Holiday 2000 Newsletter

HAPPY HOLIDAYS from the Director
December 27, 2000

This communication serves as a rare end-of-the-year report, holiday greetings and a bit of personal news. First, the report:

Thanks for your support this year. We have produced six Texas music coffeehouses at Schreiner University, a showcase of local musicians at the annual Easter Festival, a jazz concert in June at the Point Theatre and one in October with the Lions Club at the Cailloux Center on the Schreiner Campus, and a huge Texas Heritage Living History Day and Tribute to Jimmie Rodgers in September at Louise Hays Park. Whew…a lot of projects for a group of volunteers!

Over 1,000 students and teachers participated in the Living History Day. Thanks to local support, business donations and foundation grants we were able to supply an educational package to every group attending, to provide bus grants for rural schools, to pay all thirty of the performers and to underwrite transportation for the various museum presentations. New sponsors joined us (Cowboy Artists of America Museum, Meredith Fund, Bert Winston, Crenwelge Motors, Big Earls' BBQ, K-Mart, Community Foundation of the Hill Country, Jackson Foundation, Luby's, Kerrville Health and Food), and the regular's kept on supporting us (Wolfmueller's Books, James Avery, Wells Fargo, Hill Country Café, Ricks Furniture, Patrick's, Chili's, Greengrocer's Deli, Taco Casa, Choo Choo's, Cricket's, Y.O. Ranch Hotel, Jim Morris, Culligan Water, Budweiser (a founding sponsor), Mini Mart, Dr. Pepper, Family Sports Center, H-E-B, Ranch Radio, Inn of the Hills, Hillcrest Inn, Buzzie's Bar-B-Q, Kerrville Daily Times, Schreiner University, 5 K Laser, A.C. Print, Randy Scroggins and Kerr Business).

We may be small and local, but we provide this community with stories and songs as other ways of learning. More than just preserving Texas heritage and music, we also support the possibility that telling stories and singing songs make a difference in the world and in this community.

Remember, we have many multi-media presentations on various aspects of Texas music. I've spoken at the various service clubs, led Elderhostels,  as well as participated in training volunteers for the literacy program. Just call 367-3750 and ask for Kathleen. Or check out our website at www.texasheritagemusic.org

On a personal note:  my book, TELLING STORIES, WRITING SONGS:  An Album of Texas Songwriters is now available from UT Press in Austin. Many of the interviews in this book took place at the Kerrville Folk Festival or at THMF events. Call 1-800-252-3206 to order (paperback or hard cover). I want to thank all the performers over the years who gave their time to participate in this oral history project. The book contains 34 interviews; another 200 more are archived in the THMF office, in space donated by 5 K Laser. The collection has been donated to the new Institute for the History of Texas Music in San Marcos and will be transferred there this spring.

Upcoming events: Coffeehouse dates include Jan. 17 (Lady Jane Gray), Feb. 21, March 21, and April 11 (Indian music with Oliver Rajamani and friends). Schreiner University will host a Texas Writers Conference on April 17 or the 24^th featuring Texas songwriters. Call 792-7409 for details. I'll go on tour promoting the new book this spring. Look for local signings. Rod Kennedy's new radio show airs in March on the Internet. Many of the songwriters in my book will be featured.

Another Texas music moment,
Kathleen Hudson

More Newsletter Archives:
Summer 2000