Dr. Terry McRoberts is University Professor of Music at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, where he teaches piano and related courses and coordinates keyboard studies and concerts and recitals. He performs regularly as a soloist and collaborative pianist, and is principal pianist with The Jackson Symphony. He is President of the American Matthay Association for Piano and Musician Liaison to the Board of Directors of The Jackson Symphony Association. He has previously served as president of Tennessee Music Teachers Association, editor of The Matthay News and Tennessee Music Teacher, and is the Past President of the Southern Chapter of CMS. A church organist for over twenty-five years, he currently is organist at First United Methodist Church in Jackson.

“We are especially excited to be partnering with the Stephen Foster Music Club to present Dr. Terry McRoberts in concert and other musical events that one would normally have to travel to a bigger city to see, “said Paige Holmes, Managing Director of AiM. “AiM is going to serve as an umbrella organization for the music group to help them share their mission and love of music to a wider audience.”

The Stephen Foster Music Club in McNairy County was organized in 1939 and is a part of the National Federation of Music Clubs. According to local member, Melissa Smith, this 16 member group’s goal is to raise awareness of different, classic music genres and to provide scholarships to local music students. Additionally, AiM and the Stephen Foster Music Club are planning events surrounding the national celebration of music in May.

Admission for the McRoberts piano concert is $10 for adults and $5 for students and children. Tickets will be available at the door and online beginning February 12, 2013.

“Tickets for the regular seating performances of the play scheduled for Feb. 16 & 17 can be purchased on-line as well,” said AiM Managing Director, Paige Holmes. “Invitations for AiM members and e-newsletter subscribers to purchase tickets went out last Friday. Initial sales have gone well and we have had good response. We hope to be able to offer this service for every AiM performance in the future.”

“And Then There Were None” dinner theater tickets will also be sold at several McNairy County businesses: Shackelford Funeral Home, Selmer Chiropractic and Ramer Station Restaurant. Ramer Station is catering the event serving beef and chicken, green beans, baked potatoes, rolls with tea and water. A dessert bar will be set up in the Latta gallery at intermission. Tickets for the Feb. 16 at 7:30pm and the Sunday matinee at 2:00pm on Feb. 17 performances will also be sold at the door.

Performing Arts Committee Chairman, Bryan Essary said “We are so excited to offer our loyal audience members so many different and convenient ways to enjoy the AiM theater experience. We are looking forward to hearing feedback from the audience members about how they liked the dinner theater format.”

AiM Veteran Brad Woolworth is the director of the play and Bethany Walters is producer.
The cast includes:
Mr. Rogers–Kevin Binger
Mrs. Rogers — Sarah Morris
Fred Narracott — Hunter Steele
Vera Claythorne — Beka Rice
Phillip Lombard –Josh Sanders
Anthony Marsden – Robert Kirk Lee
William Blore – Jared Walters
General McKenzie – Ernie Whitten
Emily Brent – Jenny Jordan
Judge Lawrence Wargrave – Tresa Condra
Dr. Armstrong – Sarah Rowland
Sillouette – Molly Woolworth

Book club will meet on the third Tuesday each month at 7:00 pm at the Latta. There will be no meeting in December. Everyone is invited to attend. There are no fees, dues or officers. Meetings will be led by a club volunteer with group discussion. Light refreshments may be served from time to time.

AiM needs your support, not only buying tickets but through donations, so we can keep ticket prices and artistic participation affordable. And now, when you become an AiM Community Partner by donating $15.00 or more ($10.00 if you are a student), you can show your support by putting AiM auto decal on your back car window.

You can join on-line by going to the Donate Page. You can e-mail your pledge to info@artsinmcnairy.com or you can come by our Membership table at upcoming shows! Being a Community Partner also entitles you to tickets discounts and special surprises throughout the year! Help AiM keep the arts tradition alive in McNairy County!

SELMER – October 8, 2012 – “Arts in McNairy growth has reached a new pinnacle as our programs have involved, invested in and inspired our neighbors in McNairy County. A new level of funding for AiM is necessary as this growth continues. AiM is faced with meeting financial obligations and opportunities to provide high-quality arts programs in our community,” said Paige Holmes, Managing Director. “For the past 11 years, AiM has shared its mission but now we want to tell the other half of our story which is all about the accomplishments of our participants and supporters through the work of AiM. After all, artists and audiences are why we exist.”

Arts in McNairy’s Capital Campaign is entering its second phase now that the Latta Visitor’s and Cultural Center is finished and operational. AiM needs $30,000 to reach its capital campaign goal of $50,000 by December of 2014. “Our focus for the future is to maintain operations of the Latta facility and continue to provide creative opportunities and performances for the citizens of McNairy County,” said Fundraising and Development Chairman, Charles Lee, Jr. “As this second phase gets underway, donors will be excited to know that we are now offering ticket comps and recognition benefits starting at $15.” AiM has these new benefit levels posted on-line on the Donate page. Any individual or organization who has donated to the Capital Campaign in 2012 will receive these benefits as well for the coming year.

