Or even let the kids stay up late for a fabulous benefit gala in Davidson NC (just north of Charlotte NC). Many folks who relocate to Charlotte ask what kind of cultural events are available-this is a prime example of the exciting opportunities in Charlotte-for both giving and receiving.
(If you didn't already know, VOX is the professional choral ensemble that I perform with-so if you show up, you can catch me after the show!)
Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 8:00pm:
The Firebird Arts Alliance, in collaboration with Central Piedmont Community College, present:
VOX
PRESENTS LIVE RECORDING / BENEFIT CONCERT:
"Vox & Friends"
Charlotte's newest professional choral ensemble, VOX, will present "VOX & Friends," a live recording / benefit concert at 8:00pm, on Saturday, February 23, 2008 at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Davidson, in support of Inspire the Fire, Inc., an inner-city, youth arts-training program.
Firebird Arts Alliance Artistic Director David Tang and Associate Artistic Director Peppie Calvar lead VOX in a program of spectacular contemporary choral music by composers like Edwin Fissinger, Duke Ellington, Astor Piazzolla, Stephen Leek, and more, to be included in VOX's debut CD - "Out of this World;" the program will also include spirituals, jazz and gospel music in celebration of Black History Month, performed in collaboration with some of Charlotte's best African-American musical artists.
Proceeds from the event will benefit Inspire the Fire, Inc.
Guest artist/collaborators include Ethel Beatty Barnes, Dennis Reed & G.A.P., Henry Lebedinsky and Catrina Pegues.
Ethel Beatty Barnes (http://fundraisingthruthearts.com/biography.html), star of Broadway stage and film, joins VOX in Duke Ellington's Come Sunday and other jazz/gospel favorites. Ms. Barnes performed leading roles on Broadway, opposite artists like Gregory Hines, and appeared in Martin Scorsese's The Cotton Club.
Dennis Reed & G.A.P., Charlotte's hottest new Gospel sensations (http://www.dennisreed.com/ or read about Dennis: http://www.nuthinbutgospel.com/spotlight_dennisreed.htm), recently performed with VOX and the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra in the CSO's Daybreak of Freedom performance, celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr., to thunderous ovations. Seriously, they're going to be on Oprah one day, so you should take advantage of seeing them now!
Catrina Pegues (http://catrinapeguesministries.net/) won the 2004 Charlotte Gimme the Mike-Charlotte competition and sings gospel and inspirational music throughout the region.
Henry Lebedinsky, Music Director of Music at St. Alban's (http://www.saintalbans-davidson.org/musicatstalbans.htm), appears as guest conductor of VOX, conducting an original work by Mr. Lebedinsky.
The performance will take place on Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 8:00 pm at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Davidson, NC (301 Caldwell Lane, Davidson, NC 28036 - http://www.stalbans-davidson.org/
Ticket reservations can be made by calling (704) 365-1661. Limited seats are still available, call today if you want to come tomorrow.
$20 - general admission / $12 - students and seniors
ABOUT THE FIREBIRD ARTS ALLIANCE: The Firebird Arts Alliance brings artists and artistic institutions together from all disciplines, to collaborate in innovative, commercially successful, and socially beneficial ways.Firebird will facilitate collaborations between artists of all disciplines as well as people of all races, religions, cultures and backgrounds, in order to inspire a community of respect, equality and creativity.
It's worse than the age old 'chicken or the egg' argument...since it affects how people perceive their biggest financial investment-their homes.
Which is correct-market value or tax value? 
Doesn't sound like a difficult question when I write it down, but it's an ongoing discussion with homeowners in Charlotte NC (and especially in Cabarrus County-Concord, Kannapolis, Harrisburg, in light of the recent property tax revaluation). Seems that in some parts of the country, tax values have some semblance of relation to market values.
Not so around here. And that's hard to accept for relocating families who see listing prices which are far off from tax values, and for homeowners who get new property tax assessments every few years (North Carolina requires a revaluation every 8 years so houses don't get too far out of whack).
There's just not a lot of science involved in determining your property's tax value. The lovely folks in the tax office aren't stupid-they're just overworked and understaffed to properly assign values in an area that's growing as quickly as Charlotte NC is.
The tax cards are notorious for having incorrect numbers of bedrooms and bathrooms, incorrect heated area, missing finished basements, missing screen porches, etc. The assessors also don't have their fingers on the pulse of neighborhood values, and may not be making adjustments for areas that aren't doing so hot.
Long story short, your tax value has NOTHING to do with your market value.
I received a call from a concerned gentleman last week, a lovely man who owns a home in Concord NC. He felt that his valuation was high. I spent a few minutes with him, establishing a reasonable market value range for him-which was far below his tax value. I explained that he could contact the county tax office and dispute his value (you have 30 days from the notice to protest the assessment).
He proceeded to tell me that if they would NOT reduce his tax value to meet my estimates, then he would go ahead and list the house and sell it for the tax value. Ahem. Kinda missed the point there, didn't he? I know it's hard pill to swallow when you see this lovely assessment and you've already started counting the money. But the market is fluid and buyers determine what your house is ultimately worth. I'm not saying that they're always wrong-far from it. But if the market range of your house is far below tax value-the fact that your tax value is higher is NOT going to make a buyer pay that much for it.
If this is confusing (as are most things dealing with county government and taxes), leave me a comment and I'll try again to explain. I'm always glad to help my neighbors here in the Charlotte area-and I will only provide the unvarnished truth!
Hurts, doesn't it? I got my love letter from the Cabarrus County Tax Assessor today as well.
Folks who live in Concord, Harrisburg, Kannapolis, Mount Pleasant, and Midland NC are feeling the pinch tonight. You see, in North Carolina, very often our tax values lag market values. It's the natural side effect of the amount of new construction in the area-the tax office can barely keep up with new builds, much less resale homes!
But the North Carolina general statutes try to keep the local counties in line by requiring that re-assessments occur at least every 8 years. (You know, market values can change a LOT in 8 years!).
So here we are. Letters arrived today at many households. And folks, the formula used to arrive at your tax value isn't perfect. You may find that the tax value is still below market value (celebrate the savings!), or you may find that the county thinks your home is worth more than a normal buyer would pay.
IF you find yourself in a position where you aren't sure of the validity of the number, and you'd like a professional opinion about the true value of your home, feel free to call or email Leigh Brown for some helpful information.
I'm a local homeowner, too, and I'm glad to help my neighbors!
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Cabarrus County (Concord,Harrisburg,Kannapolis) and Mecklenburg County (Charlotte), NC www.leighbrownandassociates.com
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