Posted by Mary Wimberley on 2008-07-29

Tickets are on sale for the inaugural season of Samford University School of the Arts' Davis Architects Guest Artist Series. The 2008-09 line-up features a variety of nationally known musicians.

Performers and dates are:

Blair String Quartet with Samford faculty pianist Ron Shinn, Sept. 5.

Guitarist Christopher Parkening and jazz/blues gospel/opera singer Jubilant Sykes, Nov. 11.

Pianist Jon Nakamatsu, winner of the 10th Van Cliburn competition, Feb. 13

Concert of music by composer Libby Larsen, performed by Samford students and faculty, March 5.

Pianist Robert Blocker, dean of Yale School of Music, April 17.

All performances will be at 7:30 p.m. in Samford's Brock Recital Hall.

Samford School of the Arts dean Joseph Hopkins notes that the season offers some of America's best solo and chamber music talents.

"The artists were selected not only for their ability to delight audiences with stunning performance, but also for their ability to contribute to our academic community," said Dr. Hopkins.

"The Davis Architects Guest Artists will present master classes, offer one-on-one private lessons, instruct in classes, work with our ensembles, and spend time in informal discussions about making a career in music," he said.

The series is made possible in part through the generosity of the firm that has designed most of Samford's Georgian-Colonial buildings, including the series' performance venue, Jane Hollock Brock Hall, which opened in 2006.

Season tickets are $75 adult, $60 senior adult (55 and older), and $40 student/child. Individual concert tickets are $20 adult, $15 senior adult and $10 student/child.

To reserve tickets, go to www.samfordartstickets.com or call (205) 726-2853.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.