ACTC-connected musicians to perform in annual Ashland concert

February 5, 2026

ASHLAND, Ky. – A former Ashland Community and Technical College professor, the son of a current ACTC faculty member, and a group of accomplished regional musicians will be featured in an upcoming concert celebrating both Appalachian and classical music.

The concert will take place Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, located at 1600 Winchester Avenue in Ashland.

The program will feature Max Jackson, an alumnus of Ashland Junior College and retired faculty member of Ashland Community College. 

Jackson earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration in organ from Georgetown College, along with advanced music degrees from the University of Kentucky and Southern Methodist University.

He taught music at Ashland Community College for more than 30 years, where he conducted choral ensembles and served as music director for the college’s theatre productions. 

His academic career also included teaching appointments at the University of Kentucky and Georgetown College. In addition, Jackson has served as an organist and choir director at churches throughout Kentucky, North Carolina, and Ohio, and currently serves as organist at First Presbyterian Church in Ashland.

Also performing will be Calvin Riggs, son of ACTC faculty member Dr. Mark Riggs. 

Riggs holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Piano Performance from Marshall University and currently holds a position as organist and pianist at Beaumont Presbyterian Church in Lexington.  He also serves his community as a full-time EMT. 

For more information about the concert, contact Bettie George Frye at bettiegeorge.frye@kctcs.edu.

 

Written by Malaya McKinney