Oak Ridge Rock to Bach Music Festival returns on Saturday

Rock to Bach is back! After a hiatus of three years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Oak Ridge Rock to Bach Music Festival returns on Saturday, Feb. 18, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Universalist Unitarian Church, 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

The doors open at 9:30 a.m., giving early attendees a chance to look over and bid on the items in the all-day silent auction.

Here is your chance to enjoy live music all day from groups that have performed in a variety of East Tennessee venues. Coffee and sweets will be available in the morning, followed by sandwiches and drinks for lunch.

You can come and go as you please or stay all day for a low cover charge of the advanced ticket price of $12 or the same day charge of $15. The cost for children ages 5 to 18 is $5 per child and for families of three or more, $30. Children under the age of five get in free. Tickets can be purchased at The Ferrell Shop, TNBank or the office of the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association (ORCMA), 118 E. Division Road.

The festival is a fundraiser for ORCMA, an umbrella organization for the professional Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra, the longest continuously running symphony orchestra in Tennessee; the all-volunteer Oak Ridge Chorus and the Chamber Concert series, which brings world-class music to the area, as well as the Free Family Concert and the Free Coffee Concerts. As you enjoy the festival, know that you are supporting live contemporary and classical music, including music made in America and in East Tennessee.

Morning musical events (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

Here are the individuals and bands that will be performing in the morning:

• Melony Dodson, pianist and WUOT classical music host and producer, will perform some of her favorite pieces from several genres, and she will accompany Alex Engle, Oak Ridge soprano, as she sings her favorite opera music.

• If you love the sounds of the trumpet, trombone and tuba, you’ll enjoy hearing the swing-style jazz and dance music of the Battle Brass.

• Liz McGeachy and Tim Marema of Norris, who call themselves the Liz and Tim Folk Duo, are singer-songwriters who have been singing and performing on guitar original songs, as well as traditional music for more than 30 years. Their four recordings of their original music, as well as mountain, folk, Americana and children’s music is available on Spotify and www.lizandtim.com.

• From Crafter’s Brew and Irish Fest on the Hill to the Smoky Mountain Hiking Club, the Missing Goats spread joy through their blend of Irish, Americana, folk and bluegrass music. The pAerformers are Tom Beehan (banjo and vocals); Scott Linn (mandolin and vocals), Steve Reddick (guitar and vocals) and Bill Walker (accordion).

• The Roane State Community College Bluegrass Band will perform traditional bluegrass tunes and hymns, as well as modern songs in bluegrass style.

• The Somerset Quartet will present Walter Rahl’s music for clarinet, violin, cello and piano.

• The Silver Winds Flute Choir will play jazz, Celtic, rag, waltz, patriotic and fun tunes using four types of flute and piccolo. The group will also perform a klezmer-style piece written by an East Tennessee composer.

Afternoon musical events (1 to 5 p.m.)

• Starting at 1 p.m., Elza Gate – Pat Parr (guitar/vocals) and Bob Cushman (banjo/harmonica/Irish tin whistle/recorder/vocals) – will perform traditional acoustic Southern mountain music and bluegrass, plus a little folk, rock, jazz, klezmer, gospel and country music.

• The Tanasi Winds, a woodwind quintet, will perform classical and popular music.

• Playing the bass clarinet and electronic music, Jorge Veriago will perform his selection of original works.

• Shadyland, a Knoxville musical group founded by Graham Monroe, will play jazz and funk music, defined as a style of popular dance music of American Black origin that is based on elements of blues and soul and that has a strong rhythm.

• The Oak Valley Baptist Church Voices of Praise will sing gospel music.

• The Secret City Winds, a small chamber ensemble formed in 2012, will offer classical to modern music. The members play flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon and horn.

• The three members of the Mt. LeConte Jug Band will perform classic Americana music with vocals, accompanied by bass, guitar, six-string banjo, harmonica, cajon and foot cymbals.

• Chris Lee, professional classical guitarist, will perform melodious numbers.

• The last performing group will be members of the Oak Ridge Chorus.

For more information on Rock to Bach

Visit www.orcma.org to see the schedule of the half-hour performances, read about the groups, view their photos and see the list of notable sponsors. Visit www.orcma.org to see the schedule of the half-hour performances, read about the groups, view their photos and see the list of notable sponsors. For more information, call the ORCMA office at (865) 483-5569.

This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Oak Ridge Rock to Bach Music Festival returns on Saturday