Blog - Academy Center of the Arts

Over 600 Lynchburg Area Music Students Gain Access to Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra

November 26, 2018 Brittany Griffith

Contact: Brittany Griffith Director of Communications and Marketing (434) 528-3256 x131 bgriffith@academycenter.org OVER 600 LYNCHBURG AREA MUSIC STUDENTS GAIN ACCESS TO THE JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA The Academy Center of the Arts’ staff and board are proud to share that over 600 local middle and high school music students will travel to the newly restored Historic Academy of Music Theatre on Thursday, December 13, 2018, to experience the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra’s Big Band Holidays sound check with Wynton Marsalis. The sound check event will begin at 4:30pm in the Historic Theatre prior to the 7:30pm performance that evening. A question and answer portion will also be held between the students and musicians on stage prior to the concluding the event. “Youth outreach is really important to Wynton Marsalis,” said Geoffrey Kershner, Executive Director of the Academy Center of the Arts. “When arranging their visit, it was the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra who offered up this opportunity and it was something we jumped at. We loved the notion that not only would adult audiences benefit from this world-class artist but also area youth.” The Academy Center of the Arts is dedicated to […]

Meet the Staff: Tabitha Abbott

November 16, 2018 Morgan Yeatts

by Morgan Yeatts As a Lynchburg native, Tabitha knows just how far downtown Lynchburg has come through the years. Before coming to the Academy Center of the Arts (ACOA), she worked at Amazement Square, eventually becoming their event planner, and then their Operations Director. Later, an event coordinator position was created for her at United Way. She has also worked with the Downtown Lynchburg Association to plan Get Downtown. Needless to say, Tabitha knows how to get things done. “Event planning is being really organized and creative; it’s something I kind of fell into that I love.” Tabitha met Dorie Smiley, former Operations Director of the ACOA, through the Downtown Lynchburg Association, of which Dorie is Vice President. As Dorie was in the process of stepping down from her role at the ACOA, preparing for retirement, Tabitha applied for the job and started in October of 2017. Although she isn’t planning events as much as she used to, Tabitha loves her position here at the Academy. “My position lends itself to be a part of everyone’s department and being a part of it in such a wide reaching way is really cool and special. It […]

Meet the Staff: Tyler Herron

October 17, 2018 Morgan Yeatts

by Morgan Yeatts Tyler Herron knew from a young age that lighting design was the career he wanted to pursue. He remembers telling his parents that, someday, he was going to be a lighting designer for a mega church. Growing up, he gained experience working with the lighting design crew at the church he attended in Hope, Arkansas, and at the age of 12, was invited to go on tour with David Phelps, Christian southern gospel singer, and work with his lighting team. Tyler attended Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas, with the intended major of theatre with an emphasis in technical theatre. Part way through his degree, he got a job at as lighting designer for a mega church in Little Rock, bringing his youthful predictions to fruition. When he got the opportunity, he left school to work there full time, and stayed for over 5 years, gaining invaluable experience through hands on work. A time came when Tyler felt that he needed a change, a new challenge, so he began applying for lighting design jobs all over the nation. “I needed to find someone who would take a chance on me,” he said. Although he had […]

Mavis Staples Headlines Historic Academy of Music Theatre’s First Public Event

October 15, 2018 Brittany Griffith

The Academy Center of the Arts has announced Mavis Staples, Grammy award-winning R&B-gospel singer and civil rights activist, as the headlining artist the first event of the Historic Academy of Music Theatre’s Opening Week Activities on Thursday, December 6, 2018, at 7:30pm. “The evening will celebrate the integration of the Historic Academy of Music theatre, a space that was previously segregated when it closed in 1958,” said Geoffrey Kershner, Executive Director of the Academy Center of the Arts. “We chose Mavis Staples as our headlining artist for this event because of her significant accomplishments as a civil rights activist and her continuing efforts to serve as a positive force for social equity”. Mavis Staples began singing with her family, The Staple Singers, in Chicago in the 1940s, later performing in Montgomery, Alabama for none other than Martin Luther King, Jr. Lauded as one of the greatest gospel singers of all time, her powerful voice has underscored some of the United States most pivotal and dramatic periods of social change, weaving herself into the very fabric of gospel, soul, folk, pop, R&B, blues, rock, and hip hop over the last 60 years. Mavis Staples is both a Rock […]

Lynchstock Music Festival 2018

October 3, 2018 Morgan Yeatts

by Morgan Yeatts The Academy Center of the Arts is proud to be presenting the sixth annual Lynchstock Music Festival! Since its beginning, Lynchstock has been one of the most attended and loved events in Lynchburg. This year, the festival will be held in the fall rather than the spring, on the 20th of October, a Lynchstock Music Festival first. It’s the perfect opportunity to break out the flannels and kick the fall vibes into high gear! This year’s lineup is one of the best yet, with headliners COIN and Dr. Dog. There will be a wide variety of artists representing numerous genres, including many of Lynchburg’s own talented bands and artists. A few Lynchstock veterans, Joel Robert Kaiser and Vacation Manor, will also be returning to their hometown for this exciting day of music and community. Other artists include The Dundies, Oceanic, L.A. Dies, Apple Butter Soul, Tony Camm and the Funk Allstars, and many others! For those of you who have attended Lynchstock in the past, you already know what goes down at this amazing event, from the performances, food trucks, local vendors, spoken word poetry, and inspiring vibe. However, if you’re a newcomer to […]

