More events canceled due to COVID-19

The town of Wise is canceling events and Mountain Empire Community College is calling off its annual Mountain Music School because of virus concerns.

WISE

All town of Wise special events and recreation programs are cancelled through July 31 because of state-level restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Cancelling the events was a topic at town council’s May 26 meeting, according to Town Manager Beverly Owens. Cancellations include movie nights, concerts, the farmers’ market and use of the municipal swimming pool.

If there is a significant change in executive orders from Gov. Ralph Northam before July 31, council may revisit the decision, Owens explained.

MUSIC SCHOOL

MECC is cancelling the 16th Annual Mountain Music School, following the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for summer camps.

This is the first time in the program’s history that a cancellation has been required, a Monday press release notes.

Mountain Music School Coordinator Dr. Michael Gilley said the cancellation is “in the best interest of the health and safety of the students, faculty, and staff during this pandemic. We look forward to hosting Mountain Music School in July 2021.”

“The decision to cancel the 16th Annual Mountain Music School required much thought and consideration of the safety of our students, faculty and staff,” said MECC President Kristen Westover. "With those priorities in mind and the given constraints of the current pandemic, we simply cannot create the amazing interactive experience that has defined the program for 15 years. We do look forward to being able to deliver Mountain Music School in 2021.”

The weeklong event is dedicated to the preservation and continuation of Appalachian music and culture. Students from age 10 and up learn to play an instrument of their choice, including beginning and advanced options in old-time fiddle, clawhammer banjo, autoharp, guitar, mandolin, dulcimer, shape note singing and dog house bass. More than 100 students participate each year from all over the nation and world. The majority of youth students attend on scholarship.

The program, started by the late Sue Ella Boatright-Wells and musician Ron Short, was developed to preserve old-time music in Southwest Virginia. Since its inception in 2005, Mountain Music School has trained thousands of musicians in traditional old-time music, including instrumental instruction, dance and vocals.

Several Mountain Music School students have gone on to perform professionally and have played at venues including the White House, the Smithsonian Institute, the International Bluegrass Festival and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In 2019, MMS was named the recipient of a $15,000 grant from the Slemp Foundation to purchase new instruments for student instruction. The program has also received support from the Wise, Scott, Lee and Dickenson County boards of supervisors, Norton City Council, Auto World, Community Motors, the Mackie Family/Noteworthy Strings, the Mountain Empire Community College Foundation, the Papa Joe Smiddy Festival, the Cove Ridge Center, the Virginia Endowment for the Arts, Pro-Art and the Crooked Road.

For more information, please contact Gilley at 276/523-2400, ext. 304.