RMR-069: Jens Kruger, A Conversation with Composer of the Roan Mountain Suite

Posted on by October 2, 2016

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Jens Kruger, a conversation with Composer of the Roan Mountain Suite

Jens Kruger laughing. Photo by Wayne Ebinger

Jens Kruger laughing.
Photo by Wayne Ebinger

I had the great pleasure to learn how Jens Kruger began the process of composing the Roan Mountain Suite.

He immersed himself in learning all about the Roan. He knows the beauty, the history, and the people.

He appreciates the natural beauty and ecological uniqueness. He also has a great appreciation for the stories of the mountain

The real magic is how he combines all those impressions into music. Classical music. A classical music suite.

After the world premiere performance, the Roan Mountain Suite will be played in great music halls all over the world.

Like Jens says, a published picture of Roan Mountain
represents the Appalachians to the world.

Now his music will represent Roan Mountain to the world too.

Judy Murray commissioned this music to honor the beginning of the Roan Mountain preservation. And in memory of Stan Murray, founder of the Roan Highlands conservation efforts.

After hearing Jens, you will agree that Judy chose the right composer.

The World Premiere Performance of the Roan Mountain Suite will be at the Paramount Theater in Bristol, TN on October 15.

Click on the player above to enjoy hearing from Jens.

Roan Mountain Suite World Premier Performance with the Kruger Brothers

This is an amazing opportunity. Be a part of a World Premiere Performance!

LINKS:

tickets: Paramount Bristol.org

Google Map to the Paramount Theater, Bristol TN 

The Kruger Brothers website

More audio samples of the Kruger Brothers

Friends of Roan Mountain.org

FaceBook – Friends of Roan Mountain

 

RMR-068: Beyond Birding with Steven Hopp – a Fall Naturalists’ Rally Preview

Posted on by September 14, 2016

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Steven Hopp

Steven Hopp

RMR-068: Beyond Birding with Steven Hopp – a Fall Rally Preview.

Birders are good at making lists. Bird counts by year and bird count over a lifetime. But what about beyond the counting?

Beyond Birding is learning about the entire life of the bird. Go beyond the flitting seconds it takes to count it.

Steven has spent many years going beyond the count. Do you know if the bird you counted last year is the exact same bird that you counted this year? What has happened in the life of that bird since you counted it last year?

This is a fascinating concept that may add a lot more interest to your birding.

Listen to the preview with Steven. Click the play button above.

Special Bonus: Harvest Table Restaurant

Yes. I know this is not on Roan Mountain. But Steven Hopp is very multi-talented guy. In addition to being an expert on Beyond Birding, he is also the Director of the Meadowview (VA) farmers Guild and The Harvest Table Restaurant in Meadowview, Virginia.

Meadowview Farmers Guild  & Harvest Table Restaurant.
   
The Harvest Table Restaurant is a true Farm-to-Table dining experience. Be sure to check out the locally grown menus at the website: HarvestTableRestaurant.com

LINKS:

Fall Naturalists’ Rally – Sept 9-10-11 – brochure & registration

Kid’s Schedule for Saturday- Sept 10

Harvest Table Restaurant – Meadowview VA

Friends of Roan Mountain

Roan Mountain State Park – campground reservations

RMR-067: Mountain Bees and Sky Islands with Eric Rayfield

Posted on by July 15, 2016

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Mountain Bees and Sky Islands
with Eric Rayfield

Eric Rayfield - Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy - Roan Naturalist -2016Mountain Bee Adventure Leader, Eric Rayfield, studies high elevation bumble bees. He will lead the Mountain Bee Adventure at the Xtreme Roan Adventures, on Saturday, 30 July 2016.

Eric studies the genetics of the high elevation bees to determine if they are cross breeding with other mountain top bees. Or are they cut off by distance on their own “sky island”.  What a fascinating concept.

Click on the play button above to hear more from Eric. 

LINKS:

Xtreme Roan Adventures (a kid’s nature day) 

XRA schedule

XRA registration

Friends of Roan Mountain

Audio

RMR-065: Spring Naturalists Rally Preview with Liz Domingue

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Spring Naturalists Rally Preview
with Liz Domingue
Liz Domingue photo by Ann Clayton

Friday’s speaker for the Friends of Roan Mountain Spring Naturalists’ Rally, Liz Domingue will present-Butterflies and Familiar Moths of the Smokies.

As the founder and operator of Just Get Outdoors, Liz leads our guided interpretive hikes, Naturalist Adventure Outings in the Smokies and Naturalist Adventure Tours and conducts our environmental education programs for youths, adults, and fellow educators. She encourages awareness, understanding, enjoyment, and stewardship of our natural world.

Liz is an expert naturalists and has specialized in the Southern Appalachians.
She is an expert in leading hikes and tours for all ages, an accomplished nature photographer and a prolific nature writer for publications all over the south.

Her current project is a new Smokies field guide, “Butterflies and Familiar Moths of the Smokies”.

She is a very well traveled professional naturalist and can be contacted at JustGetOutdoors.com in the Smokies.

<Click> the player above to listen to a preview.

LINKS:

Just Get Outdoors.com

Spring Naturalists Rally – April 22-23-24 – brochure

Friends of Roan Mountain Spring 2016 Newsletter

Roan Mountain State Park – campground reservations