Tim Moon’s students shine in first part of his annual Talent Showcase

ASHEBORO — Asheboro music teacher Tim Moon has so many talented students that it takes more than just one evening to showcase their talent. The first installment of Tim's Talent Showcase was held at Sunset Theater in downtown Asheboro on Oct. 20.

Prelude music was provided by the local gospel group Locust Grove, who entertained for 30 minutes prior the official start of the event. The band consists of Tim Hayes on guitar/vocals, Sam Routh on bass/vocals, Charlotte Routh on mandolin/vocals, Linita Hinshaw on banjo and CR Hinshaw on guitar/vocals.

The first performer of the evening was Anna Shelton picking banjo on “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and a gospel medley of “I’ll Fly Away” and “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.” She was accompanied by her music instructor Moon on guitar and his son Nolan on bass.

Gospel music continued with an ensemble that featured Robert Headan on bass, Tim on electric guitar and Nolan on drums with 82-year-old Charles Roper, Ricky Price and Tim on vocals singing “Just a Little Talk with Jesus,” “People Get Ready” and “It’s Gonna Rain.”

The third act was the Cooper sisters: Elizabeth on mandolin and Abigail on fiddle. The teens played “Wildwood Flower” and “I'll Fly Away.”

Next up was Liam Tysinger on guitar picking a blues selection “I’d Rather Go Blind,” a gospel tune “All My Hope” and a Merle Haggard ballad “Silver Wings.” Then Moon's son, Nolan, picked up the banjo and accompanied by dad on guitar, played a jazz piece, “Autumn Leaves.”

Next, the Hayes brothers with Arthur on mandolin/guitar and Alex on bass/guitar were joined by their grandfather,Tim Hayes and the Moons with Tim on guitar and Nolan on banjo. They played “Wagon Wheel,” “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Crying Holy” and “The South's Gonna Do It Again.”

They were followed by 10-year-old guitarist Tobyn Beshears, who played “Johnny B. Goode” and an original piece entitled “Fake Hero” accompanied by the Moons (Tim on guitar and Nolan on bass). Tobyn then transitioned to drums and performed “Wipeout.”  

Then the Asheboro Hybrid Middle School Band took the stage. The ensemble played “House of the Rising Sun” featuring a powerful rendition by 12-year-old Meade Ainsworth on lead vocals. Tim then took the mic to sing “Country Roads” and “Sweet Home Alabama” while the school band accompanied him. Meade followed with “Amazing Grace” and Tim concluded their segment with “Wagon Wheel” and “Old Time Rock & Roll” which featured guitar, keyboard, violin, bass and drum solos. Students performing were: Meade Ainsworth and  Joslyn McLemore on violins, Caleb Lucas on lead guitar, Joseph Goad, Bethany Cagle, Ella West and Tyler Kearns on guitars, Addie Lewis and Addyson Rowe on keyboards, Brenigan Elia and Ella Rowe on drums and Johnny Gullion on bass.

Following the AHMS Band, 11-year-old Jackson Sedberry picked both banjo and guitar on “I Saw the Light.” Then he played “Dueling Banjos” on the five-string with Tim battling him on guitar. 

Roy Henley, 82, from Biscoe played dulcimer accompanied by his instructor on guitar. The pair performed three well-loved hymns. Next, brother and sister duo, Jack and Emma McCarthur, on guitar and fiddle respectively, played a few tunes with Tim on guitar and Nolan on banjo including a jazz version of “I've Been Working on the Railroad,” an instrumental version of “Sweet Georgia Brown” and ended with Emma singing “Oh, Atlanta.” 

Then Greg Abernathy fingerpicked guitar on “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” and flat-picked “Old Joe Clark.”

He was followed by the mother-daughter duet of Jennifer Purvis on mandolin and Katherine on fiddle with Tim on guitar and his son on banjo. They performed “Carolina in the Pines” with Tim and Jennifer on vocals, the instrumental “Cluck Old Hen,” and concluded by letting the fiddle show off with “Orange Blossom Special.”

The next performers were guitarists: Tyler Derah and his 7-year-old grandson Christian, nicknamed Johnny Cash after taxes. The youngster belted out “Folsom Prison Blues” and then his grandpa played “East Bound & Down” and “Matterhorn.”

“Next is a student who has been on the stage with me many times and known by many locals, Mr. Brandon Shepherd on guitar and vocals with help from Caleb Lucas on keyboard,” Moon said. He accompanied on bass and Nolan on percussion and the quartet performed Eric Clapton's “Layla,” George Michael's “Careless Whisper” and Ray Charles' “What I Say.”

Last, but certainly not least, was Asheboro Hybrid’s High School Band featuring Amy Gay on lead vocals, Caleb Lucas on guitar/keyboard, Nolan Moon on guitar/keyboard/drums, Mason Smith on saxophone, Johnny Gullion on bass and Austin Elia on drums with their instructor, Tim Moon, on vocals and guitar.  This group opened with Gay singing an awesome version of Dolly Pardon's “Jolene” and John Hartford’s “Gentle on My Mind.” Tim sang an Eagles’ favorite, “Peaceful Easy Feeling.” and a gospel number, “I Just Want to Thank You, Lord.” Gay returned to sing an Alison Krauss favorite, “When You Say Nothing at All” and ended the show with a new country song, “Heart like a Truck.”

“It went great!” Moon said. “This show was a huge success with over 300 in attendance! Thank you all!”

Part Two of Tim’s Talent Showcase will be held on Friday, Nov. 17, at the Sunset Theatre in Downtown Asheboro.