Roundup: ETSU arts events in December

ETSU is home to a vibrant arts community, with dozens of events planned in December.

As the calendar turns to December, East Tennessee State University’s campus is a flurry of activity as students and faculty wrap up the fall semester and prepare for finals week and commencement. And much of that activity takes place in the arts. 

ETSU is home to a thriving arts community, and the university invites the community to celebrate the holidays with music and film and take in an art exhibit in the days ahead. 

Department of Music 

• An ETSU Percussion Faculty Recital featuring the world premieres of two new works for percussion will be held Friday, December 1, at 7:30 p.m. in the Powell Recital Hall, Martin Center for the Arts.
• The department’s annual Holiday Concert, “And on Earth Peace,” will be presented in two performances at the Martin Center’s ETSU Foundation Grand Hall on December 2 at 4 and 7:30 p.m.
• A Percussion Studio Recital by students of Matthew Geiger, Logan Ball and Jason DeCristofaro will be on December  3 at 2 p.m. in the Martin Center’s Powell Recital Hall.
• Zack Hamrick’s Student Saxophone Recital will take place December  3 at 7:30 p.m. in the Powell Recital Hall of the Martin Center.
• On December 4, students of James West will give their Guitar Studio Recital at 7:30 p.m. in the Powell Recital Hall of the Martin Center.
• Guest Artist Jeremy Siskind, an accomplished jazz pianist and composer, will perform with the ETSU Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Small Group on December 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the Grand Hall of the Martin Center.
• A String Studio Recital by the violin, viola and cello students of David Kovac and Max Geissler will be presented December 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Martin Center’s Powell Recital Hall.
• “Jingle Bell Jazz,” the holiday concert by the ETSU Jazz Ensemble, will be held December 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Martin Center’s Grand Hall.
• Megan Quillen will give her Student Voice Recital on December 9 at 5 p.m. in the Martin Center’s Powell Recital Hall (note date change from Nov. 18).
• Also on December 9 is a “Sounds of the Season” recital by “Bucky’s Own” Brass Quintet, a student-led chamber ensemble, at 7:30 p.m. in the Martin Center’s Powell Recital Hall.
• Three End of Semester Recitals by students in the Department of Music’s Community Music School will be presented December 10 at noon, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. in the Powell Recital Hall of the Martin Center.
• A Musical Theater Studio Recital featuring students of Brad Fugate will also be held on December 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Martin Center’s Powell Recital Hall.

Reece Museum 

• The 11^th annual “FL3TCH3R Exhibit: Social and Politically Engaged Art” continues through December 8 and “An Exuberant Spirit: The Sammie L. Nicely Collection” has been extended to remain open through December 15 at the Reece Museum. 

ETSU Art Galleries 

• The BA Studio Art Senior Exhibitions continue through December 15 at Slocumb Galleries. Join the artists for a reception on December 8 from 5-7 p.m.
• The BFA Graphic Design Senior Exhibitions continue through December 15 at Tipton Gallery in downtown Johnson City, with an artists’ reception planned for December 1 from 6-8 p.m. as part of the city’s First Friday celebration. 

Martin Center for the Arts 

• Award-winning Christian artist Steven Curtis Chapman brings his “Acoustic Christmas” show to the Martin Center on December 7 at 7:30 p.m.
• “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” the holiday concert of the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra, will take place at the Martin Center on December 9 at 7:30 p.m.
• Country Music Hall of Fame member Ricky Skaggs and his band Kentucky Thunder, along with special guests, will perform a Christmas show on December 13 at 7:30 p.m. in the Martin Center.
• 49 Winchester will perform in concert with special guest Amythyst Kiah, an ETSU alumna, on December 16 at 8 p.m. in the Martin Center.

 Cinema at the Bud Frank Theatre 

• The 1954 classic “White Christmas” will be screened December 1 at 7 p.m. in the Bud Frank Theatre, Gilbreath Hall.

 Bluegrass, Old-Time and Roots Music Studies 

• The fall semester’s Down Home Takeover will be held December 3-6 from 7-9 p.m., showcasing all of ETSU’s bluegrass, old-time, Celtic, country and vocal bands over the course of four nights.

For disability accommodations, call the ETSU Office of Disability Services at (423) 439-8346. 

East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular mission: to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. Through its world-class health sciences programs and interprofessional approach to health care education, ETSU is a highly respected leader in rural health research and practices. The university also boasts nationally ranked programs in the arts, technology, computing, and media studies. ETSU serves approximately 14,000 students each year and is ranked among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of debt.