Master Class

 Visiting dance artist Katherine Ferrier will teach a dance improvisation master class from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 16,  at the War Memorial Building, 102 E. German St., Shepherdstown. The class, "Embodied Democracy," encourages participants to build community through the practice of paying attention, culminating in the ability to make conscious choices in relationship to others, the environment and sound. The cost is $10. Ferrier, an international teacher and performer based in New Hampshire, is performing during Goose Route Arts Collaborative's Performance Cafe on Friday, June 15.  For more information, call 301-693-5303 or email goose.route.arts@gmail.com .

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. -- It wasn't the 100-plus people in the audience that made Patrick Weikle nervous Saturday as he sat down at the piano. It was the audience of one sitting beside him. Weikle, a senior piano major at West Virginia University, was one of three students who participated in a master class with world-renowned pianist Leon Fleisher at Shepherd University. "I was terrified. I never get nervous for performances, but when I walked up, my knees were literally shaking," Weikle said.

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.VA. - It wasn't the 100-plus people in the audience that made Patrick Weikle nervous Saturday as he sat down at the piano. It was the audience of one sitting beside him. Weikle, a senior piano major at West Virginia University, was one of three students who participated in a master class with world-renowned pianist Leon Fleisher at Shepherd University. "I was terrified. I never get nervous for performances, but when I walked up, my knees were literally shaking," Weikle said.

The following were the winners in Saturday's ROCS Classic/Norwalk Soap Box Derby in Martinsburg, W.Va.: Master class - Garrett Kysar Super-stock class - Cody Brindle Stock class - Haley Pitzer

It might be standing room only again this year for the Hancock Arts Council's popular fundraiser, "An Evening in Hancock. " Arts Council President Sinclair Hamilton said tickets are almost gone. So, if you plan to attend, be sure to call right away to make your reservation. This year's event is planned for Friday, April 15, at the Park-n-Dine Restaurant, and the lineup features some favorite repeats such as Ann Knox's poetry and the Arts Council Band, but adds some new faces as well.

Cedar Lawn Missionary Church, West Washington Street, Hagerstown, Reunion will bring its Southern gospel music ministry to the 10:30 a.m. service this Sunday. St. John's Episcopal Church, Hagerstown, Ken Cowan, concert organist from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J., will perform a recital at 7 p.m. this Sunday. He will present a master class for area organists at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 21. Call 301-733-2560, ext. 108. River of Life Ministries, Rufus Wilson Road, Clear Spring, Four His Glory Ministry, the Rev. Tim and Elizabeth Cawton from Moundsville, W.Va.

'Laramie Project' auditions set in Pa. GETTYSBURG, Pa. - Gettysburg Stage is holding an audition for roles in its April production of "The Laramie Project. " Some roles were cast during summer auditions, but men and women, ages 18 to 70, are welcome to try out. Auditions will start at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 3, at the Keefauver Center, 157 Lefever St. in Gettysburg. Directions are at www.gettysburgstage.org. Rehearsals begin Tuesday, March 20, and show dates are April 13, 14, 20 and 21. The director is Pamela Hurlbert.

1. Land of Khan The Kiwanis Club of Hagerstown will present "Mongolia, Land of Genghis Khan" hosted by Buddy Hatton. at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, at South Hagerstown High School, 1101 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. Part of Travelogue series. $10; $5 students. Proceeds will help the Kiwanis Club of Hagerstown support activities of charities in Washington County. For information or tickets, call 301-739-1981. 2. Gnarly, dude 180 Skate Shop, 39 Kelly Island Road, Martinsburg, W.Va., will host a 1031 skateboard demo at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, at  Berkeley County BMX/Skate Park, Free.

BOONSBORO - When Dondi Ellis had to choose a musical instrument to play in middle school, he decided on the piccolo. His music teacher said that the piccolo's high-pitched sound could break glass, and Dondi thought that was cool, he said. But the piccolo isn't an instrument for beginners, so Dondi started playing its larger cousin, the flute. Six years later, the 17-year-old junior at St. Maria Goretti High School, practices his flute four hours a day and hopes to attend a music conservatory after graduation.

In rooms with dimmed lights, standing atop yoga mats, exercise enthusiasts in the Tri-State area are getting fit from the inside out. Flowing through moves inspired by tai chi, yoga and Pilates, they are participating in a multifaceted workout created in 1998 in New Zealand and introduced earlier this year at Gold's Gyms in this area. "This is a proven formula," says Kat Marshalleck, group fitness manager and a personal trainer at Gold's Gym in Hagers-town, in describing Body Flow.

