Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 20, 1992 TAG: 9203190127
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Donna Alvis-Banks
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
It starts with husband-and-wife team Wallace and Margo Easter tonight. The lovable duo will present a recital of romantic music for winds and piano at 8 in Virginia Tech's Squires Recital Salon. The concert features Francois Devienne's Sonata for Oboe and Piano, Op. 70, No. 1, and Josef Rheinberger's Sonate in E flat major.
Jim Bryant will join the Easters in Carl Reinecke's Trio, Op. 88, for oboe, horn and piano.
All tickets are $3 for the general-admission seating. They'll be available at the Squires ticket office an hour before the performance.
\ THEY LOVE TO TELL THE STORY: Tennessee Ernie Ford said there's a well of sacred songs so deep you can dip in it all your life and it will never run dry.
The New River Valley Gospel Singers have been dipping into that well for the past seven years. The choir will celebrate its seventh anniversary with a concert Saturday at 6 p.m. in Pulaski's First Baptist Church on Magazine Street.
Directed by James English, the group has 28 energetic singers who'll perform a variety of favorite hymns and spirituals, including "Holy Spirit," "Just As I Am" and "I Will Remember."
The choir's guest for this performance is William Weldon, pastor of First Baptist Church in Radford.
\ STRINGS AND OTHER THINGS: These musicians play hammer dulcimers, mandolin, guitar, bass, harmonica, pennywhistle, saxophone, flute, maracas and even a Slinky! Always a popular draw, No Strings Attached is back in Blacksburg.
The four musicians from Blacksburg and Roanoke will play in a Humane Society of Montgomery County benefit Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Wesley Foundation on the corner of Otey and Roanoke streets.
Since they formed the quartet in 1987, the musicians have performed at the Kennedy Center and at concert halls all over the country. They've also played dulcimer festivals in Connecticut, Michigan, California and Virginia.
Saturday's concert will feature the group's blend of jazz, rock, folk and classical music.
Admission is $4 at the door or you may get advance tickets at The Record Exchange. You may get lucky, too. Businesses are donating some great door prizes for the show - and all proceeds will help support the animal shelter.
\ A LITTLE BIT OF VIENNA: The Audubon Quartet will pay a tribute to Viennese composer Franz Schubert on Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. in Tech's Squires Recital Salon. Guest artists David Oei and Timothy Carter will join the quartet.
Schubert's expressive melodies were his gift. The Audubon will play some of his best known works, including the Quintet in A Major, or "Trout."
David Oei will join the quartet on piano. Oei gave solo performances with the Hong Kong Philharmonic when he was only 9, and since has played with the New York Philharmonic and the Pittsburgh and Baltimore symphonies. The award-winning pianist also has made TV appearances on Leonard Bernstein's "Young People's Concerts," "Today" and "CBS Sunday Morning."
New Yorker Timothy Carter will accompany the Audubon on double bass.
Seats for both concerts are reserved. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for students and senior. For reservations, call the Squires box office at 231-5615.
\ THE VERSATILE KING: Jerry King will get your attention one way or the other.
The contemporary Christian recording artist has a black belt in tae kwon do karate.
His first album, "Love Is the Key," featured many original songs. Two new soundtracks will be released soon and they are receiving some national attention on Christian radio.
King also has a reputation as an entertaining comic. He recently performed his stand-up act at Groucho's Comedy Club in Roanoke.
King will bring his talents Sunday to Dublin United Methodist Church. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Pulaski County High and the church's United Methodist Youth are sponsoring a 7 p.m. show.
The concert is public and will feature King's skills on six-string electric guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar, electronic keyboard and harmonica. Now that's versatile.
\ TALK ABOUT TALENT! The Billy Taylor Trio and Tech's own jazz violinist Joe Kennedy Jr. will join the Roanoke Symphony for a Burruss Hall concert Tuesday at 8 p.m.
The performance features the premiere of "Conversations," a Taylor composition commissioned for the concert by the Roanoke Symphony. It's the first work written for the combination of orchestra, jazz trio and jazz violin.
This will be Taylor's final concert in his at Tech residency. In the past year, the artist has graced Blacksburg with performances, lectures and master classes.
New River Valley Friends of the Roanoke Symphony and Virginia Tech's Department of Music are sponsors. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students. Tickets will be available at the door Tuesday or in advance at the Greater Blacksburg Chamber of Commerce, the Christiansburg Chamber of Commerce or the Squires box office.
\ RAP IT UP: Queen Latifah is billed as "the undisputed Queen of Rap" and "the first lady of ladies first."
She will speak on rap in the black community in a lecture Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Squires' Colonial Hall. It's sponsored by the Black Student Alliance at Virginia Tech.
Warning: Queen Latifah can float like a butterfly and sting like a bee!
Tickets for this talk will not be sold at the door. Make phone orders by calling 231-5615. Tickets are available at the Squires box office. Admission is $6 for the public, $2 for Tech students, faculty and staff.
by CNB