Joy of Music School

Music Notes – Newsletter

Category Archives: Special Events

The Joy of Music School periodically hosts special events designed to either raise funds, raise friends, or both!


by Leave a comment

Our Sparkly Marketing

Meaghan Roland of Pilot Flying J

Meaghan Roland of Pilot Flying J

You can’t pull off an event like our annual Holiday Sparkles & Spirits without a lot of help from a lot of people. Some contributions are obvious, others less so.

One of those highly valuable (and not so readily apparent) helpers is Meaghan Roland, the lead graphic designer in the marketing department of Knoxville-based Pilot Flying J.

For the past couple of years, Meaghan has created the marketing material for our big fundraiser. These include the eye-catching save-the-date postcard, the beautiful poster pictured here, an RSVP card and an invitation.

“I was trying to show the festive nature of the event,” Meaghan says, explaining her design approach for this year’s material. “You want to strike a balance between fun and informative.”

Meaghan was introduced to the School by Tim Purcell, Pilot Flying J’s director of enterprise development and Joy of Music School board member. It was a quick and happy fit. “I grew up playing music, so I know it can grow an individual mentally and can create lasting relationships,” Meaghan says. “It’s been great to become acquainted with a few individuals at the Joy of Music School. Working with them has definitely been a humbling experience, hearing and reading about the good they do in East Tennessee.”

Thanks Meaghan! We hope to see you Dec. 6 at the Cherokee Country Club for the 2016 Holiday Sparkles & Spirits.

hss-invite

 

Click here to go to the top post.


by Leave a comment

Have Gavel, Will Travel

Bear Stephenson

Bear Stephenson

Bear Stephenson is an extraordinary auctioneer. He’s been donating his time to our annual Holiday Sparkles & Spirits for years, and we are so grateful. His high-energy style never fails to electrify our live auction, not only entertaining our guests but encouraging them to donate generously. Come see what we mean on Dec. 6 at the Cherokee Country Club.

 

Click here to go to the top post.


by Leave a comment

Save the Date(s)

Ethan Bortnick in Concert, October 27 at 7 p.m. This celebrated pianist, composer and singer—just 15 years old— will perform at the Bijou Theatre, with proceeds benefiting Joy of Music School and East Tennessee PBS. See page 3 for more details.

Holiday Sparkles & Spirits, December 6 at 6:30 p.m. Warm up your holiday cheer and support the School through live and silent auctions, delicious food and drink, and music performed by JoMS kids. Plus, the Cherokee Country Club’s ballroom is magnificent. Visit http://www.joyofmusicschool.org for more info.

 

Click here to go to the top post.


by Leave a comment

Strange Sounds & Happy Ears

Nief-Norf

Nief-Norf

The contemporary chamber music ensemble has an odd name: “nief-norf.” But that’s fitting, because this group is all about unusual sounds. niefnorf visited the Joy of Music School in the spring, demonstrating, teaching and collaborating with the kids.

Formed in 2005, nief-norf was the vision of percussionists Andrew Bliss and Kerry O’Brien, naming the group after a descriptor of strange sounds. While some say “bleep-blop,” they prefer “nief-norf.”

By the end of their session, our kids had composed several new pieces of music that were performed by nief-norf. It was inspirational, and occasionally sounded like “bleep-blop,” but it was JoMS bleepblop, which made it all the better! Many thanks to these musicians for sharing their unique talents with us.

 

Click here to go to the top post.


by Leave a comment

No Kidding, This Will Be a Fun Show

Ethan Bortnick

Ethan Bortnick

He asked for piano lessons at age three, and by five he was composing songs. Now 15, Ethan Bortnick is performing at venues worldwide and has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Good Morning America, Nickelodeon, The Disney Channel and Oprah, where he was named one of “Oprah’s All-Time Smartest, Most Talented Kids.”

Ethan will share his songwriting and singing gifts in Knoxville to support the Joy of Music School and East Tennessee PBS on October 27 at 7 p.m. at the Bijou Theatre. Packed with energy and excitement, the family friendly concert will feature Ethan and his band, a children’s choir and local guest artists. Crowd pleasers range from the Beatles and Elton John to Motown and Michael Jackson, along with classical and jazz favorites, recent hits, Broadway tunes and his original songs. Tickets are $22 for children, $32, $52 and $102 (which includes a meet and greet with Ethan afterward). Purchase tickets at http://www.knoxbijou.com or by calling 865- 522-0832.