Meet the Staff: Dorie Smiley

September 26, 2018 Morgan Yeatts

by Morgan Yeatts Dorie Smiley has been with the Academy Center of the Arts since its beginning. Dorie began as a volunteer for the Academy of Music over 21 years ago, which eventually evolved into a part-time position when the Academy of Music merged with the Fine Arts Center to create the Academy of Fine Arts to eventually become the Academy Center Center of the Arts in 2015. She was fascinated with the restoration of the historic theatre, and this fascination, combined with her love for historic buildings and architecture, attracted her to the Academy. She began at the bottom, raising awareness about the restoration of the theatre, writing thank you notes to donors, collecting the mail, basically doing “anything that needed to happen”. From there, Dorie continued to progress and ultimately became the Director of Operations for the Academy Center of the Arts. In October of 2017 she stepped down in preparation for retirement. Currently, she serves as the construction liaison for the Historic Academy of Music Theatre renovations, assisting as a staff representative to the construction committee. For years, Dorie has seen the Academy prepare to restore the Historic Theatre, and now, […]

2018 National Juried Photography Exhibition Winners

September 14, 2018 Brittany Griffith

The 2018 National Juried Photography Exhibition, sponsored by the Academy Center of the Arts, has passed and the winners have been announced! See below for the list of cash awards given this year. Best in Show: $1000 award to Craig Shaffer (Lynchburg) for “Widow Walk” Sponsored by the Cary & Robert Roberts 2nd Place Award $500 award to Ashley Moog (Airville, Penn) for “Second Skin Series” Sponsored by the Academy Center of the Arts 3rd Place Award $350 award to George Gati (Poughquag, NY) for “Snowstorm at Midnight” Sponsored by the Academy Center of the Arts Juror’s Choice Award $250 award to Michael Hower (Enola, Penn) for ‘“Remorse Will Assail Him” Sponsored by the Academy Center of the Arts Juror’s Choice Award $200 award to Lisa Pitcher (Amherst, VA) for “Super Powers” Sponsored by the Blackwell Press Juror’s Choice Award $100 award to Rebecca Raybon (Huddleston, VA) for “Yesteryear” Sponsored by the Academy Center of the Arts Juror’s Choice Award $100 award to Sam Krisch (Roanoke, VA) for ‘“Hokkaido” Sponsored by Lynn Shapiro @ JSW Realtors, […]

Meet the Staff: Tremayne Edwards

September 6, 2018 Morgan Yeatts

by Morgan Yeatts Growing up, Tremayne Edwards, Box Office Manager here at the Academy Center of the Arts, never really had a answer to the question “what do you want to be when you grow up”. This wasn’t because he didn’t have any dreams or goals, but can be attributed to the fact that Tremayne has a deeply rooted desire to work with and help people, so he believed essentially any job that would allow him to do this was the job for him. He describes himself as one of those people who has never met a stranger. “If I haven’t made you laugh by the time we finish talking, I will buy you dinner”, he says, “and I’ve never had to yet”. One day, he was looking on the Academy website and saw the job posting for Box Office Manager, and knew that his passion for people and his personality would make him the perfect fit for this job. Since starting the job in February of this year, he’s assisted countless visitors and patrons. Tremayne calls himself the gatekeeper of the Academy. “Everyone has to go through me” he says, and he approaches this role wholeheartedly. […]

Announcing Historic Academy of Music Theatre Opening Week Events

September 5, 2018 Brittany Griffith

After 60 years in the making, the Academy Center of the Arts Board of Directors and staff are proud to announce that the Historic Academy of Music Theatre, built in 1905 and closed in 1958, will have completed its renovation and will open its doors to the public in December 2018 with two weeks of Opening events and performances. “The long-awaited opening of this community treasure deserves a week of activity and not just one night,” said Geoffrey Kershner, Executive Director of the Academy Center of the Arts. “We want as many people in our community as possible to share in the excitement of opening this theatre after so many years. With a wide range of programs and price points, we hope everyone will celebrate with us in December.” The Historic Academy of Music Theatre’s Opening Week will begin on December 6th, 2018, with a night celebrating the integration of the theatre, a space that was previously segregated when last closed. This night will feature a concert event with Devon Gilfillian and a legendary musical act to be announced on October 15, 2018, emceed by Leland Melvin, former NASA astronaut and community member. Three community arts and culture awards will also […]

Riverfront Park Concert Series Finale: Wynona and the Big Noise

August 31, 2018 Morgan Yeatts

Even before the gates opened at 5:00 for happy hour, fans were camped outside, waiting to claim their spot in the grass to see Wynonna Judd and her band, The Big Noise. They were soon joined by hundreds more who trickled through the entrances in pairs and groups. The mixed drinks and beer were provided by Blue Ridge Beverage. With plenty of time before the concert began, those in attendance enjoyed pizza, fries, and other crowd favorites from local food trucks Uppercust Pizza, Uprooted, Hibachi Guys, and Bistro Bros. VIP ticket holders enjoyed refreshments provided by {RA} Bistro in the shade of the VIP tent. Although the forecast had called for rain, when former Lynchburger Josh Wolfe took the stage to open the show at 6:30, the sky was blue and clear. Kids played frisbee, while the adults lounged in lawn chairs or stretched out on blankets. The ages of those in attendance ranged from infants and toddlers to the older couples slow dancing to the music, with a mix of ages between. Shortly after Josh Wolfe finished his set, The Big Noise took the stage. Led by Cactus Moser, Wynonna Judd’s husband, the group of four […]

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