An esteemed guest violist will be assisting the Music Alive Series with bringing the talents of Marshall’s music department throughout the Huntington area on Wednesday, Dec. 4 and Thursday, Dec. 5. 

“In the world of art, you always like to exchange musical ideas,” Şőlen Dikener, artistic director of the Music Alive Series, said about performing with guest artist Bernard Di Gregorio. “People have some fresh outlooks, they just bring inspiration to you, and likewise, they also receive inspiration from collaborating.” 

The event will feature Di Gregorio, violist of the Montclaire String Quartet and Principal Viola in the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra. Accompanying him will be Marshall staff members Dikener on cello, Wendell Dobbs on flute and Johan Botes on piano.

The musicians will be performing music from C.P.E. Bach, Ernest Bloch, Nina Rota and Albert Roussel. In addition to this, they will be playing a piece composed by fellow Marshall staff member Mark Zanter, titled “Earth endures; Stars abide,” for its world premiere. 

The performances will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 4 p.m. at Woodlands Retirement Home and Thursday, Dec. 5 at 12 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church. 

“At Woodlands Retirement Home, of course we have people of a certain age group who really have a great appreciation of classical music and are great fans,” Dikener said. “And First Presbyterian Church’s music minister, Mr. Dale Capeheart, was a wonderful help in order to establish his venue as a community meeting place.”  

The event will be free and open to the public. Dikener said Marshall students should attend this performance in order to get a better idea of where today’s music originated. 

“Marshall students should come and try to have an idea about what it feels like to hear classical music, which is the source of every music available today,” Dikener said. “Most people probably listen to the popular genre of music, but all this music really flourished out of classical music.” 

Summer Jewell can be contacted at [email protected].