Middle Tennessee’s Orchestra Performs Outstandingly

By Jacob Cook

Middle Stew Reporter

                MURFREESBORO, Tenn.-Middle Tennessee State University’s Symphony and Chamber Orchestras displayed their extraordinary talents Sunday evening in the Wright Music Building on campus.

                The two orchestras combined their talents to produce a soothing melodic atmosphere that captivated the audience. Amidst a good turnout of family, friends and supporters, the MTSU orchestras kept everyone in awe.

                The concert started off with a very familiar piece by Leroy Anderson, “A Christmas Festival”, which started it off in holiday fashion.

                Solo performances by clarinetist Dustin Odom and soprano vocalist Dina Cancryn astounded everyone with their expertise and flawless display of musical talent. Cancryn’s opera-inspired vocals took the music to a whole new level.

                Music Director Carol Niles has done an outstanding job, yet again bringing the orchestra together to exhibit its spectacular prowess. Her level of ingenuity has shown itself with this performance that has left spectators with warm hearts and humming a fine tune.

                If you need more information or would like to purchase tickets, you can find out more at http://www.mtsu.edu/music .

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MTSU Professor Presents Work at Nashville’s 'Art Crawl'

By: Chanelle Despins

Middle Stew Reporter

                NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee State University art professor Meghan O’Connor presented her current printmaking work at Nashville’s monthly "Art Crawl" on Dec. 1.

                O’Connor, a 31-year-old artist and professor at MTSU, worked an abundant amount of hours for the past six months to create a series of her artwork titled "Inevitable". The theme for her series focused on struggle and deception. The artist wanted to communicate with her audience how people in power may abuse their authority. She also wanted to communicate that technology in our society takes quality intimacy away from our relationships.

                I’m really pleased with having a cohesive body of work,” Meghan said. “I’m really excited to take this work and show it in other locations.”

                O'Connor used printmaking, woodcutting and lithography techniques in her series. Her pieces were framed on the walls, and she included one limestone piece that she printed on. Meghan planned most of her work and sometimes already knew every element that she wanted to incorporate. However, in some of her prints, she used monotypes that were more free than planned.

                One source of her inspiration derived from her relationships built with veterans while helping out at a Veteran’s hospital in Murfreesboro. One of the veterans she knew passed away and struggled with being taken advantage of by those who held power at the nursing home. Inevitably, his struggles led to his death.

                One of her biggest challenges was to include repetition and variety throughout her work. She feared that every piece would look the same and strove to make each piece an individual. She incorporated bird and sheep imagery in practically every piece.

                O'Connor's schedule for the past month was hectic. She spent on average 12 to 15 hours a day in the studio on top of teaching her classes and an additional eight hours on weekends. "Inevitable" was successful for her considering that she received a lot of positive feedback and gained an interest from her audience. Many people attended the event, and she sold one piece.

                She thoroughly enjoyed it and will look for more opportunities like these in the future.

                “I can't see myself doing much else until I can’t walk," Meghan said. "Then when I can’t walk, I’ll be shaking my cane at some minions working in the studio, paying them to print for me.”

             For more information about Nashville's monthly "Art Crawl", visit http://www.nashvilledowntown.com/play/first-saturday-art-crawl .

For more information about Meghan O’Connor and her work, visit http://www.curlymeg88.prosaic.org/ .

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Murfreesboro Hosts Location for New Brewery

By Alora Pettey

Middle Stew Reporter

                MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - - The Mayday Brewery held its grand opening on Nov. 30 at its new state-of-the-art facility at 702 Old Salem Highway in Murfreesboro.

                Ozzy Nelson, owner and founder of Mayday Brewery, created the brewery as a new job for himself so that work was more fun than just an everyday job. Due to the spacious location of the brewery near Interstate 24, Nelson is able to make and store more batches of beer at one time than any other location in Middle Tennessee.

                “I want to bring new flavors of beer, including seasonal beers,” said Nelson. “My hopes for the brewery are to grow as a company and to eventually distribute to restaurants in the area.”

                The employees for the brewery are like a family. Even the name “Mayday” comes from Nelson’s father, who has worked in the construction business his whole life. 

                “Every time there was a problem, my father would refer to it as a Mayday,” said Nelson. “When we were making the first batch of beer, it completely overflowed, and he called it a ‘Mayday’. That’s what this place has been called ever since.”

                Tours of the Mayday Brewery are available every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 1-5 p.m. Beer lovers can learn about the brewing process and enjoy drink specials and merchandise.

                The brewery has four main beers: The Murfreesboro Blonde, The Redhead, The Velvet Octopus and The Indian. They range from lightest to darkest in color and flavor. The venue does not offer food at the brewery.

                For more information, visit http://maydaybrewery.blogspot.com.

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'A Country Christmas' Lights up Gaylord Opryland

By Korby Clements

Middle Stew Reporter

MURFREESBORO, Tenn.—The 29^th annual "A Country Christmas" offers guests and locals a holiday experience with more than two million lights, horse-drawn carriage rides, the Rockettes, and the Christmassy DreamWorks Experience.

"A Country Christmas" has been named one of the world’s top 10 places to spend Christmas by Travel + Leisure magazine. The Travel Channel’s "Extreme Christmas" show called it “The most Christmassy hotel in the Nation.” USA Today proclaimed it one of the “Ten Great Places to catch up with Santa.”

This year, the Gaylord Opryland Hotel has worked hard to improve its attractions. The traditional lights and giant Christmas tree are just as beautiful as ever. The attractions, however, have really stepped up their game.

Lorrie Morgan has joined the hotel this year to perform an "Enchanted Christmas & Dinner Show". She will feature songs from her own album, "Merry Christmas from London", to provide guests with an enchanted journey through Christmases past and present.

