Benefit Concert

When most music fans think of the mandolin, they usually think of bluegrass. But the stringed instrument is just as comfortable at opera as the Grand Ole Opry. In fact, Vivaldi wrote a concert for the mandolin and Mozart featured it in a serenade. And during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, it was the instrument of choice, arriving in the United States with European immigrants who held the mandolin in high esteem. Maybe it was the sound that made it so popular — distinctive, shimmering and ethereal.

The Music Department at Smithsburg Middle School will hold its third annual benefit concert Tuesday, March 19, at 7 p.m. at Smithsburg High School. This year, concert donations will raise funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through the Special Events for St. Jude fundraising program. St. Jude is one of the world's premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases. The concert will feature performances by the Smithsburg Middle School Eighth Grade Band, Eighth Grade Chorus, and Festival Orchestra.  Each group will perform three selections they have prepared for the Washington County Large Ensemble Adjudication Festival held later that week.

Forgiven, a local contemporary Christian band, will perform at a benefit concert at North Hagerstown High School on Friday, May 20. The concert will begin at 7 p.m., and proceeds will go toward the Mike Callas Stadium project. Forgiven is the house band at Hagerstown Grace Brethren Church's coffeehouse. Tickets cost $10 and may be purchased at North High's main office or at the door the night of the concert.

Debi Turpin was driving home one day when she heard an ad on the radio for the local band Possum Holler when an idea for a benefit concert swept over her. The executive director of the Home Builders Association of Washington County, Turpin approached her Home Show chairman about her idea, and the concert soon became a reality. Possum Holler opened the third annual concert on Saturday night followed by Exile, a country band whose hits include "Kiss You All Over," which reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts in 1978.

BRUNSWICK, Md. -- The Polka Dots, a teen band from Lovettsville, Va., will perform their blend of old time, early jazz, bluegrass, gypsy swing and the blues at a benefit concert from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at Beans in the Belfry Meeting Place and Cafe, 122 W. Potomac St. Proceeds from the concert will benefit Damien Ray of Boonsboro, an Irish chef who emigrated to the United States to marry his American fiance and now faces medical...

INWOOD, W.Va. -- Country music artist John Berry will present an acoustic performance at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at New Life Community Church, 4102 Tabler Station Road. Proceeds from the performance will go to the National Transplant Assistance Fund in honor of Janet Parsons Marsceau. Tickets cost $20; $10 for children ages 6 to 12. For tickets, call 304-754-9187.

Do you love music? Do you have a few decent articles of clothing that just don't fit anymore? Then this event is perfect for you. The Key Club of North Hagerstown High School is organizing a benefit concert to collect children's clothing from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at the North High Stadium. The public is invited. The concert, entitled, 'Music Makes Miracles' will cost $5 or a donation of clothing for children in need. Tickets will be available at the door. All proceeds will be given to the Children in Need Foundation.

GREENCASTLE, Pa. - Battle For New Orleans, a concert featuring bluegrass, gospel and southern gospel that will benefit Hurricane Katrina victims, will be held next weekend. The concert, sponsored by Twin Hill Express in coordination with the American Red Cross, will be Saturday from 2 to 10 p.m. at Greencastle-Antrim Senior High School. The event features music all day by Twin Hill Express, Guilford Station, The Bumbaugh Family, Miss Maybell Jerkwater and Iron Ridge (with appearance by 14-year-old fiddler Jen Starcinic)

FORT LOUDON, Pa. - A benefit concert in honor of those who died aboard United Airlines Flight 93 in Somerset County on Sept. 11 will be held Saturday, Aug. 24, at the old fort site behind the Goldfish Barn in Fort Loudon. "Heroes Remembered" will be held from noon to midnight with eight bands performing rock, country and blues. All proceeds from the concert will go to the Somerset Flight 93 Memorial Fund. Flight 93 was one of the planes hijacked by terrorists on Sept. 11. It went down in Somerset County as passengers made phone calls to their loved ones from the plane, learned about the Trade Center and Pentagon attacks and attacked the hijackers.

