March 20, 2006

For more information, contact: Kimberly Kreider (901) 333-4023

FIRST SPRING CONCERT IS A “SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY”
Written by Pat O’Brien

Both the music and the venue make the first of this spring’s three concerts – Sunday, March 26 – a “Sentimental Journey,” as Dr. Steve Katz’s student recitals “come home” to the Farris Auditorium at Macon Cove Campus. “We have so enjoyed and appreciated our years at the AMRO Music Auditorium,” said Dr. Katz. “But we’ve outgrown the space, and need more room to spread out, not only for the staging area, but to accommodate our traditional lavish buffet. We especially appreciate the growing audience that has prompted the move!”

AMRO will continue to provide two grand pianos for each concert, according to Dr. Katz. “AMRO continues to be our partner in building the music program, especially through their support of the Katz-AMRO Music Scholarship Fund.” Because of the expanding ranges of sound employed by the ensemble, AMRO is also providing a large electronic piano for each event.

Guest starring for this first concert is Diana Stein Kabakoff, Southwest adjunct faculty and pianist at the Peabody Hotel. She received her master’s in music from UT-Knoxville and has been a local favorite pianist for more than 25 years. Kabakoff, in addition to solo pieces, will team with Dr. Katz for two-piano versions of the fast paced Prince Ali and Trisch Trasch Polka. Dr Katz also will play solo.

Among rock highlights of the Southwest Piano Ensemble will be Golden Slumbers/The Weight/The End from the last recording ever made by the Beatles, plus You Make My Dreams Come True by Hall and Oates. Classical offerings vary, and include The Laughing Song (Johann Strauss) and The Girl with the Flaxen Hair (Claude Debussy). Old standards on the bill include, naturally, the concert’s theme song, Sentimental Journey, plus W.C. Handy’s St. Louis Blues, among others.

The buffet starts at 1 p.m. and the concert at 2 p.m. Admission for each concert is a minimum $5 which is a donation – and free for the third if you attend all! It includes the buffet, and all proceeds go to the Music Scholarship Fund.

The Farris Auditorium on the Macon Cove Campus, 5983 Macon Cove, is reached through the south entrance of the Farris Building from the main parking lot.