BOILING SPRINGS, NC – Gardner-Webb University and the Department of Fine Arts presents three different spring concert performances this month all within a period of nine days featuring a variety of musical themes.

Events begin this Sunday, April 22 at 3:00 pm when the Gardner-Webb Choral Union, a combination of the university’s concert choir, chorale, staff, and members of the community accompanied by the Charlotte Civic Orchestra presents Handel’s Messiah.  The Choral Union is under the direction of Dr. Paul Etter, assistant professor for GWU Department ofFine Arts.  The concert will feature solos by Tony Spencer – bass, minister of music at First Baptist Church, Forest City, Stephen Harrill – tenor, director of choral activities at Pfeiffer College, Charlotte, and Dr. Susan Lyle – alto, director of choral activities at Converse College, Spartanburg.  The program will be held in the Dover Theatre located in the Lutz-Yelton Convocation Center.

Gardner-Webb’s Symphonic Band under the direction of Dr. Matt Whitfield, professor with the Department of Fine Arts at Gardner-Webb will be playing a lineup of music consisting of Orff’s famous Carmina Burana; Let Us Break Bread Together and the music of Gershwin. Whitfield has won many awards and earned superior ratings on both the marching field and concert stage. The Symphonic Band consists of Gardner-Webb students, faculty, and community members.  Vickie Whitfield, band director of John Chavis Middle School in Cherryville and former adjunct horn instructor at Gardner-Webb will guest conduct the number, A Festival Prelude.  The event will be held Tuesday, April 24 at 8:00 pm.

Last but not least, The Gardner-Webb University/Cleveland County Orchestra with special guests, the Gardner-Webb Choral Union and the Aldersgate United Methodist Church Choir of Shelby presents a concert in memory of Gardner-Webb School of Business Professor and Cellist, Kerr “Buddy” Watson on Monday, April 30 at 8:00 pm.  Music Director for the program will be Dr. Patricia Sparti, chair of the Gardner-Webb Department of Fine Arts.

Sparti says, “We are so honored to be able to dedicate this program to the memory of Buddy.  He loved music with a passion and came to every rehearsal with the joy and excitement of a child.  Every piece of the program features the cellos or something near and dear to Buddy.”

The concert will feature student soloists and instrumentalists from Gardner-Webb, Christina Beekmand on cello and Seville Johnson on trombone.

All three events will be held in the Kathleen Nolan Dover Theatre, which is located in the Lutz-Yelton Convocation Center on the Gardner-Webb campus, and are free and open to the public to attend.

For more information contact the Gardner-Webb Department of Fine Arts at 704-406-4488.