2011 Fall Lunch Music Archive with Slideshow

For the archive, here is the Fall 2011 schedule for A Little Lunch Music at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Embedded at right is a Flickr slide show of pictures from this season. At the time of this post, I haven't quite gotten all of fall's pictures up.

Among other things, this was the season that we introduced performance sponsors and were visited by international concert saxophone pioneer James Houlik.

Here's an interview of me by Kyle Gassiott for Troy Public Radio's Community Focus from fall 2011.

 

Fall 2011 Schedule

September 1: pianist Dr. Joshua Pifer
~Sponsored by Haygood, Cleveland, Pierce, Mattson and Thompson

September 8: The Woodfield Trio
~Sponsored by Ursula's Catering and the Museum Café

September 15: clarinetist Gary Smith with pianist Nicole Agostino
~Sponsored by Haygood, Cleveland, Pierce, Mattson and Thompson

September 22: saxophonist James Houlik with pianist Vahan Sargsyan
~Sponsored by Eugene and Phyllis Stanaland

September 29: Student mixed recital featuring pianists Tzu-yi Chen and Julia Tucker and the AU Chamber Choir
~Sponsored by Charles and Melanie Wright

October 6: pianist Tzu-yi Chen
~Sponsored by an anonymous friend

October 13: AU piano students perform Franz Liszt
~Sponsored by Ardistry Hair Studio

October 20: four-hand pianists Helene Burkart and Bill Summerville

October 27: The Fountain City Ensemble
~Sponsored by Nicholas and Carolyn Davis

November 3: The Woodfield Trio

November 10: cellist Laura Usiskin with violinist Peter Povey
~Sponsored by Bill and Josie Walsh

November 17: Recorder-Flute Duets: Mary Olson and Patrick McCurry

November 24: Thanksgiving holiday (no performance)

December 1: pianist Nicole Agostino and flute-cello duo Patrick McCurry and Charles Wright
~Sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Wick Watkins

December 8: Cellist Dr. Lisa Caravan and pianist Dr. Jeremy Samolesky
~Sponsored by Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. - Mr. Grant Haygood

December 15: pianist Mary Slaton
~Sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Wick Watkins 



Performance Details

Thursday, September 1, 12-1 PM
Sponsored by the law firm of Haygood, Cleveland, Pierce, Mattson and Thompson, LLC (website)
A Little Lunch Music at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art presents an informal, free concert by pianist Dr. Joshua Pifer. Dr. Pifer recently became the Lecturer in Piano at Auburn University. He has served at Florida State University, Wittenberg University and Miami University. Having performed as a soloist in four continents, he is a founding member of the Oto Trio, including internationally acclaimed artist Chikuen Kato and the music of Japanese composers. He commissions and premieres works and is an advocate for the piano music of Alexander Tcherepnin.

Dr. Pifer is involved as teacher and performer with numerous groups including the Orfeo Music Festival in the Italian Alps, The National Conservatory of San Salvador, University of California Santa Barbara and many others. He was president of the Santa Clara Valley branch of the Music Teachers Association of California and adjudicator at various festivals and competitions. He also helps pianists who have suffered injuries from excessive tension in their playing.

Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, Dr. Pifer completed his bachelors degree in pre-medicine, piano, and organ from Wittenberg University. He earned his Masters degree from Miami University, and in 2009 graduated from the University of Southern California with honors and a Doctorate of Musical Arts.

The Museum Café will be open as usual serving gourmet food for less than $10, and the fine art exhibitions at the museum are free. Contact Colleen Bourdeau at cbourdeau@auburn.edu or Patrick McCurry at patrick@luncharm.net for more info. Address is 901 S. College St., Auburn.


