Marketing and Communications

Live on the radio—it’s Hardin Valley Thunder!

Pellissippi State Community College’s bluegrass ensemble will be on WDVX radio’s Blue Plate Special Dec. 1. Fans can tune in or go downtown to the WDVX studio to catch the free performance.

The Blue Plate Special starts at noon with two bands performing. Hardin Valley Thunder, which is made up of nine Pellissippi State students and two community members, plays at 12:30. The band will perform favorites such as “Fox on the Run,” “Who Will Watch the Homeplace,” “When in Rome” and “Tipper.”

Larry Vincent, Music instructor at Pellissippi State and director of Hardin Valley Thunder, says the group is excited about the opportunity.

“Those slots at WDVX are pretty coveted,” he said. “They get a lot of calls from people who want to play there.”

Hardin Valley Thunder has performed many times at the college, satisfying bluegrass lovers with classics such as “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” “I’ll Fly Away” and “Foggy Mountain Breakdown.” In fact, the group is part of this year’s popular Holiday Spectacular, scheduled for two presentations on Dec. 10, one at 6 and a second at 8 p.m., in the Clayton Performing Arts Center, on the Pellissippi Campus on Hardin Valley Road.

“This group has been added to the ensemble offerings to assist our students in exploring a style of music that embraces our local Appalachian heritage,” said Bill Brewer, Music program coordinator.

WDVX is a listener-supported community radio station that plays bluegrass, Americana, classic and alternative country, western swing, blues, old-time and traditional mountain music, bluegrass gospel, Celtic and folk, as well as rock and roll. The internationally known station provides local and regional musicians an outlet for their talents.

The WDVX studio is located at the Knoxville Visitor Center on the corner of Gay Street and Summit Hill Drive. Radio listeners can tune in on FM at 89.9, 102.9 and 105.9 or go online to www.wdvx.com.

For more information about the performance, contact Larry Vincent at (865) 539-7156 or lfvincent@pstcc.edu.

Mark your crowded holiday calendar for Thursday, Dec. 10. That’s the date of the 11th annual Holiday Spectacular concerts presented by Pellissippi State Community College.

So popular in years past that the event is often standing-room-only for audiences, the free musical production is now offered twice in one evening, with performances beginning at 6 and 8 p.m.

This year, more than 130 students, faculty and staff will present choral, instrumental and dance pieces. Selections include both sacred and secular holiday music, ranging in style from classical to jazz.

The fast-paced production flows from one ensemble performance to the next, with “carolers” moving the action along. Enhancing the evening’s sounds are lighted trees and special effects, including on-stage “snow.”

A special feature of the Holiday Spectacular is the Pellissippi State Faculty/Staff Choir, a 34-member group consisting of administrative employees, faculty members and support staff. The assembly is a crowd favorite.

“The fun we have in rehearsal really comes out at performance time,” said Bill Brewer, Music program coordinator.

The back-to-back concerts take place in the Clayton Performing Arts Center on the Pellissippi Campus on Hardin Valley Road. Plenty of free parking is available.

Donations will be accepted at the door for the Pellissippi State Foundation, on behalf of the Music Scholarship fund.

For additional information, contact Brewer at (865) 694-6701 or lwbrewer@pstcc.edu.

With preparations already under way for holiday activities, it might seem an inconvenient time donate blood. But the demand for blood products does not necessarily drop because we’re busy with Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s plans. It fluctuates daily, even hourly, and can actually rise during the holidays.

The public is invited and encouraged to donate blood on Tuesday, Nov. 24, during Medic Regional Blood Center’s mobile drive at Pellissippi State Community College. Pellissippi State faculty, staff and students will also be participating.

Approximately 85 percent of the blood Medic collects comes from mobile drives conducted within the community. The organization serves 29 hospitals within a 21-county region and, as usual, is in need of all blood types.

Donors should be at least 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds and not have fasted prior to arriving. Medic suggests eating a high-protein, low-fat meal before donating blood.

The mobile unit will be parked in the F-1 lot at the Pellissippi Campus on Hardin Valley Road. The door opens at 8:30 a.m., and the drive concludes at 4 p.m.

For additional information, contact Carolyn Carson at (865) 694-6554 or ccarson@pstcc.edu.