News        from ABAC

Michael D. Chason Director of Public Relations ABAC 30 -- 2802 Moore Highway Tifton, GA 31793-2601 Phone 229-391-5055 Fax 229-391-5051 mchason@abac.edu

IMMEDIATE March 24, 2009

Dr. Matthew Hoch Ben Harris

FIRST TUESDAY CONCERT AT ABAC APRIL 7

TIFTON –The First Tuesday Concert at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College on April 7 will feature Dr. Brian Nedvin, tenor; Dr. Matthew Hoch, baritone; and piano accompanist Ben Harris. They will perform classical pieces from Bach, Strauss, Bizet, and other composers.

The concert will take place at 7 p.m. in the ABAC Chapel of All Faiths. Tickets for the performance can be purchased at the door. The cost is $3 for adults and $1 for students. ABAC students are admitted free with ID. Patrons of the Arts and Entertainment Series can attend at no charge. An art exhibit and refreshments will be held in the ABAC music building immediately after the concert.

Nedvin is an Assistant Professor of Music at Shorter College, where he teaches applied voice, diction, and opera role preparation. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from Bucknell University, his Master of Music degree from Eastman School of Music, and his Doctorate of Musical Arts degree at the University of North Texas. He has appeared as a leading tenor at the New York City Opera, Washington Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Edmonton Opera, Arizona Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Bonn Stadt Opera, and the Dortmund Opera. He has sung numerous times as a soloist at Carnegie Hall with Opera Orchestra of New York.

Hoch is also an Assistant Professor of Music at Shorter College, where he teaches applied voice and vocal literature courses. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree, summa cum laude, from Ithaca College with a triple major in vocal performance, music education, and music theory; his Master of Music degree from the Hartt School with a double major in vocal performance and music history; and his Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in vocal performance and literature from the New England Conservatory. Hoch is active as a solo performer in oratorio, opera, art song, chamber music, and musical theatre.

Harris is an Instructor of Music at Shorter College, where he also serves a vocal coach and accompanist. He received his Master of Music degree in accompanying from Baylor University, his Bachelor’s of Music degree in piano performance from Oklahoma Baptist University, and his Associate of Arts degree in piano and organ performance from Frank Phillips College. He served as ballet accompanist for the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute. Harris has also served as a staff accompanist for the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS) summer program in Graz, Austria. He has been heard as a chamber musician on National Public Radio’s “Performance Today” program.

The First Tuesday Concert Series takes place on five selected first Tuesdays during the academic year. Dr. Susan Roe, associate professor of voice at ABAC, directs the series. For more information, contact Roe at (229) 391-4943.

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