Thursday, September 8, 12-1 PM
Sponsored by the Museum Café and Ursula's Catering (website)
A Little Lunch Music at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art presents an informal, free concert by The Woodfield Trio (www.woodfieldtrio.com). Made up of Patrick McCurry on woodwinds, Charles Wright on cello and Barbara Acker-Mills on piano, The Woodfield Trio will perform works by composers such as Bruch, Bolling, Bach, Handel, Mozart, Clementi, Haydn, Beethoven and others. The Museum Café will be open as usual serving gourmet food for less than $10, and the fine art exhibitions at the museum are free. Contact Colleen Bourdeau at cbourdeau@auburn.edu or Patrick McCurry at patrick@luncharm.net for more info. Address is 901 S. College St., Auburn.


Thursday, September 15, 12-1 PM
Sponsored by the law firm of Haygood, Cleveland, Pierce, Mattson and Thompson, LLC (website)
A Little Lunch Music at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art presents an informal, free concert by Montgomery Symphony clarinetist Gary Smith and pianist Nicole Agostino. In addition to his symphonic duties, Mr. Smith sits in on saxophone with big bands like the Auburn Knights and the Montgomery Recreators. He loves chamber music. In real life, he manages the Prattville office and the e-commerce operations of American Klassic Designs. He lives in Prattville with his wife Diane and two sons. The older son, George, is starting on alto sax this year, and his younger son, Nathan, plays the guitar, so there is very little quiet time at his house.

Nicole Agostino is a doctoral candidate in piano performance at Florida State University. She holds a Master of Music and a Bachelor of Music both in performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. An active soloist and chamber musician, Nicole has performed several recitals across the northeastern, midwestern, and southern states. In the spring of 2011 she toured as a guest artist giving recitals and lectures across the southeast on J. S. Bach's Goldberg Variations and has recently recorded the work. In addition to performing, Nicole also maintains a busy teaching schedule. As a graduate assistant at both FSU and IU, she taught applied lessons, class piano, and several music theory lectures. During the summer of 2008, she held a piano faculty position at the renowned Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan. Nicole’s primary teachers include Read Gainsford, Karen Shaw, and Galina Gertsenzon.

The Museum Café will be open as usual serving gourmet food for less than $10, and the fine art exhibitions at the museum are free. Contact Colleen Bourdeau at cbourdeau@auburn.edu or Patrick McCurry at patrick@luncharm.net for more info. Address is 901 S. College St., Auburn.


Thursday, September 22, 12-1 PM
Key Performance Sponsored by Eugene and Phyllis Stanaland
A Little Lunch Music at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art presents an informal, free concert by internationally acclaimed concert tenor saxophonist James Houlik with pianist Vahan Sargsyan.

James Houlik has been critically acclaimed around the world as the preeminent saxophonist. He has introduced the unexpected beauty of his instrument wherever open ears seek a refreshing new voice. He performs with many of the world's great orchestras, most often performing music that has been composed for him by such composers as Morton Gould, Robert Ward, Russell Peck, Eric Ewazen, and many more. His concerto recordings have helped to set a new standard of saxophone performance, prompting The London Daily Mail to recognize him as "The World's Great Saxophone Virtuoso." He has appeared in the major music capitals of the world, including orchestral performances in Brazil, The Netherlands, Germany, Taiwan, Portugal, Italy, South Africa, Turkey, and many more. With a combination of engaging repertoire and compelling artistry on an already popular instrument, James Houlik serves up dependably exciting performances. (website)

"His playing is technically secure, his tone is big and cello-like, and musicianship is never in doubt. Houlik is as good a classical saxophonist as one is likely to encounter." - American Record Guide

Armenian pianist Vahan Sargsyan holds graduate and post degrees from Yerevan Komitas State Conservatoire where he studied with Elza Tandilyan and his father, renowned pianist Villi Sargsyan. He was awarded Second Prize in the International Competition in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and he was also winner of the Pittsburgh Concert Society Auditions as a soloist and in two chamber music categories. Mr. Sargsyan has performed as soloist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and is regularly seen at the orchestra's keyboards. He is staff pianist and chamber music coach at Carnegie Mellon University.

The Museum Café will be open as usual serving gourmet food for less than $10. To make a lunch reservation or to place an order for a to-go lunch off of the regular menu beforehand, call Chef Ursula anytime at 821-9921 or the Café at 844-7016, Tuesday - Friday, 11 AM - 2 PM.

