100 VSA AT THE RYMAN EVENT CELEBRATES POWER OF THE ARTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 2, 2006
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Lori Kissinger, 615-826-5252, or Amy Hall, 615-327-7999

Oct. 25th Concert Features Dove Award Winner Ginny Owens,
Pays Tribute to Tennessee Commissioner of Education Lana Seivers

(NASHVILLE)—The historic Ryman Auditorium will resound with the spirit of the arts when prize-winning singer Ginny Owens and other artists from Vision, Strength and Artistic Expression, also known as VSA arts Tennessee, take the stage for VSA at the Ryman at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25.
The concert, which is open to the public, will feature the talents of Dove Award winner Owens, Laura Dodd, Carol Ponder and Chris O’Brien—four acclaimed musicians who have not let their disabilities get in the way of their success, said Lori Kissinger, executive director of VSA arts Tennessee and an instructor for MTSU’s speech and theatre department.
The Oct. 25 program also will feature performances by Daniel Janvrin, Wes Heydel, Seth Link and Angela Mosley, winners of the VSA arts Tennessee Young Soloists Award.
Additionally, Kissinger noted, the evening also will honor Tennessee Commissioner of Education Lana Seivers, who has been a strong supporter of VSA arts Tennessee, which creates opportunities for people with disabilities to learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts.
A native of Gallatin, Kissinger said that VSA arts Tennessee, which was founded in 2000 as an affiliate of the Washington, D.C.,- based VSA arts International, will present Seivers with the 2006 VSA arts Tennessee Award of Excellence for an arts supporter during the concert.
“Seivers has been instrumental in securing state and federal funding for VSA arts, including a Challenge America grant from the National Endowment for the Arts,” Kissinger noted. “(And) she also helped arrange a performance for children with disabilities that will take place earlier on Oct. 25 at the Ryman.
Among the initiatives VSA arts Tennessee has launched are a statewide Arts in Education program supported by the Tennessee Department of Education, Kissinger said, and a statewide career forum for artists in partnership with the Tennessee Arts Commission.
Regarding the music-filled event, “VSA at the Ryman will be a night to remember—a night of extraordinary talent and inspiration,” Kissinger predicted. “Our goal at VSA arts is to ensure that everyone, no matter what their ability, has access to the arts.
“The Ryman Auditorium has helped launch some of the world’s greatest performers,” she added, “so we at VSA arts are delighted to celebrate the talents of our musicians on this stage.”
• TICKETS: Tickets to the Oct. 25 event are $20 and may be purchased online at www.VsaArtsTennessee.org or by calling 615-826-5252.
VSA at the Ryman is sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, Harman Becker Automotive, Nashville Metro Arts Commission, Publix Supermarket Charities, GAP, Memorial Foundation, Caterpillar Financial Services, First Tennessee Bank, White House Kiwanis Club and the Gallatin Lion’s Club.
—30—

ATTENTION, MEDIA: For more information about this event or its individual performers, please contact Amy Hall at 615-327-7999 or Kissinger ( userk7706@aol.com ) at 615-826-5252.