Grayson Compton/ BRCC
Information supplied by Blue Ridge Community College Communications
Blue Ridge Community College’s Appalachian Folk Instrument class will present a free concert featuring traditional Appalachian music, folk and popular songs, and a tribute to Dolly Parton at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, located at 256 East Main Street in Brevard on Wednesday, Nov. 4. at 10:30 a.m.
Twenty musicians will perform on a variety of Appalachian folk instruments, including the hammered dulcimer, mountain dulcimer, banjo, ukulele, guitar, fiddle, bass, G whistle, Native American flute, and drum. Vocalists will perform Appalachian, folk, and popular songs for those in attendance wanting to hear music from a time and place not yet lost to time.
Instructor Dr. Steven Zvengrowski explained that the course’s goal is for students to incorporate Appalachian instruments into an orchestral setting.
“They study and perform a wide variety of music, but focus on the Appalachian tradition,” Dr. Zvengrowski said in a news release.
The concert will explore four themes: songs from the film Songcatcher, traditional Appalachian music, folk and popular songs, and a Dolly Parton tribute medley.
The Songcatcher segment will feature music from the 2000 American drama film, which was produced in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Before the class performs the songs, film clips will introduce the music and provide context. Two songs written by the Carter Family will bookend the concert’s traditional Appalachian music segment. The program will continue with a selection of folk and popular songs, concluding with a medley honoring the work of Dolly Parton.
Now in its second year, the Appalachian Folk Instrument class has quickly become a popular offering during both fall and spring terms through BRCC’s College’s Continuing Education department. The class presents two concerts each term at different venues throughout the region. Previous performances have taken place at College Walk, Transylvania County Library, and Connestee Falls. The class has an additional concert planned for spring 2027 at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Brevard.
More information about personal enrichment and workforce continuing education courses at Blue Ridge Community is available online at www.blueridge.edu/ce.