The University of Tampa today announced that its popular, standing-room-only concert artist series, which features concerts in the UT’s Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values, is now sponsored by Geneva M. Damron in memory of the late O. Rex Damron.
The series, which is free and open to the public, will now be called the Damron Concert Artist Series. This year’s series includes organists, an all-female modern/medieval ensemble and the popular holiday concerts.
Rex Damron was a professor emeritus at Kent State University and a UT trustee.
“Rex would have been pleased to support this culturally engaging program that engages both UT students and the UT community,” said Geneva Damron.
Ronald Vaughn, UT president, said the concert series has become one of UT’s most anticipated and well-attended events on campus, and “having the Damrons support the series provides a solid foundation for its moving forward.”
The concert dates follow. Seating is limited, and doors open 30 minutes before the concerts.
- A Program of Firsts: Haig Mardirosian, Organist, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2 p.m. Haig Mardirosian has played hundreds of recitals, concerts and collaborative concerts in his half century of preforming. This program includes the Symphony No. 1 for organ by Louis Vierne, and sonatas by José Lidón and Herbert Howells.
- World of Love and Wisdom: ModernMedieval, Female Ensemble, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2 p.m. A new, all-female ensemble created by Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek and including Eliza Bagg and Martha Cluver. This program features chants by Hildegard of Bingen interwoven with new works by acclaimed composers.
- Let Heaven and Nature Sing — The University of Tampa Holiday Concert, Sunday Dec. 2, 2 and 4 p.m. A great Tampa institution and a joyful opening to the holiday season with traditional and new music sung by the student voices of the UT Chamber Singers and Camerata.
- Dance! Dance! Dance! Felix Hell, Organist, Sunday Feb. 17, 2 p.m. A native of Germany, Felix Hell is one of the most sought-after concert organists in the world. The American Organist raved that he “sets standards that older and honored players would struggle to equal.”
- Celebrating the Music of Sergei Rachmaninoff, Sunday, March 10, 2 p.m. Cellist Emilio Colón, collaborates with pianist Grigorios Zamparas and soprano Hein Jung, to perform selections of Rachmaninoff for voice and piano, including his most famous chamber music piece, the Sonata for Cello and Piano, Op. 19, in G minor.
- Voice and Harp, Sunday, April 28, 2 p.m. Italian operatic tenor Stefano Marra and French harpist Coline-Marie Orliac team up for a program featuring works of Frédéric Chopin, the romances of Tosti and a selection of Neapolitan songs.
Of special note this year is the return of the First Fridays @ Noon Recital Series, which are a great way to spend a lunch break and kick off the weekend. This series of free, 45-minute recitals will be held the first Friday of each month throughout the academic year — Sept. 7, Oct. 5, Dec. 7, Feb. 1, March 1, April 5 and May 3 — beginning at noon.
For more information, contact [email protected] or go to ut.edu/sykeschapel.
