There are still tickets remaining for the Tusculum College Pioneer Jazz Band Valentine’s Day Dinner/Swing Dance benefit on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at the General Morgan Inn. The reception begins at 6 p.m. and dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. The event includes dinner and a performance of the Pioneer Jazz Band, along with special guests.
The Valentine’s Day event is a fundraiser to raise money for much-needed equipment for the entire Tusculum band program, according to David A. Price, director of music at Tusculum College.
“This will be our fourth year for this event and it has proven to be a popular and enjoyable way to celebrate Valentine’s Day,” said Price. “Each year we have had tremendous feedback on the quality of the food, as well as the fun of dancing the night away to the sounds of jazz standards.”
Ticket prices for the event are $55 per person or $400 for a table of eight guests. Both ticket and table purchases provide dance tickets, free dance lessons, an opening reception, dinner and a special dessert. Please call in advance to request a vegetarian substitution. A cash bar will be available and the Tusculum College Band Booster Club will be hosting a silent auction.
The deadline for ticket purchases is Friday, Feb. 10.
Dr. Bob and Christine Thorpe will teach dance lessons starting at 5:30 p.m. the night of the dinner dance. This year, in preparation for the event, the college is also featuring swing dance lessons on Thursday Feb. 9, in the Chalmers Conference Center in the Niswonger Commons on the Tusculum College campus. The lessons are free to anyone that has tickets and has signed up to attend the event or $10 per person for those who have not purchased tickets to the event.
Valentine’s Day dinner benefit tickets are available for purchase at the General Morgan Inn or by contacting Price at 423-636-7303 or emailing daprice@tusculum.edu. A hotel package special is also available by contacting the General Morgan Inn at 423-787-1000.
Contact Price for special table reservations for larger group seating.
The Pioneer Band Program at Tusculum College began in 2010, with the creation of the Pioneer Pep Band. The Pep Band quickly became a much-enjoyed feature of the 2010 Pioneer football and basketball seasons as it performed at the Pioneer Club tailgate parties before each home football game and during pregame and half-time festivities.
Since that auspicious beginning a concert band, jazz band, marching band, handbell choir and several small ensembles have been added to the college’s original band program. These groups perform on campus several times each year in addition to the community events at which they perform.
