June 14: pianist John Norton
~Sposored by: Ursula's Catering
June 21: cellist Charles Wright with pianist Barbara Acker-Mills, violinist Sarah Schrader and violinist Matthew Weathers
~Sposored by: Ursula's Catering
June 28: guitarist Dan Mackowski
August 16: pianist Mary Slaton
~Sposored by: an anonymous friend
August 23: saxophonist Patrick McCurry with pianist Barbara Acker-Mills
August 30: saxophonist Patrick McCurry with pianist John Norton (jazz)
Artist Bios (in alphabetical order) DR. BARBARA ACKER-MILLS holds a PhD in psychology and a master’s degree in piano from the State University of New York at Binghamton. There she won the University Concerto Competition open to graduates and undergraduates on all instruments. While at Salem College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Dr. Acker-Mills studied with acclaimed performer and pedagogical award winner Barbara Lister-Sink who said that Acker-Mills “demonstrated admirably at Salem that a petite frame is no deterrent to commanding and powerful playing.” Dr. Acker-Mills teaches psychology for Argosy University and in the music department at Auburn University. She performs primarily as a collaborative artist.
DAN MACKOWSKI has been part of Auburn, Alabama’s jazz scene since arriving in 1990. He was part of the Auburn Knights Orchestra from 2001 to 2004 and now arranges pop and big band tunes for solo fingerstyle guitar. Like many of his generation, Dan became fascinated with the guitar after seeing the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show. He played in rock bands while pursuing degrees in physics and mechanical engineering. Now, Dr. Mackowski is Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Auburn University. He teaches courses in thermodynamics and energy-related science and researches the mathematical description of electromagnetic wave scattering.
The music of saxophonist and flutist PATRICK MCCURRY crosses boundaries between jazz and classical, pop and art, secular and sacred. Born and raised in Alabama and having returned home to Auburn, Patrick blogs in support of good music in and around his community. He performs with a chamber group, The Woodfield Trio, and 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 New Orleans.
Gadsden native and Auburn pianist JOHN NORTON can be seen subbing with big bands across Alabama and playing professionally for private events. While earning an engineering degree at Auburn University, he played with the Auburn Knights Orchestra and appeared with performers including the Vogues and Bobby Vinton. John served with the Third Armored Division Band in Germany. Afterwards, he began an award-winning career in music retail, working for Kimball Piano and Organ Company for twenty years and Roland for fifteen. John sings in the Jubilate Choir at Auburn United Methodist Church and accompanies the Chapel Five, the church’s men’s quartet.
SARAH SCHRADER, born in Hanceville, Alabama, earned her Bachelor of Music Education from Auburn University in 2006. She has been teaching music at George Washington Carver Elementary School in Tuskegee ever since. She started playing the violin at age three and was a regular member of the Alabama All-State Orchestra through middle and high school. Sarah studied vocal music education at Auburn and minored in violin performance. Aside from teaching a growing studio in the Auburn area, Sarah plays for weddings and events as a regular member of the Auburn String Quartet. She also directs the Trinity Lutheran Church choir.
MARY SLATON is known throughout the southeast as one of the region’s premier piano-lounge soloists. Over the years, she has entertained many with her extensive knowledge of popular music. Among Memphis venues, Mary has performed at the Hilton and the Hyatt Regency. In Atlanta, she has played the Omni Hotel, the Hilton, the Atlanta Country Club and others. At home in the Auburn-Opelika area, the Terra Cotta, the Saugahatchee Country Club and the Marriott have featured her. Mary holds piano degrees from Memphis State University and from the University of Montevallo. She teaches privately and at Southern Union Community College.
A rising senior at Auburn High School, violinist MATTHEW WEATHERS won the 2012 Alabama Music Teachers Association Division III State Solo Competition and received honorable mention in the 2010 AMTA Division II competition. He participates in the Young Artist Program at Columbus State University and plays in the first violin section of the Auburn Community Orchestra. He has been playing violin for 9 years and viola for 2. Matthew is currently a student of Dr. Lorna Wood.
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. Mr. Wright is passionate about classical music and plays a significant role in cultivating its growth and influence in the Auburn community.
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. Mr. Wright is passionate about classical music and plays a significant role in cultivating its growth and influence in the Auburn community. 
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