Her license plate reads CRE8JOY. It’s a fitting message from one of the most influential and inspiring women in East Tennessee, Dr. Sharon B. Lord. Dr. Lord has accomplished more than many could in a dozen lifetimes: Ph.D. in psychology, author of many books, professor, deputy assistant Secretary of Defense under President Reagan, business woman,…
You won’t find many people with a deeper connection to music than Rick Carl. The man has studied it, played it, earned a pair of college degrees in it, and taught it. Nowadays Rick is one of Knoxville’s top lawyers, specializing in bankruptcy and creditors’ rights. But he still finds outlets for his love of melody…
When Josh Gaither arrived at his mentor’s workshop one grey afternoon in 2013, he knew it would be no ordinary meeting. The man awaiting him, Knoxville’s venerated, prolific piano tuner Frank Hambright, was 89 years old and his health was failing. His time was short. As they sat down together, Frank told Josh how proud…
“My father said that every child ought to know how to do certain things. And on that list was music. Every child, in my father’s estimation, should learn how to play the piano, and then should learn another musical instrument.” So begins the story of Dr. Harold A. Black’s life in music. He learned piano,…
From the very beginning, volunteer violin teacher Sara Matayoshi, seemed destined to be a musician. “Music played a role for me from when I was first born, I guess. My parents told me that music was being played for me while I was still in the womb. I don’t remember that, but even imaging music…
“As a youngster, there was a very enthusiastic band director at my school. It was easy to respond to him. So I walked into his office one day and said that I was interested in the band and, of course, he was all open arms…. He was a terrific person who started a great venture…
Growing up in Roane County, Tenn., Martin Hodge always made music a part of his life, whether it was singing in church choirs or playing violin in the school orchestra. But it was drumming that he loved best of all. He remembers pounding on an old drum that belonged to his family, picking up the…
https://youtu.be/Rov9MFD_-us While other families might get together and play Pictionary or Trivial Pursuit, Joy of Music School student Autumn and her siblings get together and play chamber music. “I come from a musical family with five brothers and sisters, all musicians. Four of us have studied at the Joy of Music School. I’ve been able…
Michael loves to play the piano – and play he does! His early progress has been exemplary, so much so that he quickly outgrew his electronic keyboard we had given him to practice on. With that kind of trajectory we placed a restored acoustic spinet piano in his home to help him continue his studies. Go get ’em Michael!…