The fine art exhibitions at the museum are free. Contact Colleen Bourdeau at cbourdeau@auburn.edu or Patrick McCurry at patrick@luncharm.net for more info. Address is 901 S. College St., Auburn.


Thursday, September 29, 12-1 PM
Sponsored by Charles and Melanie Wright
A Little Lunch Music at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art presents an informal, free concert featuring students from Auburn University and Columbus State University. Dr. William Powell will lead the Auburn University Chamber Choir in a partial preview of its concert on October 3 at 7:30 PM at Auburn First Baptist Church. Also performing will be student pianists Julia Tucker from AU and Columbus State University's Tzu-yi Chen.

Tzu-yi Chen earned a Master's degree at Karlsruhe Music University in Germany and also studied at the National Superior Conservatory of Paris for Music and Dance. She has performed recitals throughout Taiwan and has appeared in radio and television broadcasts in Hong Kong and Germany. She has performed with groups such as the Taipei Symphony Orchestra, the National Taiwan Symphony, the Saint Petersburg Symphony Orchestra and the Utah Symphony Orchestra. Among her awards are first prize at the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra Piano Competition (2007), first prize at the International Piano Competition of Mauro Paolo Monopoli in Italy (2001), and fourth prize at IX Darmstadt International Chopin Piano Competition in Germany (2009). Tzu-yi is currently working on her Artist Diploma at Columbus State University where she studies with Alexander Kobrin.

The Chamber Choir was established in fall 2008 as the premiere choral ensemble at Auburn University. Under the direction of William Powell, the group has represented the university at New York's Carnegie Hall, in northern Italy, and as an invited ensemble for the prestigious Alabama Music Educators Conference. The 40-plus member group consists of students from throughout the university who represent a variety of majors and disciplines. They perform advanced choral literature including Renaissance madrigals, multi-movement masterworks, spirituals, jazz, and works by current composers.

Julia Tucker is an auburn native and a junior majoring in economics and piano performance under the study of Dr. Jeremy Samolesky. She is assistant organist and scholarship singer at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church in Auburn and choir accompanist at Trinity Lutheran Church. She also sings renaissance polyphony.

The Museum Café will be open as usual serving gourmet food for less than $10, and the fine art exhibitions at the museum are free. Contact Colleen Bourdeau at cbourdeau@auburn.edu or Patrick McCurry at patrick@luncharm.net for more info. Address is 901 S. College St., Auburn.


Thursday, October 6, 12-1 PM
Sponsored by an anonymous friend
A Little Lunch Music at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art presents an informal, free concert featuring pianist Tzu-yi Chen from Columbus State University.

Tzu-yi Chen earned a Master's degree at Karlsruhe Music University in Germany and also studied at the National Superior Conservatory of Paris for Music and Dance. She has performed recitals throughout Taiwan and has appeared in radio and television broadcasts in Hong Kong and Germany. She has performed with groups such as the Taipei Symphony Orchestra, the National Taiwan Symphony, the Saint Petersburg Symphony Orchestra and the Utah Symphony Orchestra. Among her awards are first prize at the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra Piano Competition (2007), first prize at the International Piano Competition of Mauro Paolo Monopoli in Italy (2001), and fourth prize at IX Darmstadt International Chopin Piano Competition in Germany (2009). Tzu-yi is currently working on her Artist Diploma at Columbus State University where she studies with Alexander Kobrin.

The Museum Café will be open as usual serving gourmet food for less than $10, and the fine art exhibitions at the museum are free. Contact Colleen Bourdeau at cbourdeau@auburn.edu or Patrick McCurry at patrick@luncharm.net for more info. Address is 901 S. College St., Auburn.


