Mountain Melody School of Music

Mark your calendars! The Crooked Road Youth Music Festival returns on May 11th to the Southwest Virginia Cultural Center & Marketplace in Abingdon, VA! The youth competition is open to any musician under 18 years of age. Registration begins at 12:00 pm and continues throughout the day. The competition begins at 1:00 pm with an open jam session to follow. For more information email [email protected].

Sign up for a week of music and fun!

The 2024 Mountain Music School application is now live! Visit www.mountainmusicschool.org/online-application and apply today!

It’s time to start memorizing those tunes for this years Gathering in the Gap competition! It’s certainly one of our favorites!

The Gathering in the Gap Music Festival offers an opportunity for area musicians to test their skills in a variety of musical competitions - all ages and skill levels are welcome to participate.

Competition categories include mandolin, guitar, bluegrass banjo, old time banjo, bluegrass fiddle and old-time fiddle. There will also be a category for a band competition, for which there must at least be three members and at least two different types of instruments. For each of the categories, participants will be divided into age groups, 17 and under and 18 and up, except for the band competition. Cash prizes and certificates will be presented to the top three participants in each individual category (1st place - $100, 2nd place - $50 and 3rd place $25) and to the top participant in the band competition category ($500). Additionally, all participants under the age of 18 will be awarded a certificate for participation.

The Instrument Competition will begin at 12pm the day of the festival. Each contestant must fill out a registration form upon arrival. Registration fee is $10 for the first instrument and $5 for the second. Bands will pay a $15 registration fee. Payment will be taken at the registration booth. For more details and rules/criteria for any of the competitions please call the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park at 276-523-1322, email [email protected] or visit https://www.gatheringinthegap.org/competitions/

Great Opportunities this week!

Two wonderful events are happening at Milligan next week!

Join us on Thursday, Feb. 1, at 7 PM for an enlightening evening talk with Dr. Mary Louise Bringle, a renowned hymn writer. Discover the timeless significance of hymns in worship and delve into Dr. Bringle's poetic and spiritual process in creating new hymns for today's congregations.

Then, on Feb. 3 at 7:30 PM, enjoy an uplifting concert featuring a 200-voice choir and full orchestra. You will experience beloved favorites and be introduced to new hymns.

Both events are free—no tickets are required.