gamewell, Aubrey Hendren, Gracie Hudson, Drakes Jones, Dorothy Malone and Nehemiah Worley.
Several voice students also performed piano solos, including Carpenter, Gamewell, Hendren, Jones, Malone and Worley.
Beginner and intermediate piano students were given the opportunity to join in this recital. These students included Amelia Evans, Connor Kyles, Brooke Keller, Deanna Rainey, Emma Shue and Olivia Smith.
Awards were given following the recital including participation in the North Carolina Festival of Music Clubs. Nancy Gamewell received a gold cup for her achievements in this festival. Certificates were awarded to Carpenter, Malone and Smith. Shue received the Best Memorization trophy for memorizing 82 songs over the course of this year.
Many students were recognized for their memorization efforts, performance opportunities and outstanding practice records.
Mrs. Freeman is presently holding summer lessons and welcomes new students. For more information, call 704-213-4756.
Descendents of Ernest E. and Agatha Eller Miller held their 47th family reunion at Dan Nicholas Park on June 21, 2014. A covered dish was held for 29 family members and four guests. The guest were Joyce Walkins from Concord, Carol Nettles and Laura Nettles from Woodleaf and Doris Spencer from Salisbury.
Also in attendance were the two surviving children, Ernest E. Miller from Cary and Zeta Miller Smith from Salisbury. The deceased children are Amy R. Miller, Olivia Miller File, Coy R. Miller, Rena Miller Morris, Edgar A. Miller, Pauline Miller Leazer and James J. Miller.
President of the reunion committee, Angela Shores of Morganton, recognized the following family members with a gift:
Oldest member present – Ernest E. Miller, 93 years young, Cary;
Youngest member present – Emma Joy Shores, 4 years old from Morganton, daughter of Jonathan and Angela Shores and great-granddaughter of Zeta Miller Smith;
Traveled farthest – Lisa and Nessa Miller Jones, 360 miles, from Virginia;
Family with most members present – Zeta Miller Smith family with 10 members present.
New members added to the Miller family since last year’s reunion were:
Casey Emory Miller, wife of Marc Miller of Spartanburg, S.C.;
Case Miller son of Casey and Marc Miller and great grandson of Ernest and Jane Miller.
Members that have passed away since the last reunion were: the youngest child, James J. Miller, on July 31, 2013 and Larry T. Morris, son of the late Rena Miller Morris, on March 9, 2014.
Officers elected for the 2015 reunion were:
President, Don Smith of Huntersville;
vice president, Don Leazer of Salisbury;
secretary, Zeta Smith of Salisbury;
treasurer, Pat Floyd of Salisbury.
The 48h reunion will be held next year on June 20, 2015 at Dan Nicholas Park.
On Saturday, June 14, the Delta Xi Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. held the fourth Emerging Young Leaders (EYL) graduation. The ceremony was held in the Fellowship Hall of Jerusalem Baptist Church.
The aim of the EYL, the signature program of the sorority for middle school girls, is to cultivate and encourage high scholastic achievement, develop leadership skills, enhance civic engagement and build positive character.
Two EYL members graduated, Myanna Hillie and Brianna Richmond. Each young lady will be a ninth grader in the upcoming school year. Nine middle schoolers will continue in the program for another year.
Special guests at the graduation ceremony were family and friends of all eleven participants. The program included a welcome by Renese Bates, president of the local chapter; meditation by Drucie Moss and the occasion by Lillian Morgan, vice-president of the local chapter. Lovetta Moore gave words of inspiration and the Trinity Presbyterian Church Praise Dancers performed a creative dance.
Carolyn Holt is chairman of the EYL committee and presided during the program.
China Grove — Officers were recently installed for the Freeze-Seymour American Legion Post 185.
Post members and guests gathered for a meal at Gary’s Bar-B-Q on June 17 for the installation program.
The American Legion Post 185 was honored to have Jerry Hedrick, national executive committeeman, present to induct the 2014-15 officers.
Bill Corriher was inducted for the 35th consecutive year as Commander. Corriher was voted N.C. Legionnaire of the Year in 1988 and voted Rowan County Veteran of the Year twice. Over his years as Commander, he has only missed one meeting.
China Grove — On Wednesday, May 21, South Rowan High School held its annual JROTC senior awards ceremony.
Among the many awards presented were two $500 scholarships given by “Wild Bill” Corriher. The recipients of the Corriher scholarships were Christopher Overcash and Nicholas Milem. Both cadets plan to attend the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Overcash plans to major in mechanical engineering. Milem will major in mechanical engineering and physics.