Holiday programs at the Transylvania County Library include a storyteller, a music
concert, and a popular lecturer. Storyteller and performer Michael Reno Harrell will present A Blue Ridge Holiday on Monday, December 9 th at 6:30 pm. The Bag Lunch program on December 17th will feature Musicke Antiqua in Concert at 12 noon and later that same day at 7:00 pm, Dr. Elliot Engel returns for “Master of Mayberry: The Miraculous Life of Andy Griffith.” All programs are free and made possible by the Friends of the Library. On Monday, December 9 th at 6:30 pm award-winning storyteller and singer/songwriter

Michael Reno Harrell returns to the Library to present a concert celebrating the holidays and the people of the Blue Ridge. Born and raised in the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, Harrell’s natural knack for storytelling, in print, song and spoken word has earned him praise from not only the music community but from the literary and storytelling worlds as well. He has been a Featured Teller at the National Storytelling Festival as well as a Teller-In-Residence at the International Storytelling Center, and has performed at major music events like MerleFest and the Walnut Valley Festival. Along with his performances, Michael often conducts workshops in songwriting and storytelling.
On Tuesday, Dec. 17 th at 12 noon, Musicke Antiqua presents their winter program,

Christmas Renewed for the December Bag Lunch Arts program. The program features
traditional holiday music arranged for replicas of early instruments, including recorders,
crumhorns, percussion instruments, violas da gamba, and harpsichord. Musicke Antiqua
musicians perform in costume and offer historically informed live performances and
educational programs designed to inspire appreciation of early music and support its study. Musicke Antiqua began as a recorder trio in Brevard, NC, in 2001, and now includes 13 members from western North Carolina.
Later that same day, Dr. Elliot Engel presents “Master of Mayberry: The Miraculous Life of Andy Griffith” beginning at 7:00 pm. While it is true that he was a brilliant movie and Broadway stage actor, Andy Griffith is a Hollywood immortal because of The Andy Griffith Show which ran from 1960 to 1968 on television.  Professor Engel not only analyzes Andy’s astonishing early life which led to his television triumph, but he also reveals little-known fascinating facts about the show’s production and its enduring and endearing fame. Dr. Engel is an award-winning teacher, author and performer who travels around the world lecturing on a wide variety of literary topics. He has taught courses at Duke, North Carolina State and UNC – Chapel Hill. He is also the recipient of North Carolina’s Adult Education Award and the Victorian Society Award of Merit. The program will last approximately one hour. As Engel is always a popular speaker, early arrival is recommended to guarantee a seat. Doors to the Rogow Room will open at 6:15 pm.

For more information about any of the programs, call the Transylvania County Library at
884-3151.