BSCTC announces the 2010-2011 Big Sandy Singers

Big Sandy Community and Technical College (BSCTC) announces the 2010-2011 Big Sandy Singers. The Big Sandy Singers are the elite, student singing group who are all students at one of the four BSCTC campuses (Pikeville, Prestonsburg, Paintsville, Hager Hill) or on the Morehead Extended Campus at BSCTC. These students are chosen through an extensive audition process and receive scholarships to attend college.

The Singers were founded in the Fall of 2004 by Director Laura Ford Hall and BSCTC President Dr. George Edwards, with help from Provost Dr. Nancy Johnson. Since their inception, the Singers have performed over 400 shows and have brought a go to college and drug free message to over 18,000 elementary and high school students across the eastern Kentucky region with their school show and Big Sandy Idol programs.

I am very excited about this upcoming year, said Hall. We have a very talented, wonderful group. More than anything, I am so proud that all of these excellent singers are from right here at home. You will not find better talent anywhere than what you will find in eastern Kentucky.

In addition to Hall, the group is served by Technical Director Timothy Cooley of Prestonsburg and Assistant Director Clayton Case of Betsy Layne. The group is sponsored by Jennifer Reynolds State Farm Insurance of Crossroads Plaza, Pikeville.

The Big Sandy Singers sing all over Pike, Floyd, Johnson, Martin, and Magoffin Counties for civic, church, and business functions as well as perform at elementary schools and in high schools as they host the Big Sandy Idol shows. The new singers are already booked for several shows including serving as featured entertainment for the Habitat for Humanity Fundraiser at the Eastern Kentucky Expo Center on Sept. 26, as well as opening for bluegrass artist Charlie Sizemore at the Mountain Arts Center on Sat. Sept. 25. The group is already booked for a Christmas Show and Dinner at the Breaks Interstate Park on Dec. 17.

The Big Sandy Singers are currently recording their new album which will include favorites such as an a-capella version of Journeys Dont Stop Believing, We are the World, Little White Church, an a-capella version of Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Make the World Go Away, the Crabb familys Through the Fire, and many more country, bluegrass, pop, and gospel favorites. To order Singers albums or learn more about the group visit www.bigsandysingers.com.

The Big Sandy Singers are now taking bookings for the 2010-2011 year and are available to sing at business events, community functions, or private parties. The Singers also perform for free to churches and non-profit organizations and for a minimal fee for for-profit businesses. To book the Big Sandy Singers, call Hall at (606) 424-2498 or email laura.hall@kctcs.edu.

Pictured are The Big Sandy Singers (seated, from left) Rachael Hayes of Eastern, Chesi Spriggs Dingus of Paintsville, Brittany Parker of Paintsville, (standing) Rhonda Alley of Inez, Erin Conley of Salyersville, Dustin Newsome of Inez, Assistant Director Clayton Case of Betsy Layne, Brandon Lafferty of Inez, Brennan Case of Betsy Layne, Ryan Shepherd of Salyersville, Sarah Adams of Liegon, and Director Laura Ford Hall of Pikeville. Not pictured are Technical Director Timothy C. Cooley of Prestonsburg and member Candace Preece of Inez.