MHM Christmas concert Nov. 28
Choosing a Christmas tree, the beauty of shimmering lights, a
warm cup of hot chocolate, a heavy coat, and huddled voices singing songs of celebration: The
Christmas season has arrived in the High Country.
An annual part of this celebration is
Mountain Home Music's "A Community Christmas Tree" concert. This year's concert will be Saturday,
Nov. 28, at the Blowing Rock School auditorium in downtown Blowing Rock. Starting time is 8
p.m.
The concert will feature old-time banjo and fiddle tunes played by Steve Lewis
and Scott Freeman, traditional Christmas songs sung by the Blue Ridge Vocal Ensemble, and seasonal
music played on the hammer dulcimer and guitar with Steve and Ruth Smith.
Steve Lewis is a
former National Banjo Champion and MerleFest guitar champion, and Scott Freeman is a Henderson
Festival mandolin champion. Both Steve Lewis and Scott Freeman are part of the Mountain Home Music
stage band, The Mountain Home Bluegrass Boys.
The Blue Ridge Vocal Ensemble features Laurie
Nicholson, Evalyn Suddreth, Will Winkler and Bill Winkler. The ensemble first melded its talents as
cast members in Joe Shannon's play, Blue Ridge Blue and Gray. Steve and Ruth Smith are well known
and respected for their outstanding musicianship. Steve plays guitar, old-time banjo, and sings;
and Ruth plays and arranges music for the hammer dulcimer.
Including Joe Shannon,
most of the performers for "A Community Christmas Tree" also contributed to this year's Hunger and
Health Coalition's benefit CD, Christmas in the Mountains.
Tickets are $12.50 in advance
and $15 at the door. Tickets for college and high school students are $10 (at the door only).
Tickets may be purchased at Mast Store locations, Rydell Music Center, Pandora's Mailbox in
Blowing Rock, and Fred's Mercantile on Beech Mountain. Tickets may also be purchased online at
http://www.mountainhomemusic.com.
The purpose of Mountain Home Music is to honor the music and
musicians of the Appalachian region. It is affiliated with the Blue Ridge Music Trails, a project of
the North Carolina Arts Council.
Since it started in 1994, Mountain Home Music has
provided a stage for three National Folk-life Award winners, seven North Carolina Folk Heritage
Award winners, three members of the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame, and more than 1,000 local and
regional performers. Select concerts have been broadcast over local and public radio and regional
television.
On Saturday, Dec. 5, Mountain Home Music will conclude its season with its
annual benefit for the Hospitality House and Santa's Toy Box. This concert will be at Grace
Lutheran Church in downtown Boone.
For more information, visit http://www.mountainhomemusic.com
or call (828) 964-3392.
