Presidential Concert Series to celebrate Centennial with world-class musicians
Pianist Gloria Chien and violinist Soovin Kim (pictured) will open the Presidential Concert Series on Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. in Pangle Hall.
Courtesy of Lee University Public Relations
Lee University’s Presidential Concert Series is set to begin with a Centennial celebration this semester, featuring performances by pianist Gloria Chien and violinist Soovin Kim.
University President Paul Conn and his wife Darlia, an adjunct piano faculty member, were instrumental in starting the series more than 25 years ago. The couple said they had the goal of bringing world-renowned musicians to the school’s campus for a celebration of music.
According to Director of Music Events Sarah Marczynski, the Conns both have a deep appreciation for music.
“[The Conns] wanted to share music and had a great outlet to do that,” Marczynski said. “[They are] heavily involved in choosing the artist and setting [the concerts] up.”
Senior music minor Libby Hennen and sophomore music major Hannah Frye are regular Presidential Concert Series attendees. They both said they appreciate the effort that the Conns put into the Presidential Concert Series.
“There’s a huge variety of critically acclaimed people. There’s lots of variety in the music,” Hennen said. “There are so many amazing vocalists and instrumentalists.”
Frye agreed, commending the quality and diversity of the musicians.
The variety of music stretches from classical musicians like pianist Charlie Albright—who, according to Washington Post writer Charles T. Downey, “is among the most gifted musicians of his generation”—to Classical Mystery Tour, a Beatles cover band.
Classical pianist Gloria Chien and classical violinist Soovin Kim are set to kick off this year’s series at the Centennial Concert. Both performers are high-caliber musicians and, according to Marczynski, are a big deal to have on campus.
Chien has previously been awarded the designation of one of the Boston Globe’s superior pianists of the year. She has performed in a variety of prestigious venues, from the Library of Congress to the National Concert Hall in Taiwan. Chien launched String Theory, a chamber music series in Chattanooga, that has been established as one of Tennessee’s primary classical music presenters.
Kim was 20 years old when he achieved first place at the Paganini International Violin Competition and has won numerous prestigious awards since. He also founded and co-artistic directs a chamber music festival in Vermont.
Although the performers are not Lee University graduates, Marczynski said they all have a good relationship with the university. Chien is an artist-in-residence at Lee, and Kim has performed on campus in the past and has taught a masterclass at the school. According to Marczynski, Chien and Kim share a connection with Lee that most other Presidential Concert Series performers do not have.
The performance of these highly accomplished musicians will celebrate Lee University’s Centennial by featuring pieces from 20th century composers. This means that Chien and Kim will be playing the contemporary music of 100 years ago, when Lee University was founded. In fact, Marczynski pointed out that the second piece they will be playing was composed in 1915, only three years before Lee University’s founding. The concert, then, will be an auditory window into the era of Lee’s creation.
Additionally, the Centennial Concert serves to show the importance of music to the people of Lee University, as it will showcase classical compositions that music students are studying today.
“Music is such an important part of today’s experience and was central to the founding of Lee,” Marczynski said. “From the beginning, music has been important on this campus.”
The concert will reach back in time to the sounds and feelings of the early 1900s, when the university was founded. It will also look forward in anticipation of continued musical excellence at Lee.
The Centennial Concert will take place in Pangle Hall on Sept. 20th at 7 p.m. and will last approximately 90 minutes. For information regarding the Presidential Concert Series, visit Lee University’s website.
