Howard County folk music enthusiasts don't need to leave the county to enjoy live performances in an intimate setting.

Every Thursday evening from September to May, the Folkal Point presents folk concerts in the upstairs room of the Coho Grill at Hobbit's Glen Golf Club in Columbia. The Folkal Point has presented live music since September 1989.

Each Folkal Point evening includes two performers. The opening act, lasting 20 to 30 minutes, often features a local performer. The main performer usually is a well-known member of the folk music circuit.

Elizabeth Perez, an Ellicott City resident and marketing director for a county high-tech company, has been a Folkal Point volunteer and performer for three years. She has been Folkal Point's opening act several times, and she recently released her first compact disc -- which was celebrated with a performance there.

Perez's songs express yearning, passion and everyday emotions. Her song "Tell Me" describes the difference between negative and positive thinking and is reminiscent of Woody Guthrie. "Angels" was written for Sherry and Steve Panzer, who encouraged her creative talents. Sherry Panzer is co-president of the Folkal Point.

The evening of Perez's recent performance at Folkal Point, singer-songwriter Tim Malchak of Hilton Head, S.C., performed ballads that vividly portrayed people and places. From "Augustine Lane," describing a street in his hometown of Binghamton, N.Y., to the lilting "Harbor Town" about Hilton Head, Malchak's songs captured the audience members and transported them to other worlds.

The chance to enjoy this type of experience locally is what Columbia songwriter Sue Trainor envisioned in 1989 when, with Joyce Sica and Chris Fox, she opened the Folkal Point at an upstairs room of Cacao Lane on Main Street in Ellicott City.

"We wanted a concert series like the Birchmere [an acoustic club in Alexandria, Va.] in our local area, where people could purchase food and drinks and get home at a reasonable hour. Our performers have included songwriters Bill Morrissey and Mary Chapin Carpenter, bluegrass banjo player Lynn Morris, and Celtic singer Grace Griffith," Trainor said.

In 1992, the Folkal Point moved to its present location.

Trainor recalled finding Susan Werner at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, bringing her to the Folkal Point and pairing her with African-American artist Vance Gilbert.

"Susan and Vance had similar backgrounds and interests, and became totally entranced with each other's music," Trainor said. "Everyone there was caught up in their emotion and passion as they played off each other. Evenings like that make the Folkal Point special."

In 1996, Sherry Panzer and Rod Smith became co-presidents of the Folkal Point, succeeding Trainor.

Smith, who handles technical responsibilities, is pleased with the opportunities that Folkal Point gives to rising local performers. "Many of our volunteers are also performers. We try to give them an opportunity to perform here at least once a year," he said.

One of the Folkal Point's biggest challenges was persuading people to pay for a concert, when they could see some of the same performers for free at a bar.

"We emphasized that the Folkal Point is a listening club, where there are no distractions, and more people began coming here," Smith said.

Sherry Panzer handles administrative responsibilities and co- ordinates bookings. "I try to balance individuals, duos, traditional, Celtic and singer-songwriters, although I confess to a preference for singer-songwriters," she said.

She recently achieved one of her visions for the Folkal Point: a second performance site with room for larger concerts, at Oliver's Carriage House in Columbia's Town Center.

The Folkal Point, which welcomes volunteers, is in the Coho Grill at Hobbit's Glen Golf Club, 11130 Willow Bottom Drive, Columbia. Thursday concerts start at 8 p.m. and cost $10 to $12. Information: 410-531-5350, 410-740-2096 or http: //www.serve.com/folkalpoint/.

Pub Date: 3/04/99