 "American Idol" finalist Bucky Covington and others will perform a Cabin Fever benefit concert at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, Md. A family fun day will precede the concert from noon to 3 p.m. The concert will benefit Tri-State Zoological Park in Cumberland. Tickets cost $20 to $25. Call 301-759-0550 or go to www.woodsetter.com .

The Music Department at Smithsburg Middle School will hold its third annual benefit concert Tuesday, March 19, at 7 p.m. at Smithsburg High School. This year, concert donations will raise funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through the Special Events for St. Jude fundraising program. St. Jude is one of the world's premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases. The concert will feature performances by the Smithsburg Middle School Eighth Grade Band, Eighth Grade Chorus, and Festival Orchestra.  Each group will perform three selections they have prepared for the Washington County Large Ensemble Adjudication Festival held later that week.

Jason Kabler brought a guitar with him for his homecoming to Greencastle this weekend. The Nashville, Tenn.-based musician performed five shows in this region, including one at the American Legion in his hometown Sunday. There, the 38-year-old displayed his sound, which has evolved from rock to country to its current genre - whatever that is. Kabler laughed as he explained how an announcer recently described him as a pop/rock artist. “I said, 'I guess I'm no longer country,'” Kabler said.

When most music fans think of the mandolin, they usually think of bluegrass. But the stringed instrument is just as comfortable at opera as the Grand Ole Opry. In fact, Vivaldi wrote a concert for the mandolin and Mozart featured it in a serenade. And during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, it was the instrument of choice, arriving in the United States with European immigrants who held the mandolin in high esteem. Maybe it was the sound that made it so popular — distinctive, shimmering and ethereal.

1. Concert benefits Living Donor Clinic Living Donor Clinic benefit concert will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11, at Harmony United Methodist Church, 9455 Williamsport Pike, Falling Waters, W.Va. Nashville, Tenn., recording artists James Wesley, pictured, and Dustin Lynch will perform. Also silent auction featuring items signed by Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean and others. Suggested donation, $10. For tickets, call 304-274-1719. Proceeds benefit the University of Maryland Medical Center's Living Donor Follow-Up Clinic.

National Kitchen Garden Day Learn about the uses of herbs and vegetables by people in the 19th century for cooking and homeopathy. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. Pry House Field Hospital, Antietam National Battlefield, 18906 Shepherdstown Pike, Sharpsburg. Call 301-416-2395 or go to  www.civilwarmed.org . Civil War cinema “Gettysburg” will be shown. Rated PG. 1 p.m. today. Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, City Park, Hagerstown. Free. Call 301-739-5727, email info@wcmfa.org or go to www.wcmfa.org . Benefit concert A benefit concert for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Clare Domer's ballroom dance will be Thursday from 7 to 10 p.m. at Morris Frock Post 42 American Legion on Northern Avenue in Hagerstown. The event is open to the public.  Admission costs $5 per person. Benefit concert Smithsburg Volunteer Fire Co., 22 N. Main St. in Smithsburg, will hold a variety/rock benefit concert. The event will be an alcohol/drug free event.  It will be held at the Smithsburg fire hall Thursday, Jan. 26, from 6 to 11 p.m. Some of the bands performing include Next to Nothing, The Eleventh Hour, Your Favorite Coastline, Seasons and Coxey Brown.

Smithsburg Middle School held its 2012 geography bee Jan. 5. Alan Lopez took first place, the runner-up was Peyton Hahn, and Griffin Weaver took third place. The bee had 10 finalists. The other students who participated included Ryan Gordon, Dmitry Pobovreeva, Cassandra Li, Zachary Story, Noah Stottlemyer, Lars Davis and Mari Mullane. Financial peace Financial Peace University, the 13-week course taught by Dave Ramsey on DVD, will be offered at Smithsburg Valley Baptist Church,  at 12911 Bikle Road in Smithsburg.