On behalf of Clay Lunsford and myself, I thank David Hagy for extending an invitation to perform with the Salisbury Symphony. The two concerts were an exciting opportunity to share my passion of the music and history of the Appalachian Mountains, and I thank the public for coming to support the concert. We had a full house.

Thank you as well to the Salisbury Post and its Time Out section for the outstanding newspaper coverage. Thanks to Symphony Director Bill Bucher, Hunter Safrit and to the tech and sound guys to whom I forgot to say thank you.

Everyone worked hard and put in long hours to make this a success, especially John Stafford, who worked eight months creating and composing the scores for the symphony.

Rowan County is blessed to have numerous music venues — Piedmont Players, Lee Street, the Salisbury Symphony, Rowan-Salisbury Choral Society, the Annual Living Christmas Tree at Salisbury First Baptist and the Friday night Bluegrass Jams in Gold Hill.

Over the past 25 years, I have made a lot of friends in Rowan County who are talented singers and musicians, and I respect the talents and gifts they share to others. We have shared many stages together throughout the years, and I look forward to more music opportunities in the near future.

Please support your local music venues, theaters and artists. It’s the life of our community, and  there is something for everyone.

Lastly, I spoke in the concerts about teaching in the JAM program (Junior Appalachian Musicians) in Boone. Those who have a used string instrument and wish to donate to our program for a child who cannot afford an instrument (Guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin and/or dulcimer), please feel to contact me at weaver46@gmail.com.

Currently we have 120 students taking lessons in Boone. JAM Program is now in four states and in 40 counties throughout the southern regions of Appalachia.

— Matthew Weaver

Salisbury