(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - August 1, 2016) - - - Celebrating its fifteenth season, Columbia State is pleased to announce the 2016-2017 First Farmers Performance Series lineup, which showcases a variety of musical talent.

"This year's lineup is outstanding and sure to please music lovers of all ages," said Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president. "We are very appreciative of the many patrons who support the Series and express our gratitude to First Farmers Bank for their commitment in service to this community and the college as the long-standing title sponsor."

Opening the Performance Series Sept. 29 is John McEuen, Les Thompson and Family. Join host John McEuen, founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, (with his banjo, guitar, fiddle and mandolin) and company to learn about the magic time, when three generations came together, genres merged and one of the most iconic records came to life. McEuen joins forces with a cast of fine players that includes former founding NGDB member Les Thompson, as they share the music, stories and memories of the iconic Will the Circle Be Unbroken album and how The Carter Family music converged with their own.

Columbia State welcomes The Time Jumpers featuring Vince Gill, Kenny Sears, "Ranger Doug" and Paul Franklin to the Cherry Theater Nov. 3. Tap any member of multi Grammy nominated The Time Jumpers on the shoulder and the face that turns to greet you will be that of one who's made major contributions to the richness and vigor of country music. The Time Jumpers started as an assemblage of high-dollar studio musicians who wanted to spend some spare time jamming with their sonically gifted buddies. The notion of building a rabidly devoted following was the last thing on their minds. But that's what happened. Pretty soon Monday nights were sounding a lot like Saturday nights - and drawing commensurately lively crowds.

Christmas with the Annie Moses Band takes the stage Dec. 1. Warner Classics artist, the Annie Moses Band, has been inspiring and entertaining audiences for over a decade. A captivating blend of folk and classical, the Annie Moses Band is a talented ensemble of songwriters, singers, musicians, and siblings combining technical skill with exhilarating showmanship. Not coincidentally - because each specializes in specific instruments, they fit together neatly as a unit. Just listen to their album, "This Glorious Christmas", whose blend of chamber strings, soaring vocals, and infectious rhythms transform the familiar songs of the season into pure excitement.

Scott Mulvahill performs Feb. 16. As a teenager, Scott picked up the bass guitar on a whim. After uncovering his musical talent, he also began to explore guitar, piano, and singing, and eventually discovered his love for songwriting. Since then, he's shared the stage with some of the greatest artists of modern music - Ricky Skaggs, Alison Krauss, Barry Gibb of the BeeGees, Bruce Hornsby, Brad Paisley, Peter Frampton, Steven Curtis Chapman, Emmylou Harris, and many more. He's a full-time member of Ricky Skaggs' band Kentucky Thunder, and has received honors from the International Songwriting Competition.

Sierra Hull performs on March 16. Sierra Hull has been recognized from age 11 as a virtuoso

mandolin-player, astonishing audiences and fellow-musicians alike. Now a seasoned touring musician nearing her mid-20s, Hull has delivered her most inspired, accomplished, and mature recorded work to date; no small feat. With instrumentation comprised largely of mandolin, bass, and vocals, this is genre-transcending music at its best. Hull speaks eloquently, in her challenging and sensitive originals, her heartfelt vocals, and once again breaks new ground on the mandolin.

The Columbia State Commercial Entertainment program's spring musical is the capstone performance April 20. Past shows include The Little Mermaid, Seussical, Shrek The Musical, 9 to 5, Cats, and Grease.

Individual tickets go on sale Aug. 18 and are $30 for adults and $20 for students. To charge tickets by phone using a major credit card, call (931) 540-2879 or purchase them in person in Room 113 of the Pryor Administration Building on the Columbia Campus Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and all performances begin at 7 p.m. in the Kenneth and Ramona Cherry Theater, located in the Waymon L. Hickman Building on the Columbia Campus. The Columbia Campus is located at 1665 Hampshire Pike in Columbia.

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Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, one of the largest higher education systems in the nation. For more information, please visit www.ColumbiaState.edu.

Tennessee's Community Colleges is a system of 13 colleges offering a high-quality, affordable, convenient and personal education to prepare students to achieve their educational and career goals in two years or less. We offer associate degree and certificate programs, workforce development programs and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. For more information, please visit us online at tncommunitycolleges.org.