“Arts in McNairy benefits our community in multiple ways,” said Dr. Shawn Pitts, Founder and Honorary Board member. A few statistics on the website explain:

 According to estimates from the Americans for the Arts, at the $50,000 operating level, AiM annually would bring:
· 3.3 new jobs for McNairy Countians
· $117,410 in sales revenues for local businesses in addition to ticket sales
· $70,401 in new household income and
· $10,527 in to the local and state tax coffers. 

Holmes adds that “Audience members spend an average of $24.00 per visit shopping, eating and buying gas in McNairy County before and after arts events. AiM also is committed to spending its dollars locally to produce our many projects as well.”
“Ticket prices do cover many costs for AiM” explained Pitts. “However, these ticket prices are set for affordability not profitability.  AiM is committed to keeping participation and ticket costs low so every person who wants to participate in or attend an AiM event can. Donations from individuals, small businesses, grants and corporations are key to making AiM affordable for the long term.”

Arts in McNairy’s future plans include a full season of theater productions, community music event , a new concert/professional performance series and movie nights in conjunction with the McNairy Regional Alliance. “We are looking at ways for our patrons to buy their tickets on-line and in advance of a show as well. In the next three months, AiM will also announce more collaborations with community partners in McNairy County as well as statewide organizations and businesses,” Holmes said. “We have high hopes for this next capital funding phase for AiM. We know that there is no shortage of talent and support in McNairy County to continue the AiM mission.”

To learn more about how to donate on-line or become involved with Arts in McNairy, you can go to the AiM website Donate Page at http://www.artsinmcnairy.com/join/ or call Paige Holmes at 731-439-2891. Holmes’ email is paige@artsinmcnairy.com.

SELMER- Arts in McNairy will present a Music Homecoming concert on Saturday, October 13, 2012 to celebrate the recordings made by Stanton Littlejohn of Eastview, TN in the 1940’s and 50’s. These recording are historical treasure trove of radio broadcasts, live performances and voice recordings of the music that eventually became Rockabilly. Artists who are featured in these recordings will take the Latta stage on the October 13 to share their music in a jam-style session. The concert will begin at 6:00 pm at the Latta Visitor’s and Cultural Center in Selmer. Admission will be $10.00 per person.


“David Killingsworth, Ronnie and Wayne Whitten will perform an old-time music set.  The Hatchie Bottom Boys will perform a bluegrass set.  Sandy Carol will do a rockabilly/blues set with some special guests thrown in,” said Concert Coordinator Dr. Shawn Pitts. Pitts is the committee chairman for the Heritage and Cultural Committee. He has been working for the past two years to preserve the recordings. In early 2012, AiM received the Henry Reed Award from the American Folklife Center Library of Congress. The cash portion of this award and a grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission will finance the preservation of these recordings as well as a film documentary of the artists and Stanton Littlejohn. When completed, the entire archive will become a part of the Folklife Collection at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C.


The original recordings are being digitally copied by the TAC Folklife Program’s Center for Popular Music at Middle Tennessee State University. Highlights of the CD collection include some of the area’s finest fiddle players, string bands, vocal and instrumental soloists, gospel music and rockabilly artists of the era. These recordings will soon be available for purchase. AiM will take pre-sale orders for those recordings at the concert.

Bilbo Baggins- Dawson Dickey
Gandalf the Grey- Omar Bakeer
Grocery Boy- Sammy Bakeer


Hobbit Children: Clara Feeney, William Feeney, August Feeney, Daniel Walters
Gollum- Matthey Frye
Smaug-Himself


Dwarves:
Thorin Oakenshield – Andrew Atkinson
Dori- Hunter Steele
Ori- Trey Roberson
Nori- Charles Randolph
Fili- Kelsey Mardis
Kili- Isabella Gray
Bifur- Mikaylin Donahoe
Bofur- Briana Wilson
Bombur- Courtney Mayette
Oin- Dakota Blevins
Gloin- Jeremy Roberson
Dwlain- Konnor Davis
Balin- Houston Robinson


Elves:
Elven Queen- Nicole Feeney
Legolas- James Martin
Elven Guard- Laura Beth Coleman
Elrond- Josh Sanders
Arwyn- Jessica Wolford
Elf- Valerie Garrett


Goblins:
The Great Goblin- Ezera McKenzie
Goblins- Madison Carmack, Katic Jo Davis, Gracen Donahoe, Lillie Harstin, Danielle Harstin, Autumn Shackelford, Jessica Wolford, Sammy Bakeer, Matthew Frye, Caleb McKenzie, Ben Wallis, Tyler Wilson, Laura Beth Coleman, Valerie Garrett, ,Hannah Feeney


Men of Dale:
Bard- Joseph Fox
Laketown Guards: Joseph Desimone, Dante Stanek


Trolls
Bill- Ben Wallis
Bert- Tyler Wilson
Tom – Caleb McKenzie