Fayetteville State University 'Faculty & Friends' in 'Lyric Quartet' of William Grant Still October 5

[Winifred Garrett, harpist]

Fayetteville State University

FSU Faculty and Friends Concert on October 5

Thursday, September 30, 2010

By Treva Bentley

“The Department of Performing and Fine Arts will present a Faculty and Friends Concert featuring String Quartet, Voice and Harp on Tuesday, October 5, at 7 p.m. in Seabrook Auditorium. The concert is free and open to the public. Join distinguished guest artists David Yarbrough (violin), Janine Parnell (violin), and harpist Winifred Garrett and FSU faculty members Diane Phoenix-Neal (viola), Earnest Lamb (cello), and soprano Denise Payton for an evening of chamber music written for harp, voice, and strings.

“The evening features rarely performed masterpieces by William Grant Still, Antonin Dvorak, Richard Strauss, and E.T.A. Hoffman.

Diane Phoenix-Neal, 672-1749

Department of Performing and Fine Arts”

We asked Prof. Diane Phoenix-Neal what music of William Grant Still would be performed on Oct. 5. Here are excerpts from her reply:

“Dear Mr. Zick,

It is with great pleasure that we perform Lyric Quartet by William Grant Still on our Faculty and Friends concert, October 5, 2010, 7pm Seabrook Auditorium, Fayetteville State University Fayetteville, NC. Our guest artist, Dr. David Yarbrough of Baltimore MD suggested the work. I have known Dr. Yarbrough for over 25 years as a fine violinist, scholar, colleague and friend. We will perform the work with Yarbrough, myself on viola, Dr. Janine Parnell, violin, and Dr. Ernest Lamb on cello. Dr. Parnell is my counterpart at Elizabeth City State University, another NC HBCU, and Dr. Lamb is the Department Chair here at FSU.”

“Our other recent performances of William Grant Still have been: Little Folk Suite from the Western Hemisphere: Selections from Nos. 1 and 3: Fayetteville State University Fine Arts Series, Faculty and Friends, October 5, 2009, (Bill Ayerbe, D. Phoenix-Neal, Ernest Lamb and Timothy Chambers) and Eastern Music Festival Carnegie Room Chamber Series, July 21, 2009: (Yarbrough, Rickard, Phoenix-Neal and Vanderborgh), and Danzas de Panama Eastern Music Festival, July 2008: (Yarbrough, Rickard, Phoenix-Neal and Vanderborgh).

“We try to perform African American Music every year at the Eastern Music Festival. It is my understanding that Dr. Yarbrough purchased all music directly from Judith Anne Still's company [http://www.williamgrantstill.com] and I did so as well. She is truly a blessing and the scores are beautifully crafted. Thank-you for your message, and feel free to contact me anytime.

Sincerely,

Diane Phoenix-Neal, D. M. A

Assistant Professor of Music

Director, FSU String Ensemble

Fayetteville State University” [William Grant Still (1895-1978) is profiled at AfriClassical.com, which features a complete Works List compiled by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma of Lawrence University Conservatory, Appleton, Wisconsin]