NEWSLETTER #106
by Wendel Werner
HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE WENDEL
WERNER NEWSLETTER #106
Good August to you all!! As we are working through my birthday month, I find
that there's very little time to celebrate. But that's not a bad thing. It
simply means that my life is busy. Let me tell you about some of these things
before we work our way through August.
First I should mention how things turned out at the Wears Valley benefit concert
last month. I brought a number of musicians up to Pigeon Forge, Tn. to do a
concert in hopes of raising some money to that the church could purchase some
hand bells. The cost of the set they wanted was $5200.00. We were shooting for
raising a third of that. By the end of the concert, we had raised OVER $5200.00.
Thanks to everyone involved for making the concert such a great event.
Congratulations, Beth.
A musical organization out of Michigan has commissioned me to compose a large
multi-movement piece of music for choir and orchestra to be premiered this
coming March. I'm flattered that they will be flying me up for the event and
I'll be doing a week-long residency. So, I'm in the beginning stages of
composing this work.
It looks like, as of this month, I'll be FINALLY returning to the Oak Ridge and
going back to a familiar spot. The place that USED to be The Daily Grind is now
called Moondollars Cafe. I got in touch with them and apparently they had
already heard of me. (Maybe, I still owe the Daily Grind some money.) We were
trying to work out a date for September when a date in August opened up
suddenly. SO my return to the Oak Ridge are will happen on Friday August 15.
"I'm also right in the middle of doing a LOT of choral compositions or
arrangements." That's what I wrote last month. Most of the pieces that I was
working on last month are done and mailed off. I'm now deep into the
arrangements for the UT Singers show this year. I'm also finishing the summer
class I'm teaching at Walters State Community College. I'll start the fall
semesters at Walters State and the University of Tennessee before the end of the
month. (I've narrowed things down to just teaching at TWO colleges. That's a big
deal.)
Oh...I'll also be getting older this month. I'll look forward to all of your
presents. I'm registered at Toyota.
Alright...here's August:
SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 2008
JEFFERSON COUNTY FAIR
7PM
I'm so excited about this. Know what I'm doing? Judging a pageant!! I get to be
one of those people that stands and waves when they announce my name. If you see
me, stop by and say hi...but not while I'm waving.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2008
BLAKEFORD HILLS RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
NASHVILLE, TN.
11AM-12NOON
I first met these people by bringing the UT Singers there for a performance last
March. this will now be MY second performance there on my own. The people are
very nice and seem the enjoy the music VERY much.
Perhaps you can spend your lunch time with me if you are in the Nashville area.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2008
MOONDOLLARS CAFE in OAK RIDGE, TN.
7pm
I'M BACK IN OAK RIDGE!! For those that don't know, I was playing this venue on
an average of once or twice a month starting as far back as 7-8 years ago. I
played there for about 2-3 years straight with Mary Lou O'Hern and Jeff Kile.
Thus place is what started me playing in lots of coffeehouses and lead to my
long-standing stint at the Slice of Life. So returning here is a big deal for
me. it would be FANTASTIC if some of you could join me there.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 2008
ANNUAL CAMP MEETING at TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
6:30PM
This church is so nice to me. If you recall, this is where all the Just In Time
concerts used to be. This is where the record-breaking DON-AID concert was.
AND...it's where this year's Wendel-Destroys-All-Christmas-Songs concert will be
this year. Every year they have this fun service in late August called the camp
meeting that is a service of mostly music. The musicians at this church have
taken it personally if I'm not involved...so I'm involved. It will be a lot of
fun. (most of the music will be jazz-influenced this time around.)
SATURDAY, SEPTEMEBR 6, 2008
WENDEL WERNER CONCERT in SPRING CITY, TN.
ST. CLAIR BAPTIST CHURCH
6PM
I'M COMING TO SPRING CITY!!! I love when things work out in this manner. I
brought the blues band, The House Band, up to Crossville, Tn. to perform last
spring for a huge event sponsored by the local hospital. There, I met a woman
named Villa Edwards...we discuss future performance opportunities...next thing
you know, I'm doing a concert at a church in Spring City. (I think I'm actually
gonna get her sing a song at this concert as well.) This will be the first
concert I've done in this area. SO....they have no idea what's coming. THAT'S
very exciting as well.
Okay...there's the month of August.
As always, thanks so much for your support.
Now, go celebrate my birthday somewhere.
Wendel Werner