Mid Maryland Performing Arts Center is hosting two hip-hop dance master classes on Saturday, Feb. 9. The classes are open to the public and taught by Fel Justin Cortez. A class for intermediate/advanced level dancers (ages 12 to 18) is from 12:45 to 2 p.m., and a class for beginner/advanced beginners (ages 10 to 16) is from 2 to 3 p.m. The cost for either class is $18. Registration is required by calling 301-694-5105.  The classes will be at MMPAC's Frederick studios, 5901 Enterprise Court, Frederick.

Is your green thumb itching to try something new? Do you love to learn and share what you know? Then you could be a master gardener.  Master gardeners are volunteer educators. They teach people safe, effective gardening techniques through plant clinics, talks, demonstration gardens and other activities.    Trained by University of Maryland experts, master gardeners grow their gardening know-how through 40 hours of classroom training. They learn about everything from botany to bugs, pruning to propagation and weeds to wildlife.   Applications are being accepted for the Master Gardener Class of 2013.

 Visiting dance artist Katherine Ferrier will teach a dance improvisation master class from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 16,  at the War Memorial Building, 102 E. German St., Shepherdstown. The class, "Embodied Democracy," encourages participants to build community through the practice of paying attention, culminating in the ability to make conscious choices in relationship to others, the environment and sound. The cost is $10. Ferrier, an international teacher and performer based in New Hampshire, is performing during Goose Route Arts Collaborative's Performance Cafe on Friday, June 15.  For more information, call 301-693-5303 or email goose.route.arts@gmail.com .

1. Land of Khan The Kiwanis Club of Hagerstown will present "Mongolia, Land of Genghis Khan" hosted by Buddy Hatton. at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, at South Hagerstown High School, 1101 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. Part of Travelogue series. $10; $5 students. Proceeds will help the Kiwanis Club of Hagerstown support activities of charities in Washington County. For information or tickets, call 301-739-1981. 2. Gnarly, dude 180 Skate Shop, 39 Kelly Island Road, Martinsburg, W.Va., will host a 1031 skateboard demo at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, at  Berkeley County BMX/Skate Park, Free.

It might be standing room only again this year for the Hancock Arts Council's popular fundraiser, "An Evening in Hancock. " Arts Council President Sinclair Hamilton said tickets are almost gone. So, if you plan to attend, be sure to call right away to make your reservation. This year's event is planned for Friday, April 15, at the Park-n-Dine Restaurant, and the lineup features some favorite repeats such as Ann Knox's poetry and the Arts Council Band, but adds some new faces as well.

Is your green thumb itching to try something new? Do you love to learn and share what you know? Then you could be a Master Gardener.   Master Gardeners are volunteer educators. They teach people safe, effective gardening techniques through plant clinics, talks, demonstration gardens and more.    Trained by University of Maryland experts, Master Gardeners grow their gardening know-how through 40 hours of classroom training. They learn about everything from botany to bugs, pruning to propagation, and weeds to wildlife.

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.VA. - It wasn't the 100-plus people in the audience that made Patrick Weikle nervous Saturday as he sat down at the piano. It was the audience of one sitting beside him. Weikle, a senior piano major at West Virginia University, was one of three students who participated in a master class with world-renowned pianist Leon Fleisher at Shepherd University. "I was terrified. I never get nervous for performances, but when I walked up, my knees were literally shaking," Weikle said.

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. -- It wasn't the 100-plus people in the audience that made Patrick Weikle nervous Saturday as he sat down at the piano. It was the audience of one sitting beside him. Weikle, a senior piano major at West Virginia University, was one of three students who participated in a master class with world-renowned pianist Leon Fleisher at Shepherd University. "I was terrified. I never get nervous for performances, but when I walked up, my knees were literally shaking," Weikle said.

FREDERICK, Md. -Concert pianist Robert Durso will perform a recital of masterworks in the Romantic piano repertoire at 8 p.m. Friday, March 28, at Frederick Community College's Jack B. Kussmaul Theater, Opossumtown Pike. Durso will be joined in concert by violinist Stephanie Jeong. Durso will lead master classes on the Taubman/Golandsky Approach to Pianism from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 29, in FCC's Fine Arts and Student Center, F Building, Room 109. The concert is free; however, reserved tickets for the class cost $20 and should be purchased by Monday, March 10. Tickets for the class plus lunch cost $30. At the door, tickets for the class will cost $25. For information, call Pat Franz at 301-663-6197 or e-mail pfranz@frederick.