Thursday, October 13, 12-1 PM
Sponsored by Ardistry Hair Studio
A Little Lunch Music at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art presents an informal, free concert featuring Auburn University student pianists from the studio of Dr. Jeremy Samolesky. This will be a preview of their upcoming recital on October 25 commemorating the 200th birthday of Franz Liszt. Performers will be Hunter Hayes, Julia Tucker, Alex Luk, Angelyn Traylor, Christina Kettering, Christina Fallows, Nicki Mazaheri and Rachel Robinett.

Hunter Hayes is a sophomore at Auburn currently pursuing his degrees in Piano Performance and Finance. Originally from Northeast Florida, Hunter began piano at the age of three under Alba Abrahamson. At eleven, he began taking lessons with Tugce Tari, a renowned Turkish pianist who has appeared in concerts throughout the country. Hunter has competed in various piano competitions in the southeast, earning his highest distinction at the age of 16 when he received the Steinway Scholarship from the Jacksonville Steinway Society. Hunter is also a member of Auburn track and several other campus groups.

Julia Tucker is an auburn native and a junior majoring in economics and piano performance under the study of Dr. Samolesky. She is assistant organist and scholarship singer at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church in Auburn and choir accompanist at Trinity Lutheran Church. She sings renaissance polyphony and enjoys drinking coffee and solving puzzles.

Alex Luk from New Rochelle, New York, currently studies piano performance at Auburn with Dr. Samolesky. He has studied with Dr. Robin McCabe and Craig Sheppard at the University of Washington Piano Summer Festival. He started playing piano at age ten, studying with Roslyn Tobey and Anna Mi Lee. From eighth to twelfth grade he attended an all-boys military boarding school in New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania, and is currently enrolled as a cadet in Auburn's Army ROTC.

Angelyn Traylor is a junior at Auburn working toward a combined degree in vocal and instrumental music education with piano as her primary instrument. She is a member of the Honors College and has been inducted into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and Mortar Board Society. Angelyn serves as a Music Department Ambassador and is the pianist for the Symphonic Winds. In addition to playing the piano, Angelyn enjoys singing with the AU Chamber Choir and serving as a piccolo section leader in the Marching Band.

A sophomore at Auburn University and a Florida native, Christina Danielle Kettering divides her time between English and piano performance majors. She is heavily involved in outreach to international students who are far from home, in a very rigorous academic program and under a lot of stress. She helps them with English and hosts events that make them feel welcome and wanted. She describes herself as having more ideals than ambition, though without specific career goals, she is confident that God has a purpose for her passion.

Christina Fallows is currently a sophomore in piano performance at Auburn. She is from Belton, Texas, and has played since 1998. She has won the Central Texas Music Teacher's Association (TMTA) Sonata Festival and placed at the district level in the TMTA Student Affiliate Performance Contest. Last year, she was one of two to receive Auburn’s John Williams Tamblyn Endowment Scholarship in music through audition. When not practicing, Christina is involved with Reformed University Fellowship, a campus ministry, and the college ministry of First Baptist Church in Opelika.

An Auburn native, Nicki Mazaheri began studying piano at age eight. Her teachers were Karen Hickok and Virginia Barry. Now a junior at Auburn University majoring in piano performance, she studies with Dr. Samolesky. She has received the school's Kay Reynolds Beaty Endowment Scholarship in music for the past three years. She loves practicing piano, painting, reading, and being outside. She feels that if she could practice the piano outside, she would be the happiest person.

Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Rachel Robinett is a senior in Piano Performance at Auburn with a minor in English. Including the John Williams Tamblyn Endowment Scholarship, she has been awarded three Music Department scholarships, as well as an academic scholarship from National Merit. She enjoys performing, learning new things, and spending time with friends.

The Museum Café will be open as usual serving gourmet food for less than $10, and the fine art exhibitions at the museum are free. Contact Colleen Bourdeau at cbourdeau@auburn.edu or Patrick McCurry at patrick@luncharm.net for more info. Address is 901 S. College St., Auburn.


Thursday, October 20, 12-1 PM
A Little Lunch Music at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art presents an informal, free concert by pianists Dr. Bill Summerville and Mrs. Helene Burkart. The duo will be presenting a program that will include piano pieces for four hands, and Dr. Summerville will perform some solo works.

