Lee University Chamber Strings to present “Be My Valentine” concert
The Lee University Chamber Strings in the spring of 2016.
Photo courtesy of Lee University
This Valentine’s Day, the Lee University Chamber Strings will be filling Pangle Hall with the sound of well-known romantic melodies during its annual “Be My Valentine” concert.
The event will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 14 and will feature many of Lee’s own stringed instrumentalists.
Performers also include the Voices of Lee, voice professors Drs. Ron and Cheryl Brendel, Dr. Jose Ruiz on solo flute, a guest vocalist and several other student vocal talents.
Love tunes from hit pop artists, Broadway numbers and operatic ballads will all make up the night’s repertoire. Songs that originated in a variety of countries will also be sung in their original languages with English subtitles, according to a media release.
Senior Voices of Lee member Naja Wilson said the warm feelings the event will bring ought to not be missed.
“Since Valentine's Day is all about love, the performers add a little more romance to their music and the atmosphere makes you want to fall in love all over again,” Wilson said. "You feel you've done your job as a performer when you see a couple nuzzle closer to their partner, hold hands or look into each other’s eyes."
Xiaoquing Yu, associate professor of music, will be directing the concert. He joined the School of Music in 2004, possesses multiple high degrees in music and has performed with world-renowned musicians such as Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma, according to his Lee University biography.
Yu has been looking forward to this event and earnestly hopes that students and the public alike will consider celebrating Valentine’s Day by attending the concert.
“The ensemble offers a diverse cultural episode on Lee’s campus,” Yu said in the release. “To me, this Valentine’s Day concert is like a French dessert giving you just what you’ve been craving – something sweet!”
Chamber Strings is a dynamic ensemble composed of Lee University’s finest violinists, violists, cellists and bassists and will perform numbers such as “The Magical World of Pixar,” “Tango for Strings,” “Intermezzo,” “Tango of Roses” and "A Thousand Years" from the film “Twilight”, and many more.
The music for “Be My Valentine” has been arranged by Alan Elkins, Logan Fox, YongEn Huang, and Ruiz.
“Be My Valentine” is a free event open to the public and all attendees are invited to a reception following the concert in Lee’s Communication Arts Building.
For more information, contact the Lee University School of Music at (423) 614-8240.
