A! Magazine for the Arts Archive

Rachel Barker-Asto wants people to sing

Rachel Barker-Asto combines her love of opera with her desire to “get people to sing.”

In This Issue

• Hannah Dishman has an eclectic musical career Hannah Dishman’s career includes opera, classical singing, electronic dance music and playing a robot in a short opera film.
• Martha Eason is thriving on stage in Germany Martha Eason’s career has taken her from our region to Germany.
• Hilary Ginther is on stage across the country Hilary Ginther, mezzo-soprano, has a busy schedule coming up, but she’s prepared for times when she is between roles.
• Youth Spotlight — Pearl Moore’s love of conversation inspires her plays Pearl Moore enjoys conversation and storytelling and that’s what interests her about playwriting.
• AAME Arts Achievement Awards seek nominations Nominations are being accepted for the fifth annual Arts Achievement Awards, sponsored by the Arts Alliance Mountain Empire.
• Russell County library celebrates The Big Read The Russell County Public Library launches its NEA Big Read program ‘Exploring Appalachia’ with “Burning Bright” by Ron Rash with an Appalachian Open Mic Night on Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. at the Russell County Conference Center.
• Book Review: "Swamped" by Joe Tennis Take teenage angst plus hormones; add a daring trek into unknown territory.
• February literary series in new location The Friends of the Washington County Public Library celebrate the beginning of the annual Sunday with Friends literary series.
• Arts Array Film Series announces February line-up Virginia Highlands Community College continues the Arts Array Film Series.
• Theatre Bristol Announces 2019 Season Theatre Bristol plans to enchant audiences with traditional and American fairy tales, a mystery and a miracle for its 54th Season.
• Mural Trail adds new murals The Appalachian Mural Trail has recently added two of the Town of Appalachia’s murals to its growing trail of cultural mural art.

A! Extra

• Princess Ballerina Camp registration open

  JOHNSON CITY, TN — Registration for Princess Ballerina Camp at The Trinity Center, Johnson City, Tennessee, is open.

• Granddaughter of famous family, Elisabeth von Trapp climbs the Mountain Empire with her message of music The hills are alive with music. Churches, too.
• Appalachian Culture & Fairy Tales become fantastical works of art

  ABINGDON, Va. — Greg Howser never lost his love of crawling critters on the family farm.

  Still time to contribute stories, memorabilia for Sesquicentennial ‘History Harvest’

  There is still time for current and former citizens of Johnson City to contribute pieces of city history to the latest History Harvest coordinated by t

• ETSU’s Sally Berry releases debut gospel CD, "God is in Control" After touring for a few years with her own band, Sally Berry had just settled into working as an adjunct vocal instructor in East Tennessee State University’s Bluegrass, Old-Time and Country Music Studies program.
• Colonial Williamsburg actor brings one-man show to Abingdon ABINGDON, Va. — With an approachable, informal style, Bill Barker will perform as Thomas Jefferson in a one-night interactive dialogue at Barter Theatre, engaging with audience members as if he is sitting with friends around a pot-bellied stove.
• Search for Bigfoot: Bristol-based couple to premiere second documentary on the creature BRISTOL, Va. — Bigfoot lay across the dining room table of Bill and Amy Lancaster.
• Functionally funky ceramic art It’s just past 10 a.m. Monday. And Nikki Blair is trying to tie her “cartoony” ceramics into the story of helping her artist father back at his sign shop in Belleville, Illinois.
• WKMA awarded a two-year post graduate fellowship William King Museum of Art announces the Decorative Arts Trust has awarded the museum a two-year post graduate fellowship around its Cultural Heritage Project.