While earning his Doctorate in Piano at the University of Michigan, Dr. Summerville studied with internationally renowned pianist György Sándor, student of Béla Bartók and Zoltán Kodály. In 1980, he came from Peabody Conservatory to teach at Auburn University until 1995. Dr. Summerville also holds degrees from Indiana University and the University of Alabama. In his early years, he was a winner of the Birmingham Symphony Audition. Now retired, Dr. Summerville performs occasionally in the local and extended community.

Having studied piano as a child in Germany, Mrs. Burkart began playing later in life after moving to the United States. In recent years her concentration on four-hand performance has led her to playing at the Alabama Shakespeare Theatre, for the Auburn and the Montgomery Music Clubs and elsewhere locally.


Thursday, October 27, 12-1 PM
Sponsored by Nicholas and Carolyn Davis
A Little Lunch Music at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art presents an informal, free concert by the Fountain City Ensemble. The group, founded by Andrée Martin, Lisa Oberlander, Amy Griffiths, and Paul Vaillancourt, came together as a result of several collaborations which revealed an uncommon compatibility and singularity of purpose among these four individuals. In 2004, the Fountain City Ensemble began commissioning original works and creating arrangements for their unusual and versatile quartet comprised of flute, clarinet, saxophone, and percussion. Considering the variety of options afforded by each player, the group encompasses a remarkably diverse palate of timbral possibilities while maintaining the flexibility and nuance of a chamber ensemble.

The FCE has performed throughout the United States and Japan, including the premiere of J.M. David’s Found Objects in Tokyo and a concert at the American Musicological Society’s annual conference in Indianapolis. The group’s 2011-2012 concert season will include a performance at the International Clarinet Association conference in Los Angeles, a residency at the Aries Composers Festival at Colorado State University, and the premiere of a new work written for the FCE by composer Galen Brown. In 2013 the FCE will be joined by soprano Michelle DeBruyn for the premiere of a chamber opera composed by Pulitzer Prize nominee Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon.

The Museum Café will be open as usual serving gourmet food for less than $10, and the fine art exhibitions at the museum are free. Contact Colleen Bourdeau at cbourdeau@auburn.edu or Patrick McCurry at patrick@luncharm.net for more info. Address is 901 S. College St., Auburn.


Thursday, November 3, 12-1 PM
A Little Lunch Music at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art presents an informal, free concert by The Woodfield Trio (www.woodfieldtrio.com). Made up of Patrick McCurry on woodwinds, Charles Wright on cello and Barbara Acker-Mills on piano, The Woodfield Trio currently performs works by composers such as Bruch, Bolling, Bach, Handel, Mozart, Clementi, Haydn, Beethoven and others. The trio was formed as fixture for the series, but also performs in the community at large. The Museum Café will be open as usual serving gourmet food for less than $10, and the fine art exhibitions at the museum are free. Contact Colleen Bourdeau at cbourdeau@auburn.edu or Patrick McCurry at patrick@luncharm.net for more info. Address is 901 S. College St., Auburn.


Thursday, November 10, 12-1 PM
Sponsored by Bill and Josie Walsh
A Little Lunch Music at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art presents an informal, free concert by cellist Laura Usiskin and violinist Peter Povey.

Laura Usiskin holds the cello fellowship with the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra and is the founder of the Montgomery Music Project which sends highly trained teachers to elementary schools throughout Montgomery to give instruction in stringed instrument performance. She has premiered dozens of works and performed with new music ensembles including Ensemble Pamplemousse, the Bang-On-A-Can All Stars, and the Axiom Ensemble. In addition, she has participated in many early music ensembles, performing regularly with the American Baroque Orchestra, Yale’s Schola Cantorum, and the gamba consort Temperaments. Laura has performed in international venues such as the Kennedy Center; the Palazzo Chigi Saracini in Siena, Italy; Boston’s Symphony Hall; New York's Alice Tully Hall and many others. Her leadership and orchestral abilities have been recognized throughout her career, most notably as sitting principal cellist on Juilliard’s USA orchestra tour in 2006. Laura was also a member of the New Haven Symphony from 2008-2010. Read more online at laurausiskin.com.

