Calhoun Community College to Conduct Free Gospel Workshop as Part of Black History Month

January 28, 2014

Calhoun Community College to Conduct Free Gospel Workshop as Part of the College's Activities in Celebration

of Black History Month

As part of the college's series of activities in celebration of Black History Month, the Music Department at Calhoun Community College will conduct a free Gospel Workshop on Thursday, February 27, 2014, from 12:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building Recital Hall on the Decatur campus and from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. on February 27 in the Grand Foyer at the college's Huntsville campus.  The workshop will again be conducted by Dr. Reginald Jackson.

Any local choir, group or individual is invited to participate. The Workshop Choir will perform during the college's annual Gospel Fest, scheduled for Friday, February 28, 2014, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Grand Foyer at the Huntsville campus. Admission to this event is also free.

For more information, contact the Calhoun Music Department at 256-306-2699.

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Athens State to Host Folklife Expert for Black History Month

For Further Information
Guy McClure
256-233-8296
Guy.McClure@athens.edu

For immediate release
January 24, 2014
www.athens.edu

Athens State to Host Folklife Expert for Black History Month

ATHENS, Ala. - In celebration of Black History Month, Athens State University will host a lecture by Joyce Cauthen, Director Emeritus of the Alabama Folklife Association. Cauthen will speak Tuesday, February 11 at 7:00 p.m. in Room 104 of the Classroom Building. The Classroom Building is located across from the Library on Pryor Street on the north side of campus.

Cauthen’s presentation, entitled Fiddlers, Banjo Players and Strawbeaters: Alabama’s First Pop Musicians, will discuss the pivotal role played by African Americans in developing the music at the roots of today’s bluegrass and country music. She and her husband Jim Cauthen will demonstrate use of the banjo, “straws” (a technique in which broom straws or knitting needles were beat on the strings as the fiddler played) and guitar in backing up the fiddle. The audience will hear musical styles and tunes that are seldom heard today—and will have the opportunity to ask questions and share their perceptions of the differences in this music and the modern country music that are based upon it.

“This topic focuses on the history of African American achievement in the development of an unexpected genre of music, and with Athens State’s history as the host of the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention I feel it will have a broad appeal,” states Sarah McAbee, Athens State’s Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services. “Ms. Cauthen will be an excellent and informative speaker for our students, faculty, and for the community.”

In 2011, Cauthen was honored by the Alabama State Council on the Arts with a Governor's Arts Award. The Cauthens live in Birmingham, Alabama. In their spare time they play in two old-time string bands, Red Mountain and Flying Jenny.

The lecture is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by The Alabama Humanities Foundation’s Road Scholar Speakers Bureau. The Road Scholars Speakers Bureau provides public presentations and lectures on a variety of humanities topics. Designed to educate and entertain, the programs are presented by Alabama’s most enlightening university and independent scholars.

For more information, call 256-233-8296.


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Black History Month Events at Calhoun Community College

January 22, 2014

Calhoun Community College Announces 2014 Black History Month Calendar of Events

Calhoun Community College has planned a number of events to take place throughout the month of February in celebration of Black History Month.~ All events are sponsored by the college's Black Student Alliance and are free and open to the public.

Calhoun Black History Month Events Calendar

February 4^th

African American Film Festival – "The Jackie Robinson Story"

11:45 AM, Decatur Campus

Chasteen Student Center, Second Floor

February 5^th

African American Film Festival – (Film TBA)

11:00 AM, Huntsville Campus

Student Center

February 11th

African American Film Festival – "The Butler"

11:45 AM, Decatur Campus

Chasteen Student Center, Second Floor

February 12^th

Calhoun in Motion

Celebrating Music and Poetry

11:45 AM, Decatur Campus

Chasteen Student Center, Second Floor

February 20^th

Dessert Competition

Traditional African American Desserts to be featured

11:45 AM, Decatur Campus

Chasteen Student Center, Second Floor

February 25^th

African American Film Festival – "Lincoln"

11:45 AM, Decatur Campus

Chasteen Student Center, Second Floor

February 27^th

Gospel Workshop  

12:30 – 2:30 PM and 7:00 – 9:00 PM

Decatur Campus, Fine Arts Building

                     

February 28^th

24^th Annual Gospel Fest

Showcasing a variety of local talent

6:00 PM

Grand Foyer - Huntsville Campus

For more information about these events, contact Pamela Little at 256/306-2634 or the Calhoun Office of Public Relations at 256-306-2560 or visit the Calhoun website at www.calhoun.edu

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