FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (9/05)
Contact: Lynn Stewart or Kelsey Johnson, Centenary News Service, 318-841-7265

Hurley Orchestra's Oct. 3 Concert Highlights Original Composition, Piano Solo and Bach Suite

Complete Hurley School of Music Fall Concert Schedule

SHREVEPORT, LA — Centenary's Hurley Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Todd Gabriel, will present their first concert of the year at 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3, in Anderson Auditorium, Hurley Music Building.

This special event will include the world premiere of Ladies and Gents Overture to a College by Dr. Gabriel, assistant professor of music. This 12-minute Americana style concert overture depicts the trials and triumphs of being a Centenary student. There is an intimidating professors’ theme, a melody for the Ladies and one for the Gents, the Mardi Gras celebration, an ominous final exam section and a redeeming graduation march at the close.

Performing the extraordinarily beautiful and romantic Piano Concerto No. 4 in C minor by Camille Saint-Säens (1835-1921) is guest soloist Leslie Downs. Mr. Downs holds a bachelor of music degree from Centenary and a master of music degree from Yale University. He has performed as a soloist with several orchestras in Louisiana and Texas and has appeared in solo, lieder and chamber recitals across the country. A versatile artist, Mr. Downs has also served as musical director for regional musical theatre productions. He worked as a freelance pianist/teacher/vocal coach in New York City for 16 years. He also served as principal accompanist for the Big Apple Performing Arts Choruses for six years and was listed in Who’s Who in America for 2004. Mr. Downs recently returned to Shreveport to teach piano and piano accompanying and work as staff accompanist for the Hurley School of Music. He serves as pianist for the First Wesleyan Church in Bossier City, La.

Glorious Baroque dance music will be represented with the Hurley Orchestra’s performance of J.S. Bach’s Orchestral Suite No.1 in C Major. This delightful French overture is the most intimate of Bach’s four suites for orchestra and features a delightful chamber music texture.

This concert is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Hurley Music Office at 318-869-5235 or via email at music@centenary.edu.

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