Trombonist Mike Kris Featured in Distinguished Artist Concert on Jan. 18

Musician is Teaching Professor and Active Performer in the United States and Europe

In the event of inclement weather, check the Department of Music’s Facebook page for details about the concert.

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Trombonist Mike Kris will be in concert on Jan. 18 at Gardner-Webb University as part of the Distinguished Artist Series. Co-sponsored by the Alfred and Shirley Wampler Caudill Fund, the concert will be at 8 p.m. in Dover Chapel. He will also present a free masterclass for low brass students from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Chapel.

His program includes Mélodie, Op. 16, No. 2 by Ignaz Jan Paderewski (1860-1941), arr. By Michael P. Schneider; Een Schots Lietjen from Der Fluyten Lust-hof by Jacob van Eyck (c1590-1657), adapted by Adam Woolf; Epilog from Concertpiece by Terry Mizesko (b. 1946); Meditation by Frigyes Hidas (1928-2007); Trauermusik by Paul Hindemith (1895-1963), arr. by Terry Mizesko; and Deux Danses, I. Danse Sacree II. Danse Profane by Jean-Michel Defaye (b.1932).

Kris is a teaching professor at the University of North Carolina, and he is also part of the teaching faculty at Duke University, National Music Festival, and Eastern Music Festival. An active performer, he plays bass trombone with the North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra and is the principal trombone of the North Carolina Opera Orchestra, Carolina Ballet Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle. Additionally, Kris is artistic director and trombonist with the early music group Ensemble Collina.

Apart from his ensemble work, Kris is an active soloist and clinician performing and teaching internationally. Most recently, he presented concerts at the prestigious Salzburg Festival and was a guest clinician in November 2019 at the Universität Mozarteum in Austria. At the University of North Carolina, he teaches low brass and chamber music, and his research focuses on the use of trombone in ensemble music of the late Renaissance and chamber music of the early Baroque.

Kris attended McNeese State University, earning a Bachelor of Music Education followed by a Master of Music in Trombone Performance at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. His principal teachers are William G. Rose and Tony Chipurn, principal trombone (retired) of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Tickets are $10 general admission, $5 for seniors, free to GWU students, faculty and staff, and to all students with a student ID from any school and their directors.

Auxiliary aids will be made available to persons with disabilities upon request 10 days prior to the event. Please call (704) 406-2155 or email [email protected] with your request.

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to six professional schools, 14 academic departments, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.