Peter Povey is currently on the faculty of the Montgomery Music Project. He received his Bachelor of Music with honors from the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied with Dona Lee Croft and Bela Katona. During his studies in London, Peter performed in orchestras such as the City of Birmingham Symphony and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He also played on soundtracks such as Lord of the Rings, Wondrous Oblivion, and Peter Rabbit for the BBC. Peter has also performed on Nickledeon, BBC television, BBC radio, LBC radio, and WVIA public radio, as well as performing solo recitals all over Europe and the United States. In 2006, Peter entered Yale University where he graduated with a Masters of Music in 2009 in the violin studio of Ani Kavafian. During his time at Yale, Peter created a program for New Haven Public Schools to help with the the Connecticut Master Tests. In 2006 Peter founded the McAlester Institute of Music, a two-week music program for students age 6-18, designed to effect social change amongst young people, develop leadership, and improve music schools through contemporary teaching. In 2009 Peter started on a doctorate in music program at Northwestern University studying violin with Professor Gerardo Ribeiro.

The Museum Café will be open as usual serving gourmet food for less than $10, and the fine art exhibitions at the museum are free. Contact Colleen Bourdeau at cbourdeau@auburn.edu or Patrick McCurry at patrick@luncharm.net for more info. Address is 901 S. College St., Auburn.


Thursday, November 17, 12-1 PM
A Little Lunch Music at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art presents an informal, free concert by recorder player Dr. Mary Olson and flutist Patrick McCurry.

Dr. Mary Olson is Associate Professor of English at Tuskegee University. She holds a Ph.D. in medieval languages and literature from Purdue University. She studied recorder with the late George Olson of the American Conservatory of Music and is a for-mer member of the Oak Park-River Forest Recorder Society. Dr. Olson sings with the St. Cecelia Schola Cantorum in Auburn. She lives in the country with her husband and two dogs

Patrick McCurry performs with Auburn-based chamber group The Woodfield Trio. He holds a Masters degree in Chamber Music Performance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. There, his instructor and mentor was James Houlik, international concert saxophone maestro. He studied jazz improvisation, composition and arranging while earning his undergraduate degree from Loyola University in New Orleans. Besides performing jazz and chamber music, Mr. McCurry composes in jazz and classical idioms, writes songs and teaches. He performs in sacred and secular venues, specializing in saxophone and flute.

The Museum Café will be open as usual serving gourmet food for less than $10, and the fine art exhibitions at the museum are free. Contact Colleen Bourdeau at cbourdeau@auburn.edu or Patrick McCurry at patrick@luncharm.net for more info. Address is 901 S. College St., Auburn.


Thursday, December 1, 12-1 PM
Sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Wick Watkins
A Little Lunch Music at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art presents an informal, free concert by pianist Nicole Agostino and flute-cello duo Patrick McCurry and Charles Wright.

Nicole Agostino is a doctoral candidate in piano performance at Florida State University. She holds a Master of Music and a Bachelor of Music both in performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. An active soloist and chamber musician, Nicole has performed several recitals across the northeastern, midwestern, and southern states. In the spring of 2011 she toured as a guest artist giving recitals and lectures across the southeast on the Goldberg Variations and has recently recorded the work. In addition to performing, Nicole also maintains a busy teaching schedule. As a graduate assistant at both Florida State and Indiana, she has taught applied lessons, class piano, and several music theory lectures. During the summer of 2008, she held a piano faculty position at the renowned Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan. Nicole’s primary teachers include Read Gainsford, Karen Shaw, and Galina Gertsenzon.

