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CONTACT: Carol Schuler, Director of Communications & Marketing
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Famed Pianist Gibbons D&E Artist in Residence
Posted: 06/21/10
Elkins, WV – Davis & Elkins College President G.T. “Buck” Smith announced today that famed British concert pianist Jack Gibbons has accepted a multi-year appointment at D&E as “Artist in Residence.”
Gibbons, who received a standing ovation even at the intermission of his “Evening With Gershwin” concert at D&E on May 7, will begin his tenure in August, opening the College’s 2010-2011 academic year with a concert in Harper-McNeeley Auditorium on August 29 as part of Orientation Weekend.
In an email to President Smith, Gibbons expressed his gladness over his decision to make Elkins home: “It was a very fortuitous moment when Doris Buffett first put me in touch with D&E. But even Doris, who prides herself on making things happen, didn’t foresee the wonderful fruition of that introduction!”
Gibbons’s May visit to Elkins was made possible by Buffett, who arranged for the pianist to perform a three-day Gershwin Gala, which featured a master class, a public school concert and a free evening performance in support of D&E’s Highlands Scholarships program. Featured in media across the state, the Gala drew a capacity crowd to D&E’s 1200-seat performance hall. Gibbons’s enthusiasm, astonishing virtuosity and ready smile won over concert-goers from the first note.
President Smith noted that Gibbons’s presence at Davis & Elkins will benefit not only D&E students, but also the community and the region. “Jack is a wonderful performer with a unique ability to connect with audiences. We look forward to sharing his talent and his knowledge with communities around our state.”
Gibbons has been described by the press as "one of England's most exciting young pianists." His performances have been received with tremendous standing ovations in some of the world's great concert halls, including New York’s Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall and London’s Queen Elizabeth and Royal Albert Halls, and his recordings have consistently attracted rave reviews, awards and commendations. He has also recently returned to composition, and as a composer has had very successful all-Gibbons concerts in New York and in the UK.
Born in 1962, Gibbons began performing in public at the age of 10, made his professional solo recital debut playing Liszt’s B minor Sonata at the age of 15, his London debut with an all-Alkan solo recital at 17, and at 20 won the Newport International Pianoforte Competition with a performance of Beethoven’s Fourth Concerto with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
Two years later he gave a critically acclaimed Queen Elizabeth Hall debut recital at London's South Bank Centre. His recording credits include a Gramophone Award nomination, MRA awards, and numerous special commendations by CD magazines and newspapers.
Gibbons also enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for music with the younger generation. He has been employed by the British Council on a number of occasions to give lectures and demonstrations to children in countries as far afield as Bahrain and Zimbabwe, and in the United States he has given master classes and seminars for students and children.
He helped found the Young Concert Artists Trust, in association with W.H. Smith. Jack's idea of the Young Concert Artists Trust (or YCAT as it has become known in the UK) was to establish an agency for young talented musicians that would provide a more permanent start to their careers than 'flash-in-the-pan' competition wins. As testament to Jack's dream YCAT is still going strong today, nearly 20 years after it was begun and has successfully launched the careers of many young musicians.
In looking forward to how he can serve the young people and citizens in Elkins and West Virginia, Jack wrote from Oxford, England, where he is preparing for two months of concerts in the UK and Europe: “I am so impressed both with the college, and the community of Elkins, and also all the supporters of D&E. It's a remarkable place that seems to attract remarkable people, and I would love to be a part of that community and help in any way I can -- even if it means putting a piano on a flatbed truck and going out into the rural areas.”
Related to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Davis & Elkins College is located in Elkins, 2 hours east of Charleston, 3 hours south of Pittsburgh and 4 hours west of Washington, DC. For more information about Davis & Elkins College, please call 304-637-1230 or visit www.DavisAndElkins.edu.
Famed pianist Jack Gibbons has been named Artist in Residence for Davis & Elkins College.
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Davis & Elkins College has been a leader in "Green" studies since 2003, when we launched our Green Studies minor. It integrates coursework in the sciences and humanities to focus on the relationship between human beings and the natural world.
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