Monday, October 5, 2020

First Sunday Virtual Lecture: "Day of the Dead: Souls and Sweets" Hispanic Heritage Month Event


Thank you, Professor Audry Garcia, for yesterday's informative webinar on  Day of the Dead: Souls and Sweets.  

Presentation Outline:

This presentation addresses the culturally diverse origin of the Mexican tradition and the relevant role that food, particularly sweets and bread, plays in it.

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Audry GarcĂ­a is a native of Mexico City. She has been a faculty member at Kennesaw State University for the last 25 years. She enjoys researching and teaching socio-cultural aspects of Spanish speaking communities, and intercultural communication.

Sponsored by the Friends of Smyrna Library.

Sunday, September 27, 2020

Virtual Flute and Harp Recital with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Principals Christina Smith and Elisabeth Remy Johnson

Thank you for the wonderful recital today!

Recital Description: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Principals Christina Smith, flute, and Elisabeth Remy Johnson, harp, presented an afternoon recital. The online concert consisted of a wonderful flute and harp repertoire, both new and old. The composers include Joseph Jongen, Katherine Hoover, and Gabriel Faure. The audience was then able to ask questions, and hear introductions of the works by the performers.

Biographies:

Christina Smith is one of the most sought-after flutists in the country as an orchestral player, soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. The 2020-21 season is Ms. Smith’s thirtieth season as principal flutist of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and her solos can be heard on over 40 ASO recordings. She has also appeared with the orchestra numerous times as concerto soloist. After graduating from Interlochen Arts Academy, Ms. Smith studied at the Curtis Institute of Music as a pupil of the legendary Julius Baker. She has appeared as guest principal flutist with the Chicago Symphony, LA Philharmonic, the Vancouver Symphony, the Baltimore Symphony, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and the Pittsburgh Symphony. Ms. Smith’s longtime collaboration with ASO principal harpist Elisabeth Remy Johnson resulted in the 2008 release of a duet album entitled “Encantamiento.” Equally passionate about teaching, Ms. Smith serves on the faculty at Kennesaw State University and Emory University. She performs on a flute handmade in 1950 by Verne Q. Powell.  She is proud to be a Powell artist.

Elisabeth Remy Johnson has been Principal Harpist of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra since 1995. She gives solo and chamber music recitals throughout the U.S.A. and teaches at Emory University, Georgia State University, and Kennesaw State University. Ms. Remy Johnson is a graduate of Harvard University, Phi Beta Kappa, where she majored in Music and French. In addition to the ASO, she has performed as Principal Harp with the symphony orchestras of Boston, Houston, and Milwaukee, and the Grand Teton Music Festival. She has made numerous recordings with the ASO, as well as several solo and chamber CDs. In 2018, she and several ASO colleagues founded The Merian Ensemble, a chamber group dedicated to their “Listen: Works by Women” initiative, an annual series of concerts celebrating and commissioning chamber music composed by women. Ms. Remy Johnson was co-founder and artistic director (2000-2010) of the Urban Youth Harp Ensemble, serving students from the Atlanta Public Schools. She has received Atlanta's Channel Eleven Community Service Award, the TBS Pathfinder’s Award, and the Atlanta Business Chronicle's "Up & Comers Award.”

Saturday, September 26, 2020

FOSL Provides Grant for "Binge Box" DVD Sets


Just in time for Fall Break Week, the library is now offering "Binge Box" DVD sets. They were purchased with a grant from the Friends of Smyrna Library. 

Binge Boxes are 4 to 6 movies in one case with a similar theme. Sets include 80s classics, Marvel adventures, and Disney Princesses, just to name a few. Enjoy this fun new collection!

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

September is National Hispanic Heritage Month


Smyrna Library is celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month, and we hope you will too! The library has books, audiobooks and DVDs for you to explore and celebrate Latinx culture and history. Enjoy!

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Tribute for Friends of Smyrna Library First President, Lillie Wood



Lillie Wood was President of the Friends of Smyrna Library until Spring 2001. She was instrumental in establishing the foundation that enabled our group to succeed for over 30 years. Mrs. Wood passed away on June 20 at the age of 89.

We have added to a collection of books setup in her memory. Thank you to Clare Isanhour and the Bennett Woods neighborhood for your support for this memorial project.





Wednesday, August 12, 2020

Congratulations to the Adult Summer Reading Program Winners!


Congratulations to Nancy L., Jennifer V., and Erin C., for winning the three grand prizes in the C drawing. The Friends of Smyrna Library funded the Beanstack app that made an all-virtual Summer Reading program possible this year. 

Additional thanks to our friends at Cabot Creamery and Dairy Queen (Spring Road) for donating prizes.


Monday, August 3, 2020

Successful Virtual Summer Reading Program Concludes









And the final numbers are in! Way to go Smyrna Library Kids, that's a lot of reading. We hope you enjoyed using Beanstack, earning badges, and participating in all of the virtual programming this year. We know it was a very different Summer Reading Program than we've had in the past but we had fun and hope you did, too.