Local Happenings

Mary Munsey coordinates a variety of other programs n our area. She continues in retirement  to direct The Virginia Highlands Old Time String Band (which she developed at the local community college, where she taught). She is the Music Coordinator for the Virginia Highlands Festival which occurs annually the last week of July in Abingdon, Virginia, and she provides individual lessons for instrumentalists and vocalists. As a result, there are some local events that deserve some recognition. If we can get recordings (audio or video) of these events, we are happy to share them.

Virginia Highlands Festival

In 2026, the nation celebrates 250 years of independence. This prompted Mary Munsey to develop a 250-year celebration of Music featuring some local musicians.

Step into a musical journey across 250 years of American sound! This program celebrates the rich traditions that have shaped our nation’s cultural identity—from the haunting tones of the Native American flute to the storytelling roots of Scotch-Irish and English ballads.
Sunday, July 26: 3-5pm — Sinking Springs Presbyterian Church
Travel through history with broadsides, Revolutionary and Civil War songs, spirituals, parlor music, gospel, Tin Pan Alley favorites, Broadway classics, blues, old-time, and folk traditions—each a thread in the fabric of America’s unique voice.

Please enjoy this nearly complete video (13.1Gb) of that program which occurred at Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church on July 26th from 3-5:00pm.

We would like to thank Steve Hawkins for his very fine narration. If you would like to follow along, here are the notes.

Following are the individual tracks of the full video referenced above (without narration and listed as Title – Performer):

1. Katie Bairdy – Sandra Parker
2. Storms over the Ocean – Mary Munsey / Sandra Parker
3. Soldier’s Joy – Highlands String Band
4. Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier – Mary Munsey / Joel Brame
5. Amazing Grace (line-out/shape-notes) – Mary Munsey / Highlands String Band / Audience
6. Guide My Feet – Mosaic Choir
7. Beautiful Dreamer – Eugene Wolf
8. Lorena – Eugene Wolf / Jason Settle / Barbara Walton
9. Bugles (Civil War Era)– Dr. Matthew Frederick
10. Camptown Races – Highlands String Band / Audience
11. Hard Times – Sandra Parker / Mary Munsey
12. What a Friend We Have in Jesus – Highland String Band / Audience
13. Lord, Help Me to Hold Out – Mosaic Choir
14. Charleston – Tri-cities Jazz Orchestra 8
15. Sweet Georgia Brown – Tri-Cities Jazz Orchestra 8
16. Someone to Watch over Me – Tri-Cities Jazz Orchestra 8
17. Back in Your Own Back Yard – Tri-Cities Jazz Orchestra 8
18. All of Me – Tri-Cities Jazz Orchestra 8
19. Summertime – Mary Munsey and the Tri-Cities Jazz Orchestra 8
20. You Are My Sunshine – Highlands String Band / Audience
21. Cripple Creek – Highlands String Band
22. Take the A Train – Tri-Cities Jazz Orchestra 8
23. There Will Never Be another You – Tri-Cities Jazz Orchestra 8
24. Taking a Chance on Love – Tri-Cities Jazz Orchestra 8
25. You Make Me Feel so Young – Tri-Cities Jazz Orchestra 8
26. Tennessee Waltz – Mary Munsey / Highlands String Band
27. Time after Time – Tri-Cities Jazz Orchestra 8
28. Teach Me Tonight – Tri-Cities Jazz Orchestra 8
29. Fever – David & Ann Ledgerwood / Mary Munsey
30. Blowing in the Wind – David & Ann Ledgerwood / Eugene Wolf / Sandra Parker
31. Never Ending Song of Love – David & Ann Ledgerwood
32. The Crawdad Hole – Highlands String Band / Audience
33. Fly Me to the Moon – Tri-Cities Jazz Orchestra 8
34. On the Street Where You Live – Tri-Cities Jazz Orchestra 8
35. Till There Was You – Tri-Cities Jazz Orchestra 8 (partially recorded)
36. America – Audience (not recorded)

On the program, you will find references to the performers. Here is a highlight for them in order of appearance.

The Highlands Stringband is comprised of (L-R): Jason Settle (fiddle), Barbara Walton (guitar), Mary Munsey (director), Lisa Roberts (bass), Michael Jenkins (banjo), Joel Brame (Appalachian dulcimer).

On some pieces, we feature some local dancers.

David Winship is our “flat-footer.”

Ashby Dickerson and Kelly Sheehan are our ballroom style dancers.