Arts & Entertainment
The Kids Are Alright: Roxford University Holds Winter Concert on Thursday

Henry Milton, Anders Moreton, and Tripp Horne of the Roxford University band Laser Monkey Light Picture Show rehearse for Thursday night’s concert.
The future of rock-and-roll is in good hands, judging by the lineup for Roxford University’s Winter Showcase 2017, to be held at 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 14, at the Lyric Theater.
Musicians ranging in age from eight to 14 years old will rip and romp through vintage tunes in a concert presented by Oxford’s own school of rock.
“The music is all rock and pop, with versions of songs ranging from Queen to Van Halen and Bob Dylan,” said Tad Wilkes, Roxford’s director. “The kids have been working on their performances since mid-August, and this concert is the finale of our fall semester.”
Additional reading: Check out interviews with the parents of Roxford University musicians here.
Four bands will take the stage, including the memorably named Laser Monkey Light Picture Show (ages 8-10), consisting of Anders Moreton (keyboard), Tripp Horne (guitar), Carter Wilkes (drums) and Henry Milton (vocals).
Also on the bill are the Buddy Sprites (ages 10-12), featuring Jack Hill (guitar), Max Hill (drums), Everhett Van Every (guitar) and Silas Caldwell (bass) as well as The Volume (ages 12-14) with Augusta Scruggs (vocals), Tyler McGuire (guitar and vocals) and Murphy Grace Smith (guitar).

Singers Elise Waldrop (left) and Alice Wilkes practice with their group, the Rug Ratz.
In the 7-8 age range, the Rug Ratz features Latham Laws (drums), Olivia Cate Sherman (keyboard), Elise Waldrop (vocals) and Alice Wilkes (vocals).
Other performers will include Emery Kate Schneider, Ryder Hayden, Tacie Mott, Jefferson Davis and Tyler McGuire.
Carter and Lydia Myers founded Roxford and enlisted Wilkes as director. Wilkes, a singer-songwriter who performs under the stage name Moon Pie Curtis, works with local gigging musicians to teach the students various instruments and prepare them for semester-ending concerts in the spring and late fall.
Roxford University returns for its spring semester Jan. 15. For more information, email Wilkes at tad@roxu.org.
Rick Hynum is editor-in-chief of HottyToddy.com. Email him at rick.hynum@hottytoddy.com.