Ethan created and hosted his first PBS concert special in 2010. In 2013 he starred in “Anything is Possible,” a feature film for which he co-wrote the songs and scored the background music. The following year, Ethan created and hosted “The Power of Music” – a concert special airing over 1,500 times on public television. To date, he has raised more than $40 million for nonprofit organizations worldwide, sharing stages with such artists as Elton John, Andrea Bocelli, Beyoncé and Josh Groban.

 

Click here to go to the top post.


by Leave a comment

Rockin’ for the School

Jonathan Bailey and Aaron Cate, creators of the Barn Series

Jonathan Bailey and Aaron Cate, creators of the Barn Series

The Barn Series” is an all-ages monthly concert program created by Christian Academy of Knoxville seniors Jonathan Bailey and Aaron Cate—and benefiting the Joy of Music School.

Featuring indie rock, folk and more, the alcohol-free shows take place at the Graceland Barn and Dancehall in West Knoxville.

Jonathan and Aaron kicked off the series in August with performances by a few Knoxville bands, drawing more than 100 attendees. As the program matures, the student entrepreneurs expect to bring in musicians from Chattanooga, Nashville and beyond.

Jonathan and Aaron are selling sponsorships to help cover the expense of the bands, and they plan to donate their gate proceeds to the Joy of Music School. That was an easy decision, Jonathan says. “It’s awesome the way the School helps kids who don’t have the means to pay for lessons, so it seemed like a really cool thing to give the money to them.”

Thanks, guys! We’ll post details about their upcoming Barn Series shows on our website, http://www.joyofmusicschool.org.

 

Click here to go to the top post.


by Leave a comment

Strike Up the Band

U.S. Navy Brass Quintet

U.S. Navy Brass Quintet

In April we were honored by a visit from the U.S. Navy Band Brass Quintet. They were in Knoxville as a part of the big air show happening at McGhee Tyson Airport that week. The sailors arrived at the School in their dress uniforms looking very sharp. They introduced themselves one by one and sat in a semicircle to play a varied program including “America the Beautiful,” Dvorak’s “Slavic Dances,” “Moonlight Serenade,” and finished with a jovial rendition of music from the cartoon “Popeye the Sailor Man.” Of course!

Their big brass sound filled the small space, enveloping everyone with a rich and vibrant tone. The kids loved it, applauding each piece enthusiastically.

To make it all the more memorable, at the close of the program the musicians took time to demonstrate their instruments for the kids, giving them an up close tour of their two trumpets, French Horn, trombone and tuba.

A big salute to our friends in blue!

 

Click here to go to the top post.


by Leave a comment

It’s Recital Time in Tennessee!

JoMs_recital_kids

The Joy of Music School’s Spring Recital has a new home. This year, all the fun and excitement take place at the Scottish Rite Temple, right across from the University of Tennessee campus at 612 16th Street.

Save the date: Saturday, May 7, from 2- 4 p.m.  The Scottish Rite Temple is “a great venue,” says Julie Carter, the Joy of Music School’s Director of Music Education. “There’s a really big auditorium with plenty of seating for the audience, and there is lots of space on the floor and the stage for performances.”

Our annual recital is a truly special event. Roughly 65 of our students will climb up on that stage to show their families and friends what they’ve accomplished—musically and personally—this year. There will be singers, pianists, guitarists, drummers, and all manner of brass and string performances. There will be jangly nerves — and great big smiles of satisfaction and pride.

The event is free of charge for all. Be sure to stick around afterward for a warm and celebratory reception in the temple’s fellowship hall.

We are most grateful to the Scottish Rite Temple for letting us use their beautiful performance space, and to Knoxville’s HomeTrust Bank for sponsoring this important and fun event!


by Leave a comment

The Art of Giving

Painting

Elizabeth and Cindi Alpert

Fancy yourself an expert painter? Well, good, because neither do we! But that isn’t stopping us from getting super excited about the upcoming Painting for Joy event.

This extremely fun evening, a fundraiser for the Joy of Music School, takes place May 5, from 6 – 8 p.m.

