By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky.鈥� The 青瓜视频 Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. J. Robert Gaddis, dean of the School of Music, will present their last concert of the year at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 30, at Campbellsville Baptist Church, 420 N. Central Ave., Campbellsville, with Michael Davis, concertmaster with the Louisville Orchestra, performing with the orchestra.
鈥淲e are very fortunate to have such a renowned musician to perform with our orchestra,鈥� Dr. J. Robert Gaddis, dean of the School of Music, said.
鈥淢ichael has performed as guest artist in Europe, Asia and across the United States. We are more fortunate to have him serving in the capacity of adjunct violin professor for our graduate violinists at 青瓜视频.
鈥淚t is very refreshing to find Christian musicians of his caliber and reputation. 鈥楨mmanuel' (a fantasia on hymnody for solo violin and orchestra) was written for Michael by noted Christian composer and arranger Kurt Kaiser and was premiered by the Louisville Orchestra in 2003.鈥�
While only 26 years old,. Davis was named concertmaster of the Louisville Orchestra. Since then critics have hailed him as 鈥渢he essence of musicality鈥� and continue to praise him for his 鈥渧irtuosity鈥� and 鈥渆xquisite鈥� playing.
In June 2001, Davis was invited to be a musical guest for the Billy Graham Crusade in Louisville, Ky., where he shared his arrangement of 鈥淎mazing Grace鈥� for solo violin.His subsequent release of the CD, Amazing Grace, was a success.
In 2003 he premiered Emmanuel (a fantasia on hymnody for solo violin and orchestra) with the Louisville Orchestra and in September 2004 traveled to the Czech Republic to record Emmanuel with the City of Prague Philharmonic.
Composed by Kurt Kaiser赂 Emmanuel (written for Davis) was released on CD in the spring of 2005.
Davis has given concerts in Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center.In addition to these and other U.S. performances, he has concertized in both Europe and Asia. Participation in the Grand Teton Music Festival, Spoleto Festival and the Gerhart Chamber Music Festival (where he is artistic director) highlight just a few of his summer activities.
Davis, a native of Albertville, Ala., began studying the violin at age seven, and at age 16 was winner of the state's MTNA Competition and named 鈥淢ost Outstanding String Player.鈥�
He is a graduate of Indiana University where he received bachelor and master of music degrees. Studying with James Buswell at Indiana University, he also served as an associate instructor of Violin there while doing his graduate work.
In addition to his duties as concertmaster, Davis also instructs a class of advanced young violinists. He lives in Louisville, Ky., with his wife, Christina, and two songs, Jake and Trevor.
Gaddis will be assisted by Wansoo Cho, assistant conductor.
The orchestra will be playing 鈥淓mmanuel鈥� by Kurt Kaiser, well-known in church music; 鈥淩omeo and Juliet鈥� by Peter Tchalkovsky, 鈥淪ymphony No. 5 鈥楻eformation', 4th Movement鈥� by Felix Mendelssohn and 鈥淥verture to 鈥楥andide'鈥� by Leonard Bernstein.
鈥淭his concert is a great program of music including various genres including sacred, Bach and contemporary hymns,鈥� Gaddis said.
鈥淲e are honored to have Mr. Michael Davis with us. He is well known throughout Europe and Asia, and he will add a great new dimension to our performance.鈥�
The concert, which is free, is open to the public.
Members of the orchestra include: violin 1 - Sung Man Lee, Busan, South Korea, concertmaster; Jueun Kim of Korea; Heidy Ximenes, assistant professor of music; Courtney Gilbert of Buffalo, Ky.; and Marcos Silva of Fortaleza, Brazil;
Violin II - Saelim Jung, Unangwon, South Korea; David Lee, Seoul , South Korea; Seung Hwa Han of South Korea; Gart Kauffman of Campbellsville, Ky.; Julia Kauffman of Campbellsville; Caleb Rodrigues; and Elizabeth Lemmon of Somerset, Ky.;
Viola - Denis Santos of Fortaleza, Brazil; Sarah B. Gilbert of Buffalo; Isaac Rodriguez of Fort Knox; Roger Noel Davis of Campbellsville; and Wansoo Cho of South Korea, adjunct instructor in music at CU;
Cello - Felix Borges of Recife, Brazil; Seth Johnson of Leitchfield, Ky.; Adrienne Gilbert of Buffalo; and Laura Kauffman of Campbellsville;
Double bass - Julie Caldwell, administrative assistant in purchasing at CU; Flute - Saeromi Kim of South Korea; Sung Hye Kim of Korea; and Nell Haydon Chaudoin of Springfield, Ky.;
Oboe - Dong Suek Yu; and Yoo-Jin Lee of Seoul Korea;
Clarinet - Jong-Kwon Lee; and Brittany Judd of Campbellsville;
Bassoon - Dana Etherington of Somerset, Ky.; and Kae Jin Kim of South Korea; Horn - Megan Lenox of Somerset, Ky.; Bradley Whitehead of Russell Springs, Ky.; Bobbie Jo Sturm of Glasgow; and Woo Young Choi of South Korea;
Trumpet - John Lenox of Somerset; Tim Howe of Dry Ridge, Ky.; and Daniel Murphy of Bloomfield, Ky.;
Trombone -Warren Akers of Campbellsville; Seth Hart of Monticello, Ky.; and Stephen Coates of Leitchfield, Ky.;
Tuba - Al Courington of Madisonville, Ky.;
Percussion - Kyle Duke of Russell Springs, Ky.; Jared Clark of Versailles, Ky.; and Josh Naimo of Grand Rapids, Mich.
青瓜视频 is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, 青瓜视频 is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,601 students who represent 93 Kentucky counties, 27 states and 31 foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News & World Report's 2009 鈥淎merica's Best Colleges,鈥� CU is ranked 22nd in 鈥淏est Baccalaureate Colleges鈥� in the South for the second consecutive year. CU has been ranked 16 consecutive years with U.S.News & World Report. The university has also been named to America's Best Christian Colleges庐. 青瓜视频 is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his tenth year as president.