Patrick McCurry performs with Auburn-based chamber group The Woodfield Trio. He holds a Masters degree in Chamber Music Performance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. There, his instructor and mentor was James Houlik, international concert saxophone maestro. He studied jazz improvisation, composition and arranging while earning his undergraduate degree from Loyola University in New Orleans. Besides performing jazz and chamber music, Mr. McCurry composes in jazz and classical idioms, writes songs and teaches. He performs in sacred and secular venues, specializing in saxophone and flute.

Charles Wright is cellist and leader of the Auburn Quartet, a string quartet in the East Alabama and West Georgia area. Having been a member of the Auburn Community Orchestra since 1985, he now plays principal cello for the group and is president of its board. He performs in the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra and is involved with the Auburn Chamber Music Society in which capacity he founded this chamber music series. He is also a member of Auburn-based chamber group The Woodfield Trio. Mr. Wright is passionate about classical music and plays a significant role in cultivating its growth and influence in the Auburn community. The Museum Café will be open as usual serving gourmet food for less than $10, and the fine art exhibitions at the museum are free. Contact Colleen Bourdeau at cbourdeau@auburn.edu or Patrick McCurry at patrick@luncharm.net for more info. Address is 901 S. College St., Auburn.


Thursday, December 8, 12-1 PM
Sponsored by Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. - Mr. Grant Haygood
A Little Lunch Music at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art presents an informal, free concert by cellist Lisa Caravan and pianist Dr. Jeremy Samolesky.

LISA CARAVAN recently joined the Auburn music faculty. She has appeared as orchestral soloist, as assistant principal cellist with the Binghamton Philharmonic, and as principal with three other groups. An experienced recitalist, she has premiered new music by major composers and has performed in Heidelberg College's New Music Festival. She received her Master’s degree and an Orchestral Studies Diploma from the Eastman School of Music and is currently a doctoral candidate there. Her Bachelor's degree is from Temple University. She is the first recipient of the Donald Shelter Music Education Prize and recently received Eastman's Teaching Assistant Prize for Excellence in Teaching. Click here for an extended bio.

DR. JEREMY SAMOLESKY joined the Auburn faculty in 2007. He is a worldwide concerto and recital performer whose credits include a nationally broadcast solo performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. He has achieved the rare distinction of holding two doctoral degrees from the Eastman School of Music as well as multiple honors, awards and scholarships from that school. Among his festival appearances are Canada’s Banff Centre, the Adriatic Chamber Music Festival and the Chigiana Music Academy in Siena. He has premiered works by David Plylar and David Maslanka and was featured in a documentary on the music of Prokofiev. Click here for an extended bio.

The Museum Café will be open as usual serving gourmet food for less than $10, and the fine art exhibitions at the museum are free. Contact Colleen Bourdeau at cbourdeau@auburn.edu or Patrick McCurry at patrick@luncharm.net for more info. Address is 901 S. College St., Auburn.


Thursday, December 15, 12-1 PM
Sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Wick Watkins
A Little Lunch Music at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art presents an informal, free concert of Christmas music by Mary Slaton, pianist. Ms. Slaton is known throughout the southeast as one of the region's premier soloists in the piano-lounge style. Her extensive knowledge of popular music from every era has impressed and entertained for years. Mary has performed in the Memphis area at the Hilton and the Hyatt Regency. In Atlanta, she has performed at the Omni Hotel, the Hilton, the Atlanta Country Club, the Marietta Country Club, the Atlanta Athletic Club and the 1848 Restaurant where she had a standing gig with her trio every New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day for ten years. She has played the Terra Cotta in Auburn, Alabama; the Saugahatchee Country Club; and Opelika's Marriott Hotel and Conference Center at Grand National. Mary holds a master's degree in piano performance from Memphis State University and a bachelor's degree from the University of Montevallo. She is currently based in Opelika, Alabama, where she teaches privately and at Southern Union Community College.

The Museum Café will be open as usual serving gourmet food for less than $10, and the fine art exhibitions at the museum are free. Contact Colleen Bourdeau at cbourdeau@auburn.edu or Patrick McCurry at patrick@luncharm.net for more info. Address is 901 S. College St., Auburn.