The venue is Painting with a Twist’s new location in Farragut: 11000 Kingston Pike, Suite 3, right behind Pittsburgh Paints.

The event is a guided painting class combined with delicious food and wine, wonderful music and a spirited, supportive crowd. Even if you don’t know the first thing about painting, on this evening you will create a masterpiece that you will be proud to take home. Honestly!

Seats costs $35 per person, $25 of which goes to the Joy of Music School.

The evening is the brainchild of Cindi Alpert, JoMS board member and owner of radio station 106.1 FM The River. She suggests you reserve your tickets soon because seats are selling fast! Go to http://www.paintingwithatwist.com/knoxville and click on “view full calendar.” Scroll down to May 5 and you’ll find a link that will take you to a reservation form.


by Leave a comment

How You Can Help

  • Ask your musician friends if they’d like to volunteer as a music mentor.
  • Donate a DSLR camera and/ or Final Cut Pro editing suite to our Music Production and Engineering for Teens class. They’re ready to shoot and edit music videos!
  • Sponsor or host a house party to benefit the School.
  • Come to our spring recital May 7. The kids need applause.
  • Volunteer to help serve food at the post-recital meal.
  • Check out our list of sponsors and thank them for their support.


by Leave a comment

Ring in the Holidays in Style

HSS2015

Get ready—it’s almost time for the Joy of Music School’s much-loved Holiday Sparkles & Spirits event. And this year, as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of HS&S, we’re taking it to the next level, with a beautiful evening in the Cherokee Country Club’s main ballroom.

The fun begins at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 8. The evening will feature heart-warming performances by Joy of Music School students and a dazzling array of gift ideas in our live and silent auctions. Out-of-thisworld wines! Beautiful jewelry! A wild game dinner! An Italian dinner (see page 4 for more details)! A condo in Vail Valley!

Your ticket price of $100 includes delicious heavy hors d’oeuvres and wine and, of course, goes to support the Joy of Music School. Please fill out and mail in the form at the right or, if you prefer, simply call the School at 865-525-6806 to reserve your spot now!


by Leave a comment

A Special Visit from a Top Quartet

Cuarteto Latinoamericano

Cuarteto Latinoamericano

We accomplish most of our goals at the Joy of Music School with the basics: instruction and performance, one-on-one, week in and week out. But sometimes we get an opportunity for a special, enriching and inspiring event, a gathering created especially for the students. On Oct. 13, Cuarteto Latinoamericano, a world-renowned classical music ensemble that was formed in Mexico, presented an invigorating program for our students and families.

Centered around rich and diverse Latin American music, the program featured deft interactions between the venerated musicians (visiting Knoxville as part of a program at the University of Tennessee) and eager, admiring students. They earned a robust and sustained standing ovation. After the program, the Cuarteto was given a tour of the School by Executive Director Frank Graffeo, during which they praised the organization for our mission and commitment to quality. We finally bid the four gentlemen a fond “Adios!” and expressed our sincere hope to see them again one day.

 

Click here go to to the top post.


by Leave a comment

A ‘Buon Appetito’ Worth Bidding On

The Maestro at Work

The Maestro at Work

It’s always one of the most sought-after items in our Holiday Sparkles & Spirits live auction. And with good reason. Who wouldn’t want a delicious, multicourse Italian dinner prepared by the “maestro” himself, Joy of Music School Executive Director Frank Graffeo?

“It was magnifico,” reports Geoff Proud, who won the Graffeo dinner at the 2013 Holiday Sparkles & Spirits. In fact, he and his wife, Melody, enjoyed the dinner for eight so much they made the top bid in 2014 too! (The auction actually got so heated, Frank agreed to do two dinners—one for the Prouds and one for fellow top bidders Carey and John Merz.)

The menu: pasta (made from scratch at the party), eggplant and chicken parmagiana, Italian broccolini, salad, and gelato for dessert. The parmagiana recipe came from one of Frank’s conducting teachers back in his school days. Though he was Irish, Frank recalls, “he was an opera conductor, so he can be considered an honorary Italian!”

Be sure to attend our Holiday Sparkles & Spirits event at Cherokee Country Club on Tuesday, Dec. 8. You’ll have a chance to bid on wonderful gift items like this — and many more.