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Festival of the Arts Spotlight on Visionaries Throughout Time, Around the World

April 11-23, 2023

Knoxville Symphony Orchestra

Performances

Artists Schedule

Exhibits

Dates & Locations

Directors & Sponsors

Thanks to …

Full Schedule

(Download PDF)

Tea with Emily Dickenson: The Belle of Amherst

A one-woman play about the life of the reclusive yet visionary poet, Emily Dickinson.

emily dickinson

The play, written by William Luce, was first produced on Broadway in 1976 and starred Julie Harris. Sybil Rosen, knowing she would be performing in libraries and living rooms with small audiences, adapted the play to an hour-long version. The play is an intimate glimpse into the poet’s unusual life – her legendary seclusion, the close circle of family, the men who loved her. Rosen says “the language, most of it taken from her letters and journals, is so beautiful and witty.”

Rosen’s interest in the play is her love of the play and of Emily Dickinson. She also wants to raise awareness about libraries – to help remind us of what they give us and why it matters.

Tea will be served by the Friends of the Library of Tazewell, Buchanan and Russell County Public Libraries. Voluntary Donations will benefit the libraries.

Performance Schedule

Tuesday, April 11

The Belle of Amherst, 6:00 p.m.
Tazewell County Public Library, Bluefield
108 Huffard Drive

Wednesday, April 12

The Belle of Amherst, 6:00 p.m.
Appalachian Arts Center, Cedar Bluff

Friday, April 14

The Belle of Amherst, 3:00 p.m.
Buchanan County Public Library, Grundy

Saturday, April 15

The Belle of Amherst, 3:00 p.m.
Russell County Public Library, Lebanon

richmond ballet

Richmond Ballet

Richmond Ballet, Thursday, April 13, 7:00 p.m., SWCC King Community Center

Richmond Ballet, Masterclass, Friday, April 14, 10:00 a.m., SWCC King Community Center 

PIANO X THREE

Pavlina Dokovska | Vladimir Valjarevic | Dr. Joseph Trivette

Sunday, April 16

3:00 p.m., SWCC King Community Center

The concert will feature selections arranged for one, two and three pianos featuring Pavlina Dokovska, Vladimir Valjarevic and Dr. Joseph Trivette.

Composer features will be Bach, Mozart, Beethoven Chopin, Debussy, Tchaikovsky, Dvořák, Percy Grainger/Gershwin and Lecuona.

A Reception will be hosted by Kathy and Larry Mitchell following the concert.

piano x three

SWCC STUDENT SHOWCASE

Celebrating Worldwide Visionaries

CULTURAL WALK

Wednesday, April 19

SWCC Student Showcase: Celebrating Visionaries: 12:10 p.m. Dellinger Hall, Ratliff Commons

Culinary Delights from Visionary Chefs

Monday April 17

Culinary Delights from Visionary Chefs, 6:30 p.m. (tickets required)

SWCC Student Showcase: Celebrating Worldwide Visionaries

7:30 p.m. King Community Center

Tickets Required

Camerata Virtuosi New York

This ensemble of internationally acclaimed musicians will perform in three unique concerts to reflect the festival theme.

camerata

Inventors and Innovators

Music by composers Mozart, Bach, Schumann, Beethoven, Liszt, Debussy and Bruch.

Visionaries and Virtuosos

Tim McClure, Special guest violinist

Music by composers Schumann, Vivaldi, Gershwin, Chopin, Hindemith, Debussy, Bruch.

Teachers and Trailblazers

Music by composers Bach, Mendelssohn, Fauré, Liszt, Beach, Ravel and Gershwin, Bruch

Tuesday, April 18

Camerata Virtuosi New York: Inventors and Innovators
Gaynelle Lockhart Albert Memorial Concert
7:30 p.m., Elk Garden United Methodist Church, Elk Garden

Thursday, April 20

Camerata Virtuosi New York: Visionaries and Virtuosos
Jan McClure Memorial Concert
7:30 p.m., Tazewell Baptist Church, Tazewell

Saturday, April 22

Camerata Virtuosi New York: Teachers and Trailblazers
in memory of Betty T. Corte
7:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church, College Avenue,
Bluefield, VA

JEOPARDY …

Visionaries Timeless & Universal

Thursday April 20

Jeopardy: Visionaries-Timeless and Universal
12: 10 p.m., Dellinger Hall

This popular game show, skillfully organized by the Library and Recruitment and Student Engagement Staff tests the knowledge of Southwest faculty, staff and students on subjects related to the Festival theme. Enjoy theme-inspired refreshments.

KNOXVILLE SYMPHONY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

FESTIVAL FINALE

knoxville symphony chamber orchestra

Sunday, April 23

Festival Finale: Knoxville Symphony Chamber Orchestra
4:00 p.m., SWCC King Community Center

Always a highlight of the festival, the Knoxville Symphony Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Maestro James Fellenbaum, will perform works by Kozeluch, Handel, Fauré, Mozart, Puccini, Beethoven, Bach, Copland,
Gershwin, Still. Guest soloists will be pianists Pavlina Dokovska and Vladimir Valjarevic and Clara Lisle, soprano.

