Violoncellist Dr. Timothy Holley Premieres Adolphus Hailstork’s 'Draw the Sacred Circle Closer' Oct. 22

[Dr. Timothy W. Holley]

Today we heard from our good friend and supporter Dr. Timothy W. Holley, who said: “Please refer to the provided web link for the announcement of my upcoming recital...” Classical Voice of North Carolina, http://www.CVNC.org, notes in its bio of Prof. Holley: "His doctoral dissertation focused on the cello music of African-American composers, and he continues to be active in the study and performance of African-American concert music."

North Carolina Central University

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NCCU News

NCCU Faculty Recital Presents Premiere of Two Works

Published: Tuesday, October 19, 2010

“The North Carolina Central University Department of Music will begin its Faculty Recital Series with violoncellist Dr. Timothy Holley on Friday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. in the B.N. Duke Auditorium. Holley will perform, 'Sacred Circles…Drawing Closer…' a series of Negro spirituals and sacred music. Among the composers represented will be Betty Jackson King, Arthur Benjamin, William Grant Still, Barbara Logan Cooke and Margaret Bonds. NCCU faculty members Ed Paolantonio and Derison Duarte will accompany Holley on piano.

“In addition, Holley will premiere two works — a recently discovered piece written for piano by Gwendolyn Bell Conley, and a work for solo cello by African-American composer Adolphus Hailstork. Conley’s composition, 'Gwen’s Little March and Waltz,' was discovered by the composer’s daughter, who requested that it be recorded for Conley’s 80th birthday last month. Conley created the piece as a composition exercise and recital piece while still a child studying piano in Chicago in the 1940s.

“Hailstork’s 'Draw the Sacred Circle Closer' was composed just last year. Holley, after reviewing the composition, asked Hailstork’s permission to give the first public performance. Hailstork has composed music for more than 47 years and is currently Professor of Music and Eminent Scholar at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va.” [Margaret Allison Bonds (1913-1972), Adolphus Cunningham Hailstork (b. 1941) and William Grant Still (1895-1978) are profiled at AfriClassical.com]