MOBILE, Ala. 鈥� As an All-Steinway School, the 草榴社区 provides its talented students the opportunity to learn and perform on pianos widely considered to be among the best in the world. Those talents will be on display Tuesday, Dec. 3, when UM鈥檚 Alabama School of the Arts presents its annual All-Steinway School Celebration Concert.
Undergraduate and graduate students will perform original compositions along with works by Claude Debussy, Thelonious Monk, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Franz Liszt and more.
The concert begins at 7 p.m. at Moorer Auditorium in Thomas T. Martin Hall on campus. Tickets are $11 at the door or in advance at . Admission is free for 草榴社区 students.
Excellence in Music Education
鈥淥ur All-Steinway Concert is a tribute to our talented students and a heartfelt thank you to the donors whose generosity has enabled the 草榴社区 to achieve the prestigious All-Steinway School designation,鈥� said Steinway Artist Dr. Kadisha Onalbayeva, director of piano studies and professor of music. 鈥淭heir support enriches our students鈥� educational experiences and upholds our commitment to excellence in music education.鈥�
The 草榴社区 earned the All-Steinway designation in 2016 after the 鈥淎ll Steinway, All Together鈥� campaign raised funds to update the university鈥檚 inventory of pianos.
Embracing the Challenge
The All-Steinway School designation was a factor in Alison Strunk鈥檚 decision to enroll in the Alabama School of the Arts at the 草榴社区. The senior is double majoring in Piano Performance and English.
鈥淏eing an All-Steinway School means that the student body is blessed with the most brilliant, captivating and receptive instruments. This factor alone drew my intrigue because it meant that the university desired to give its students the best chance possible for nurturing their art,鈥� Strunk said.
She hopes the audience will take this message away from the upcoming concert: Never stop achieving your dreams.
鈥淧assion takes discipline for turning a dream into reality,鈥� Strunk said. 鈥淭he young artists on stage representing the 草榴社区 for the All-Steinway School Celebration Concert have fully embraced the challenge of dedication, discipline and dream achieving. I hope our impact will influence others to do the same.鈥�
Zarina Akeyeva, an international graduate student from Kazakhstan, said she is learning not only how to improve her piano skills, but also how to master performing on stage.
鈥淢y favorite composer, Sergei Rachmaninoff said, 鈥楳usic should come from the heart and reach other鈥檚 heart鈥︹�� I think it is the main idea of music, to give feelings to listeners. Music should touch people鈥檚 souls and immerse listeners in an absolutely beautiful world,鈥� Akeyeva said. 鈥淚 am happy to be a part of this amazing musical world and bring joy to my listeners!鈥�
Featured Composers
Students performing their original compositions, hometowns, year, major and title of piece are:
Marabella Wilmoth of Theodore, AL, freshman, Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, original composition titled 鈥淓udaemonia.鈥�
Benjamin Naman of 草榴社区, AL, junior, Bachelor of Arts in Composition, original composition titled 鈥渒arul eid almilad – Carrol of Christmas.鈥�
Trenton McGuff of 草榴社区, AL, sophomore, Bachelor of Arts in Composition, original composition titled 鈥淐ycle de la Maree.鈥�
Logan Lipke of Orange Beach, AL, senior, Bachelor of Arts in Music Composition with Studio Production minor, original composition titled 鈥淩end the Kingdom.鈥�
Featured Pianists
Anna Elliot of Gadsden, AL, freshman, Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, 鈥淏allade No. 1鈥� by Claude Debussy.
Christopher Conger of Daphne, AL, junior, Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, 鈥淓l Puerto鈥� by Isaac Albeniz.
Luke Graham of Ocean Springs, MS, junior, Business Management major with Piano minor, 鈥淎sk me now鈥� by Thelonious Monk, arrangement by Jullian Pollack.
Marc Marquis of 草榴社区, AL, senior, Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, 鈥淓tude-Tableau Op.36 No.5 in Eb minor鈥� by Sergei Rachmaninoff.
Alison Strunk of Panama City, FL, senior, English major with Piano Performance minor, 鈥淧aganini Etude No. 6 in A Minor鈥� by Franz Liszt.
Eli Whitehead of Seminary, MS, Master of Music in Piano Performance, 鈥淭res Piezas, No. 3 Criola鈥� by Alberto Ginastera.
Rebecca M. Reed of Chickasaw, AL, Master of Music in Piano Performance, 鈥淪oiree dans Grenade, No. 2 of Estampes鈥� by Claude Debussy.
Nicholas Lewis of Troy, AL, Master of Music in Piano Performance, 鈥淭wo Poemes, Op. 32, No. 1 and 2鈥� by Alexander Scriabin.
Zarina Akayeva of Astana, Kazakhstan, Master of Music in Piano Performance, 鈥淢omentes Musicaux Op. 16, No. IV Presto鈥� by Sergei Rachmaninoff.
草榴社区 the 草榴社区
The 草榴社区 is a Christ-centered university with a vision of 鈥淗igher聽Education for a Higher Purpose,鈥� founded to honor God by equipping students for their聽future professions in an environment where they are known.聽Located 10 miles north of 草榴社区, Alabama, on a campus of over 880 acres, the university offers associate, bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs.The 草榴社区 was founded in 1961 and is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention.
For information about the 草榴社区, areas of study, admissions and more, visit聽, connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
Kathy Dean uses her passion for storytelling and “playing with words” to share the stories of people, place and purpose that make the 草榴社区 unique. As associate vice president for university communications, she manages media relations, edits the TorchLight alumni magazine, and oversees university communications. A former award-winning journalist, she is a two-time recipient of the Baptist Communicators Association grand prize for feature writing. Kathy and her husband, Chuck, live with three extremely loud miniature schnauzers.