Bronze, Wood, and Ivory, A Summer Concert Treat - - St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, Friday, July 16, 7:00 p.m.

Former MTSU music faculty members Jean and Raymond Bills, together with solo handbell artist Nancy Hascall of Lake Oswego, Oregon, will present a unique recital combining the sonorities of solo handbells, cello, and piano at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 16, at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 1267 North Rutherford Boulevard, in Murfreesboro. Admission is free and open to the public.
The program will feature works by Bach, Chopin, Fauré, and others, as well as spirituals, folk songs and sacred music arranged by Hascall, including several numbers from her solo handbell CD, “Ringing from the Heart”, in which her sister, Jean Bills, is also featured as cellist.
Nancy Hascall, handbell solo artist, is a native of Idaho, where she earned a degree in Music Education from the College of Idaho. She taught young children in the Yamaha Music Education System in both California and Oregon for 22 years before “retiring” to focus on her handbell career. Having performed as a soloist since 1989, Hascall is widely recognized as one of the country’s most versatile and artistic ringers. She is currently in Tennessee for the purpose of teaching and performing at “Pinnacle,” the 2010 National Seminar of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers (AGEHR) being held in Nashville, July 18-21.

In addition to her graceful and innovative solo ringing style, Hascall is also acknowledged as the creator of a widely used ringing method called “traveling four-in-hand,” which she has taught throughout the U.S., as well as in Canada and Australia. She has authored several articles on ringing techniques for Overtones, the national publication of AGEHR, and is an award-winning composer with more than 25 handbell compositions and arrangements in print.

In addition to her work as a soloist, Hascall serves as Musical Director of Bells of the Cascades, a Portland-based auditioned concert handbell choir, and as Director of Handbells at First United Methodist Church in Portland. She arranges almost all her own solo repertoire, usually drawing from folk, classical, and sacred music sources.

Jean Bills has been active as a teacher and professional musician in Middle Tennessee for over 40 years. A native of Idaho, she received degrees in cello performance from the College of Idaho and Yale University School of Music. She taught cello and theory part time at MTSU, private lessons (both violin and cello) using the Suzuki Method of Talent Education, and served as director of Middle Tennessee Junior String Orchestra for 10 years.

As a professional musician she performed with the Nashville Symphony (Assistant Principal), Nashville Symphony Quintet, Nashville Baroque and Classical Society, Middle Tennessee Symphony (Principal), Sanders Trio, MTSU Faculty String Quartet and the Stones River Chamber Players. Currently retired from teaching, she continues to perform occasionally and serves on the board of the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra, which she helped to establish in 1997.

At the piano Raymond Bills will provide accompaniment for his wife and sister-in-law. A native of Kansas City, Mo., Mr. Bills holds degrees in piano performance from Northwestern and Yale University. He has retired from the Middle Tennessee State University School of Music where he taught piano and courses in music theory and music history for 43 years. He continues to keep busy as an adjudicator, clinician and accompanist after a career that also included solo and chamber music recitals.

Mr. and Ms. Bills have played concerts for hundreds of school children. Mr. Bills has been on the Executive Board of the Tennessee Music Teachers Association, served 10 years on the Rutherford County Arts and Humanities Council and has been on two review committees for the Tennessee Arts Commission.

For further information, call Jean or Raymond Bills, 893-8638

Southern Fried Funeral Review Declares It “A Bonafide Hit!”

The reviews are in and “Southern Fried Funeral,” being staged by Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Franklin, Tennessee through March 20, has been declared “a bonafide hit” by Broadwayworld.com theatre reviewer Jeffrey Ellis. Check out the review at http://nashville.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW_Reviews_Bethlehem_Players_SOUTHERN_FRIED_FUNERAL_20100316.


Middle Tennesseans are calling “Southern Fried Funeral’ laugh-out-loud fun from beginning to end.” This original comedy, by noted playwrights Dietz Osborne and Nate Eppler, weaves a quirky and humorous tapestry of laughs.

Dorothy Frye (Debbie Robinson, standing) meets with family members after the death of her husband -- seated Benny Charles (Paul Gant) and Fairy June Cooper (Janie Varn)

The play, lasting just under two hours, shares the comedic journey of the Frye family as they pay their final respects to their beloved patriarch Dewey. Osborne said funerals bring out the best, the worst and the funniest in people and the Fryes are no exception including the very serious chairwoman of the church Sonshine Committee, Ozella Meeks, who shares her funeral planning wisdom.

Sonshine Committee chairwoman Ozella Meeks (Donna Thomas) meets with the daughters of Dewey Frye to plan the funeral--Samatha Jo Frye LeFette (Lisha Pope) and Harline Frye (Kandace Williams Christian)

“First and foremost, we have to decide what color punch for the visitation cause that'll help us decide what color the plates and napkins will be. You don't want orange cuz that just says "we're happy" and that's kinda trashy," says Meeks, played by Donna Thomas, Catholic Charities Department Director.

Three shows are remaining: Thursday, March 18 – 4:30 p.m. dinner with Barbara’s Home Cooking for just $5 extra and then a 6 p.m. show. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7 p.m. without a dinner. For more information or a reservation, 615-791-6456 or drama@bethlehemumc.com. Show only tickets are $15 adults/$10 students and Dinner show tickets are $20 adults/$10 students. Bethlehem United Methodist Church is located at 2419 Bethlehem Loop Road, Franklin, TN (37069) or visit http://www.bethlehemumc.com/