Tim Moon’s Talent Showcase, Part 1

Tim Moon and his teenage son, Nolan, showcased many of their students in a 2 1/2-hour recital in the Sunset Theatre on Oct. 18. 

From youth to seniors, beginners to seasoned students, the evening highlighted their efforts on a menagerie of musical instruments. The elder Moon served as master of ceremonies and accompanied all the acts on acoustic guitar. His son was utility man of the evening, switching from banjo to guitar to bass, backing not only his dad’s students, but several of the Asheboro Hybrid High School student’s own pupils. 

Both Moons serve as musical instructors at Evans Music Center on South Fayetteville Street in Asheboro. Tim recognized the business’s owner, 88-year-old, Richard Evans, who was in attendance for the musical showcase. “He’s in the store every day and has been in business since 1978,” Moon said of his employer.

The night of eclectic music began with the Moons showcasing a four-song set by longtime students the McArthur siblings: sister Emma on fiddle and vocals and brother Jack on acoustic guitar. The quartet opened with two instrumentals, “Devil’s Dream” and “Cherokee Shuffle.”  Emma sawed away on the fiddle and Jack added smooth guitar work on the latter tune. Then Emma belted out a mino -tune, “Working on a Railroad”, and concluded with an Alison Krauss song, “Oh, Atlanta” with Jack adding tasteful guitar breaks.

Next Uwharrie High School senior Jaydon DeNamur took the stage to accompany the Moons on guitar and performed three well-known songs: “Let It Be” by the Beatles, the Eagles’ “Take It Easy” and Chris Tomlin’s “Amazing Grace, My Chains Are Gone.”

He was followed by more youth with Ariana Davis playing fiddle on “Boil Them Cabbage Down” and “Amazing Grace.” Then new student Ben Bruce, who had only taken six lessons, picked “Cripple Creek” and “Amazing Grace” on the five-string banjo.

A sister act performed next with Abigail Cooper on fiddle and Elizabeth Cooper on mandolin playing “Faded Love” and “Foggy Mountain Breakdown.”

Then it was time for Nolan to feature a couple of his own students. First was David Bailey performing “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” and “When the Saints Go Marching In” on banjo. Nolan explained the significance of the second tune. “While his father was in the hospital, David sang this song as he passed away. This song is presented in his memory.”

Next Brayden Cesaro picked the five, playing “Little Cabin Home on the Hill” and “Shucking the Corn.”

Then it was back to Tim’s students with an ensemble featuring the Hayes brothers with 12-year-old Arthur on guitar and 10-year-old Alexander on upright bass. Their PawPaw, Tim Hayes, joined the Moons on stage to back up his grandsons on guitar. First, Arthur sang “Blue Ridge Cabin Home.” Prior to the tune, Tim announced, “Both boys are recipients of High Lonesome Strings scholarships. Arthur picks this tune on the guitar Tony Rice-style.”

After a few more songs, the boys switched instruments with Arthur picking up the mandolin and Alexander plugging in an electric bass to perform a rousing version of “Old Joe Clark.”

At midpoint in the student showcase, Asheboro Hybrid Middle School took over the stage. Students (Meade Ainsworth and Laylah Williams on fiddles, Emma Sweat and Brenagan Elia on drums, Jackson Cook on keyboard, Joseph Goad, Eli Ball and Emma Fonner on guitars) played several songs with Tim including “Sweet Home Alabama”, “Wagon Wheel” and “Smoke on the Water.” The ensemble had only been playing together for six weeks.

They were followed by 16-year-old Liam Tysinger. He sang and played the guitar on “Poncho and Lefty.” He continued by singing Charlie Daniels’ “Long-Haired Country Boy” in drop D on the guitar. Tim invited Liam’s mom, Julie, to sing with them on the last number, “Because He Lives.” The trio sang the final chorus a cappella.

Next, Greg Abernathy picked guitar on “Come Thou Fount”, “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” and “There Is a Fountain.”

Then it was time for a couple more of Nolan’s students. Joseph Burgess, a lefty, played guitar on “Clinch Mountain Backstep” and “Country Roads.” Emilia Lora, who shared that she grew up in New Mexico, played three tunes on the guitar: “C Blues”, “Rock Me Mozart” and “Wildwood Flower.”

Asheboro Hybrid’s High School Band performed next. The ensemble featured powerful vocals by Bekah Bost (guitar) singing Don Williams’ “Tulsa Time” and Meade Ainsworth (fiddle) singing Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” to start their set. Bekah also sang “Brand New Key.” They were backed by hot drumming by Austin Elia. “We call him Animal (from the Muppets),” Tim teased.

Also performing were Bethany Cagle, Emma Fonner and Joseph Goad on guitars with Nolan on bass. Tim recognized Emma’s father, who will begin an 18-month military deployment to the Middle East.

The band played several other tunes and ended with a duet between Tim and Bekah of “How Great Thou Art.”

They were followed by the impressive electric guitar work of young Tobyn Beshears. He played “Crazy Train”, “The Thrill is Gone” and an original composition, “Goodbye.” 

Jennifer Purvis performed next. She sang “Broken Road” and picked “Cluck Old Hen” and “Shady Grove” on the mandolin.

The evening of talent concluded with the guitar work, both acoustic and electric, of Rodney Neal and his son, Aaron. They performed “Wanted Dead or Alive” and “You Really Got Me.”

Tim thanked his wife, Amy, for her assistance backstage and James for running the sound. Tim’s Talent Showcase Part 2 will be held on Friday, Nov. 15, at the Sunset Theatre.