The Hickory Community Concert Association's first concert of the 2006-07 season will be 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28 at Lenoir-Rhyne College's P.E. Monroe Auditorium in Hickory.The concert will feature tenor Nathan Granner, a member of the Sony Classical trio, The American Tenors. The trio has appeared throughout the United States and Europe, and the group's self-titled CD reached the top five in the classical charts.

Season tickets for the concerts can be purchased for $45 for one person, $100 for two people and $250 for four. Single concert tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for students.

The well-known, "To be, or not to be: that is the question" from Hamlet translates to "I debate whether to be or not to be an avenger." And "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears" from "Julius Caesar" becomes "Friends, Romans, patriots, listen to me." Also translated are "Macbeth" and "Romeo and Juliet."

Each book provides a brief synopsis of the plot and action, a comprehensive listing of the characteristics, motivations and actions of each major player, and a character map showing relationships of major characters.

The analysis also includes a cycle-of-death graphic indicating who dies, when they die and how and why they die. The books end with questions to aid in understanding the plays' themes.

Author of nearly 100 textbooks and reference works, Snodgrass' literary honors include the American Library Association's Outstanding Reference Book award, a Choice magazine reference book award, and a New York Public Library award.

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute art instructor Jean Cauthen will take a group of 10 people to the Tuscany region of Italy May 19-26 to paint.All levels of experience are welcome. Students will paint hillsides overlooking vineyards and the cypress-dotted landscapes. Cauthen encourages completion of two or more paintings in a day as well as several more sustained art works.

The group will stay in a Tuscan country villa on a vineyard estate that has been in existence for hundreds of years. The farmhouse has a personal chef and is a short walk from the village of Vagliagli, a hamlet in the Chianti region of Italy, dating from 900 A.D. It has a cafe, grocery store, post office, restaurant and a church.

Cauthen graduated from James Madison University with an master's of fine arts in painting/drawing. She directs the art program at CCC&TI. She has exhibited extensively and won many awards for her oil paintings.

Cost of the trip is $1,500 and does not include air fare. The cost includes a shared double room in the country villa, daily traditional breakfast and dinner, including wine, daily painting classes, a guided tour of Siena and excursions to nearby towns for painting and sightseeing.

For details on the trip, contact Cauthen at jcauthen@conninc.com , or e-mail jeanc@cccti.edu . The workshop will be publicized nationally, so early sign-ups are essential.

She has a master's degree in viola performance and violin and viola pedagogy with a Suzuki emphasis from the University of Oregon and a bachelor's degree from St. Louis Conservatory of Music.

He is a graduate of East Carolina University and is studying for his master's degree at Appalachian State University. He has been a finalist in several major national and international guitar competitions.

Davidson and Kossler will teach individual, private and group lessons at the Suzuki School of the Arts, located at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 52 16th Ave., N.W., Hickory.

They will accept students from 3 to adult on a first-come, first-served basis. Lessons will start the week of Sept. 4. For details, call the school office at 828-322-2694.

The school has openings for violin, viola, cello, guitar and flute students. Lessons are available in Hickory and Morganton. Students receive private and group lessons and can participate in elective classes such as fiddle, theory and chamber music.

The school also sponsors a weekend Suzuki workshop every year, bringing in faculty from the United States and Canada. Workshop dates this year are Oct. 13 and 14 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 547 Sixth St., N.W., Hickory.

The NewArt School, a division of Newton-Conover Civic and Performance Place, needs instructors in jewelry making and design, dance, visual arts -- particularly painting, drawing, pottery as well as cooking.

The school offers group and private instruction in several arts genres for students of all ages and abilities. Teachers with experience in leading preschool arts programs also are needed.

Applicants should demonstrate mastery of their craft, have letters of reference from colleagues and students, and show a portfolio, if applicable.

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