Cellist William Skidmore of the West Virginia University music faculty will give his “First Sort-of Annual Recital in Honor of Pending Retirement,” Tuesday (Jan. 18) at the Creative Arts Center.

The program begins at 7:30 p.m. in Bloch Learning and Performance Hall (200A) and is free and open to the public.

Featured on the program will be the West Virginia premiere performance of WVU Composer-in-Residence John Beall’s “Fantasy for Violoncello Alone” as well as “Sonata for Cello and Piano in F Major, Op. 6” by Richard Strauss. Assisting in the Strauss Sonata will be pianist Robert Thieme, also of the WVU music faculty.

Professor Skidmore has been a member of the WVU music faculty since 1977. As professor of cello, coach of the resident Graduate String Quartet and other chamber groups, he offers students insight that is founded upon significant professional experience. He has presented numerous recitals throughout the Eastern United States, including performances at the National Gallery of Art, the Phillips Collection and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. As a chamber musician, he has been a member of the Maryland Trio, the Baltimore Symphony String Quartet, and the American Arts Trio. In addition to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, he was principal cellist with the West Virginia Symphonette and the Ohio Valley Symphony.

He holds degrees from the University of Illinois and previously taught at the University of Maryland. He has also taught cello and chamber music at the Interlochen Arts Camp.

-WVU-

CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu

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