The SWCC Community Chorus, under the direction of Dr. Joseph Trivette, will be accompanied by the orchestra.

FESTIVAL EXHIBITS…

VISIONARIES AROUND US …

Ellen von Dehsen Elmes Gallery

Photographic portraits of living visionaries of Southwest Virginia will create a historical record of those who have significantly impacted Southwest Virginia. The Southwest School of the Arts students conducted interviews with living visionaries of SWVA through photographs and interviews. This research will be displayed in the Ellen von Dehsen Elmes Gallery.

Sunday, April 16

4:30 p.m.: Opening Exhibit Visionaries Around Us, Ellen Elmes Gallery

visionaries coal miner
Visionaries – Coal Miner

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL…

2020 festival logo
Festival Logo Designed by Johnathan Keene

The mission of the annual Southwest Virginia Community College Festival of the Arts is to provide an in-depth exploration of the cultural riches of countries and cultures around the world to create a better understanding of those nations and cultures. The two-week long Festival consists of numerous musical performances, including vocal, instrumental and solo presentations.

Dance, theatre, literature, visual arts and film are other areas of exploration. Students from the theatre and music departments at Southwest participate, as well as community singers in the SWCC Community Chorus. SWCC art students design the Festival logo each year and prepare art exhibits that reflect the artistic heritage of the country in the spotlight. Workshops are conducted by visiting artists and a Spotlight event is held each year to showcase student talent.

FESTIVAL DIRECTORS & COORDINATORS

mary

Mary Lawson

Mary has served as Executive Director of the Festival of the Arts since its inception in 1995.

Email mewlawson13@gmail.com Phone (276) 385-0104

Pavlina Dokovska

Festival Artistic Director | Chair, Mannes College of Music Piano Department. Ms. Dokovska also serves as pianist-in-residence and conducts master classes for area piano students with their teachers each year.

Vladimir Valijarevic

Assistant Artistic Director, Piano faculty Mannes College of Music

trivette

Dr. Joseph Trivette

Choral Director, Gaynelle Lockhart Albert Endowed Chair in Music

Cultural Walk Directors

Morgan Gilbert & Brian Wright

School of the Arts Coordinators

Morgan Gilbert, Olivia Ratliff, Regina Rice, Nyoka Muawad, Stephen Gilbert; Jeopardy Directors Teresa Yearout and Terri Kiser

Technical Director

Ryan Magee

Business Manager

Annette McClanahan

Facility Coordinator

Stacey Brooks

Marketing Coordinators

John Dezember and Travis Roberts

Southwest Educational Foundation Executive Director

Susan Lowe

Festival Logo

Design by Johnathan Keene

Festival Brochure

Michael Brown and Travis Roberts

2023 FESTIVAL SPONSORS

Whole Notes:

Nettie Peterson Estate

Stelio and Betty T. Corte Foundation

Ennio and Rosa Corte Foundation

Community Arts Council of Buchanan County

Virginia Commission for the Arts/National Endowment for the Arts

Half Notes:

Randy and Julie Forehand

Mary Sue Whitt

Dorothy Wright

Katharine B. Tierney Foundation

George M. Cruise Foundation

Tazewell County Board of Supervisors

Quarter Notes:

Altizer, Walk and White

Clinch Valley Medical Center

Richlands Pharmacy Associates/New Garden Pharmacy

Stephen and Susan Hicks

Gene and Martha Hurst

Charles R. King

Mary W. Lawson

Lynda Stuart

Keene Family Foundation

Columbus Phipps Foundation

Frank L. Smoot Charitable Trust

Eighth Notes:

Cooke, Shortt, Brown & Faletti, PLLC

David Mullins Wealth Management

Street Law Firm

TruPoint Bank

Mary G. Adams

Ken and Cynthia Anselmi

James and Becky Belcher

Donna Bell

Nancy G. Brooks

Brandon and Amanda Buskill

Glenda Calver

Rod Cury

Jim Dickinson

Joyce Gillespie

Larry and Kathy Mitchell

Jane Thornhill

Sam and Martha Varney

Nancy A. Wolf

Dr. Tommy and Tracey Wright

Southwest Cultural Arts Series

Russell County Board of Supervisors

Town of Bluefield, VA

Town of Richlands

Town of Tazewell

Grace Notes:

Appalachian Family Care

Doug and Ginger Branton

Dave Leonard

Ron and Naomi Levison

Kenny and Susan Lowe

Mike McClure

Rod and Linda Moore

Jim Morehead

Joe and Cindy Nicholson

Barbara Parker

Mary Ann Strong

Bob and Bonnie White

John and Jane Willis

Russell County Rotary Club

TCPL Friends of the Library

Town of Cedar Bluff

Town of Lebanon

Tazewell Music Club

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