This year, WHO-FEST and the Shaking Ray Levi Society have partnered with Very Special Arts (VSA) of Tennessee to present a number of talented local and regional performers who have overcome various difficulties to create their remarkable music.

Conductor Sandy Conatser leads the Blair School Dulcimer Choir, comprised of teenagers with autism, and Conatser will also present a workshop to explain her teaching techniques.

Award-winning vocalist Wes Heydel has performed for VSA at the Ryman, Country Music Hall of Fame, MTSU, and at other functions.

Lake Rise Place is a jazz trio featuring Elliott McClain, a 14-year-old pianist who is blind. Vocalist Amanda Stevens from Cottontown won second place in the 2008 VSA Arts TennesseeYoung Soloist program and has performed at Dollywood.

Several workshops will be featured at WHO-FEST, including an art workshop, dulcimer workshop with Sandy Conatser, dance workshop with Polly Curtis, movement workshop with Ann Shea, and a drum workshop with Eddie Tuduri, the founder of The Rhythmic Arts Project (TRAP).
Also, there will be a panel discussion with the topic of “Disabilities in the Arts.”

WHO-FEST PARTNERS: Allied Arts of Greater Chattanooga, City of Chattanooga Therapeutic Recreation Services, Inner Windows Therapeutic Massage, National Endowment for the Arts, Orange Grove Centers, Shaking Ray Levi Society, TN Arts Commission, The Rhythmic Arts Project, Winder Binder Gallery of Folk Art and the Who Ha Da Da Artist' Fellowship.


Scheduled Performances for Saturday May 23:

MAIN STAGE

11 AM-noon: Orange Grove Chorus

12 noon-1 PM: Little Bang Theory

1-2 PM: Kevin “KalimbaMan” Spears

3-4 PM: Blair Dulcimer Choir

4-5 PM: The Sure Shots / Jennie Knaggs

5-6 PM: Eugene Chadbourne and the Shaking Ray Levis

PAVILION (Saturday May 23)

10:30-11:30 AM: Art workshop

12 noon-1:30 PM: Drum workshop with Eddie Tuduri (The Rhythmic Arts Project)

2:30-3:00 PM: Dulcimer workshop with Sandy Conatser


Scheduled Performances for Sunday May 24:

MAIN STAGE

11 AM-noon: Amanda Stevens

12 noon-1 PM: Wes Heydel

1-2 PM: Lake Rise Place

2-3 PM: Envie

3-4 PM: Duet for Theremin and Lap Steel

4-5 PM: The River of Flavortaste

PAVILION (Sunday May 24)

11 AM-noon: Dance workshop with Polly Curtis

12 noon-1 PM: “Disabilities in the Arts” panel discussion

2:30-3:15 PM: Movement workshop with Ann Shea

WHO-FEST FOLK ARTS FESTIVAL May 23-24 Renaissance Park (North Shore), Chattanooga, TN 37405

THE SHAKING RAY LEVI SOCIETY P.O. BOX 21534 CHATTANOOGA, TN 37424 PHONE/FAX: 423.267.6688 WWW.SHAKINGRAY.COM WWW.MYSPACE.COM/SHAKINGRAYLEVISOCIETY

The Very Special Arts (VSA) of Tennessee presents "Who-Fest Goers" with a number of interesting workshops and displays, along with a panel discussion focusing on “Disabilities in the Arts.”