1) 19th Century Compositions for Guitar Rescheduled for Feb. 20
Guitarist James Buckland and pianist Karen Wisser Buckland will present a free recital Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. in Broyhill Music Center’s Recital Hall at Appalachian State University. Admission is free. The event has been rescheduled because of winter conditions predicted for the original concert date of Feb. 13. The musicians will perform 19th-Century compositions for guitar and piano. Buckland is an adjunct professor of guitar at Presbyterian College. He received his training at the University of Toronto, the University of Akron and the University of South Carolina. He conducted post-doctoral research on 19th Century performance practice at the Accademia Internazionale della Musica in Milan. As a guest clinician, Buckland has lectured and performed at the Guitar Foundation of America Convention, the Great Lakes Guitar Festival, the Symposium on Guitar and Improvisation and the Guild of American Luthiers Convention. He premiered his reconstruction of the “Second Concerto, Op. 36, for Terz Guitar and String Orchestra” by Mario Giuliani with Sinfonia de Camera. A luthier, Buckland builds guitars primarily in the 19th Century style, using original tools, materials and techniques. Karen Wisser Buckland is an associate professor of music and director of keyboard studies at Presbyterian College. She is the artistic director of the annual Presbyterian College Piano Clinic and the Orval Oleson Performance Competition. She holds degrees from Mansfield University and the University of South Carolina. Active as a soloist and collaborator, adjudicator and guest lecturer, Buckland has performed throughout the Southeast, Pennsylvania, Washington, Alaska and Canada. She is cofounder, with her husband, James, of Ludlamshöhle, a chamber ensemble dedicated to 19th-century music.
2) Beech Mountain Banked Slalom Returns Feb. 22
Beech Mountain Resort’s Banked Slalom Race returns on Saturday, Feb. 22. Running in conjunction with the third annual 80s Weekend, this is an event you don’t want to miss. The unique course will feature turns, banks, doubles, jumps and snow berms. Competitors will be timed, with a requirement to hit gates along the course. The entry fee is $15 and discounted lift tickets are available to contestants through Group Sales. Pre-registration is available at Recess or Edge of the World between Feb. 15 and Feb. 21. Race day registration will be held in Roots Ride Shop, located in the Beech Tree Village, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. The event begins at 1 p.m. Beech Mountain Resort’s Banked Slalom Race is sponsored by RECESS, Edge of the World, Skull Candy, SMITH, LIB Tech, GNU, Armada, One Ball Jay, Dakine and Spacecraft.
3) NCDMV to Hold Public Meeting on Proposed Changes to Driver Tests
The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles is proposing changes to regulations regarding driver license tests. The changes would help to shorten wait times at offices and make the process more efficient for customers subject to testing requirements. NCDMV will hold a public hearing on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 5 p.m. in Raleigh to receive input regarding the changes. The proposed changes would remove the written test requirement for applicants with a valid, unexpired driver license issued by another state. Additionally, the new rules would extend from one year to two years the period of time an applicant’s license can be expired before he or she must take the full examination. These new rules would modernize NCDMV’s licensing requirements and bring them into conformity with the majority of other states. The hearing will be held at Chavis Park Community Center, 505 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Raleigh. An opportunity for oral comments will be provided after a formal presentation. Written comments may be submitted by fax at 919-733-9150 or by mail to APA Coordinator, 1501 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1501. Oral comments may be submitted by calling 919-707-2800 and asking for the APA coordinator. Comments on the proposed amendments will be accepted through March 17.