Carol Crittenden Named Arts Advocate of the Year at the Season of Harmony Concert         

(L to R) Todd Wilson, Executive Director of The Nashville Singers., Inc., Jen Cole, Executive Director of the Metro Nashville Arts Commission, Carol Crittenden, Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator of Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS), Sloan Yarborough, President and Board Chair of The Nashville Singers, Inc. (photo by Lorin May)

To further perpetuate our philanthropic mission to enrich lives through the support of music education in our schools and the community, Nashville Singers has created the Carol Crittenden Arts Advocate of the Year Award to honor those who do exemplary work to support our mission. This award was named in honor of its first recipient, Carol Crittenden. She is retiring from Metro Nashville Public Schools after an illustrious 30-year career.  

From the podium on Saturday night, Carol Crittenden remarked,  

"Well first of all, I'm just beyond honored. Thank you so much. The old saying is it takes a village to raise a child. I can guarantee it takes a village to raise a musician. We do not come cheap, but we are worth every bit of it. And we are so grateful for partners like the Nashville Singers, who not only support us financially, but they support our children by being there to help train them. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."    

Carol Crittenden's Career Highlights:    

• Coordinator of Visual and Performing Arts, MNPS 
• 30 years in Metro schools - Began her career as a choral music educator and English teacher at Bellevue Middle School and Bellevue High School; She also taught at Dupont High School, Dupont Junior High School, Gallatin and numerous elementary schools as a Band Director and Choral music educator
• She holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Tennessee Technological University and a Master's degree in Administrative Supervision from Trevecca
• Developed and organized music festivals, art shows, community performances, MNPS Honors Middle and High School Bands, Middle and High School Orchestras and High School Choirs
• Developed and organized in-service day for visual and performing arts staff
• Liaison and grant writer with VH1 Save the Music; Liaison with Little Kids Rock and the New York City Metropolitan Opera Company
• Service on Advisory Boards of W. O. Smith School of Music, Nashville Symphony Orchestra
• Service on the Education Committees of the Frist Center for Visual Arts Education, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum; Nashville Symphony Orchestra; Sacred Space for the Performing Arts and Cheekwood Expo Committee
• Service on the Hospitality and Tourism Council with the Nashville Chamber of Commerce; Arts and Music Committee with the  Chamber of Commerce; Mayor¹s Council for Music Education
• Service on the Foundation Board of Directors for the Tennessee
  Arts Academy
• Chairperson of the Tennessee Coordinators and Supervisors for Visual and
  Performing Arts
• Director of the Nashville Institute for Visual Arts Education (professional
  development center for MNPS visual arts teachers on best practices in conjunction with the Frist Center)
• Conducted K ­ 16 meetings with Tennessee college executives in visual arts and music and the K ­ 12 visual and performing arts coordinators to work on student preparation for college and teacher preparation for classrooms
• Service on the MNPS Furniture committee for all new schools and met with the architects, etc. on facilities.    

Laurie Schell, Director of the Music Makes Us education project remarked, "Carol has been active at every level pertaining to the arts and arts education. Her sphere of influence has positively impacted countless children involved in the arts in Tennessee. She will be sorely missed."

Metro Arts Commission's Jen Cole Addresses Season of Harmony Crowd

Jen Cole, Executive Director of the Metro Nashville Arts Commission

Music Makes a Difference  Grant Presentations at the Season of Harmony Concert

(L to R) Jen Cole, Executive Director of the Metro Nashville Arts Commission, Carol Crittenden, Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator of Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS), Dr. Robin Shumate, Principal at Lakeview Design Center, Sloan Yarborough, President and Board Chair of The Nashville Singers, Inc., Franklin Willis, music educator at W.H. Oliver Middle School, and Todd Wilson, Executive Director of The Nashville Singers., Inc. (photo by Lorin May)

A Few Photos from Saturday's Concert 

by Lorin May


 

Lunch Break Goes Where Few Men Have Gone Before  

(L to R) Shane Scott, Eddie Holt, Mike O'Neill, K.J. McAleesejergins

Kudos to Sarah Beatty for a Marvelous Silent Auction   

You Asked. We Listened!

Open Rehearsals Planned at Middle Tennessee Colleges and Universities in 2013           

To enhance community outreach, membership development and to build awareness of the Nashville Singers Educator of the Future College Scholarship program, Nashville Singers will be holding a series of "open rehearsals" at college campuses across Middle Tennessee. Other dates are still in the works, but the first confirmed open rehearsal will take place at Lipscomb University from 7:00pm to 10:00pm on the evening of March 21, 2013. Kudos to Dr. Gary Wilson, Director of Choruses at Lipscomb University for making this event possible. Dr. Wilson also serves in the Nashville Singers advisory board.

This Day in Music        

November 19, 1964 - The Supremes (Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard) became the first all girl group to have a UK No.1 single when 'Baby Love' went to the top of the charts. Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland-Dozier-Holland, it was also the second of five Supremes songs in a row to go to No.1 in the United States.

Video of the Week    

Vance Perry - Don't Stop Believing - Acappella Multitrack