"A Country Christmas" has also found a way to make its attractions more interactive for the guests. The "Radio City Christmas Spectacular", starring the Rockettes, has become a Nashville Christmas tradition and will feature a new 3D scene this year. Opryland visitors will go with Santa and his reindeer on a magical journey through the sights and sounds of New York City.

The "Christmassy DreamWorks Experience" features animated stars from Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, and Madagascar. This experience offers its guests many interactive opportunities, including "Shrectacular", a scavenger hunt, and character meals. The "Shrek the Halls" attraction will allow guest to enter a world of colorful ice sculptures and includes a 20-foot tall ice slide.

Opryland has also included a Holly Jolly Town Square, which provides horse-drawn carriage rides from the front of the hotel back in time to a 1950s town square. This quaint little town square is filled with family friendly activities including a gift shop, train rides, story time with Mrs. Clause, visits with Santa Clause, and an outdoor nativity scene. The "Hall of Trees" is included in this attraction and benefits local charities.

“Gaylord Opryland has already seen thousands of guests and visitors come through the hotel!” said a representative from Opryland’s Public Relations Department “This year is looking like it will be the best yet.”

The guests have shown that the attractions this year have made their visits very enjoyable.

“I go to Opryland to see the lights every year, but this year they have really outdone themselves!” said guest Taylor Stahlman.

“With more than two million twinkling lights and acres of stunning decorations that attract visitors from all over the world, there’s no better place to celebrate the season,” said Gaylord Opryland General Manager Pete Weien. “And, of course, it wouldn't be Music City, USA, without amazing live shows and entertainment.”

For more information on tickets, events and activities visit http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-opryland/a-country-christmas/index.html .

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Center for the Arts presents ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’

By Kristin Barking

Middle Stew Reporter

            MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- “You never know the impact you have until you’re gone.” That is only one out of many little lessons the Center for the Arts in Murfreesboro offered in its production of “It’s a Wonderful Life” on Dec. 1. 

            “It’s a Wonderful Life” is directed by Renee Robinson and runs through Dec. 16 with shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and matinees on Sundays at 2 p.m.                            

            This classic retraces the decisive moments in the ultimately uplifting story of George Bailey, who is saved from his suicide plans by his guardian angel Clarence Odbody on Christmas Eve to rediscover meaning and joy in his life.                                           

            Auditions for the show were held the first week of November, and the cast talked about all the scenes individually before they began rehearsing run-throughs of the entire show two weeks before opening night.                                                                                       

            “For me, the biggest challenge is the quick costume changes, because I usually only have a few seconds,” Michael Adock, who plays George Bailey, said after the performance. 
            Middle Tennessee State University theatre major Josh Ball took on the role of Clarence, and he found the most difficulty in making the obvious age difference between the movie version’s “72-year-old grandpa” and himself feel fresh yet convincing.                          

            According to Ball, community spirit and appreciation transcended the limits of the play’s world.
            “My favorite part about the show is the cast," Ball said. "Everybody is really professional, and I feel that when all the cast is out on stage together, those are the most powerful moments.”

            In addition to the play, some of the performers gave a harmonious rendition of “O Holy Night” in the gallery during the break, further instilling the season’s spirit in their spectators. The audience then returned to their seats in the festively decorated auditorium for the second half, only to rise to their feet again an hour later for a standing ovation.                       

            In the play, George Bailey gets a chance to see what the world would look like if he had never been born. Adock considers taking such a step back to look at things from a different perspective in order to become aware of your own importance as a valuable lesson in the show.
            “You never know the impact you have until you’re gone,” Adock added. 
             Ball puts his expectations for what the audience will take away from the performance in more general terms, saying, “I hope people go home with some holiday happiness.”                                               

            Tickets are available online at http://www.boroarts.org , by phone at (615) 904-2787, or in person at the Center for the Arts at 110 W. College St. in Murfreesboro. 

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MTSU Band Rocks Student Union

By Rob Sieben

Middle Stew Reporter

            MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The student-driven Middle Tennessee State University/University of Tennessee band, O Youth, rocked out an acoustic set at the Student Union Food Court on Nov. 28 with two new members playing.

            The band recently added a French horn and oboe player that it incorporated into the acoustic set. There were two acoustic drum kits and a “do-it-yourself” percussion station that featured trashcans, shells and shovels. Members wheeled in an acoustic piano, and the bass player strummed his Banjitar while an extra guitarist played seashells to accompany the massive rhythm section.

            The band played from 6-8 p.m. with a set list that showcased unique and original music that members have dubbed “Doom Folk”. The Student Union Building was "rockin'" when all 10 of the band's members took the stage by the end of the show.

            “We decided to make it our goal to remain as large and energetic as possible without using any electricity at all,” said Brad Fugate.

            The band began a few years ago with three members meeting on a snowboarding trip out of the dorms at the University Of Tennessee Knoxville. Another member was added a short time later who lived down the hall from them. The rest of the band mates were found on Craigslist and from door-to-door solicitation until the perfect number was achieved. The 10 members are no longer centralized in one town, but they get together enough.

            Members of the band said they are excited to finish recording their latest album, which still has not been named. They have recently played gigs across the state of Tennessee and even in Chicago.

            “Our hearts are now the home of O Youth, and forever they shall be,” Fugate said. Every other Tuesday night, the Student Union Food Court at MTSU holds acoustic evenings with various artists and bands across campus. The event is free and open to anyone who wants to enjoy an evening of acoustic music. There are currently no more shows lined up for the fall semester.
          For more information about playing an acoustic evening, musicians can call the concerts chair in the Student Union at (615) 898-2551 or visit Student Union Room 340. Anyone interested in O Youth’s music can access the act's material through Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/oyouthmusic  .

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