NEWS

Ahn Trio classical music trio to open 10th Newman series

CHAPEL HILL -- Three sisters comprising the Ahn Trio will perform classical music on electric violin, cello and piano Sept. 6, opening the 10th annual William S. Newman Artists Series at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Other performers in this year's series will include distinguished pianists, a brass quintet and percussion ensemble and principal players from the Atlanta Symphony and the Emory University faculty, said series coordinator David Arons.

The series, in which the UNC music department presents outstanding classical musicians from the local community and abroad, honors the memory of Dr. William S. Newman (1912-2000), a member of the music faculty for three decades.

Season tickets are on sale in 105 Hill Hall, off East Franklin Street near the U.S. Post Office. The tickets are $70, or $50 for seniors and $20 for students. Those interested also may buy tickets by mailing checks (payable to UNC music department) to UNC Music, Hill Hall, CB 3320, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3320. For more information, call 962-1039.

Six concerts, all in Hill Hall Auditorium, will comprise the 2002-2003 series:

"Ahn Plugged," 8 p.m. Sept. 6 by the Ahn Trio, sponsored by grants from the Southern Arts Federation and the National Endowment for the Arts. The trio also will present a concert for students at 11 a.m. Sept. 6 in Hill Hall Auditorium, which will be open to all concert and season ticket holders.

"Faculty Debut Recital," 3 p.m. Oct. 6 by pianist Thomas Otten, the latest addition to the UNC music faculty. Otten will play Debussy Preludes, Book 1, and Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor by Rachmaninoff. The New York Times called Otten "an extremely original player" with a formidable technique at the service of his ideas."

The Meridian Arts Ensemble, 3 p.m. Oct. 27, a chamber group of brass quintet and percussion performing music from the Renaissance to Nick Davidovsky to Frank Zappa. The ensemble also will teach a master class at noon Oct. 28 in Hill Hall Auditorium.

Christine Schadeberg, soprano, and Christopher Oldfather, pianist, at 3 p.m. Jan. 26, interpreters of 20th-century art songs, performing a recital centered on Arnold Schoenberg's "Book of the Hanging Gardens" song cycle. The two artists also will join UNC music professor Severine Neff for a lecture at 4:15 p.m. Jan. 24 in 103 Hill Hall.

The Emory Chamber Players, 8 p.m. March 2, a group of principal players from the Atlanta Symphony and the Emory University faculty, performing chamber music by Beethoven and Schumann and the Dohnanyi Sextet for clarinet, horn, piano and strings.

Janus Duo Plus, 8 p.m. April 6, the UNC faculty duo Francis Whang and Barbara Rowan commemorating their 30 years of piano performance, playing Brahms' "Variations on a Theme by Haydn for Two Pianos," Schumann's "Andante and Variations for Two Pianos, Two Cellos and Horn," and Bartok's "Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion." Performing with the duo will be music faculty members Brent Wissick and Stephanie Vial on cello; Pamela Halverson, horn; and Lynn Glassock and Andrew Hummer, percussion.

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Series contact: David Arons, 384-2720