Lee University welcomes back Accordion Virtuosi for Presidential Concert

Accordion Virtuosi of Russian was founded by Pavel Smirnov, and three generations of his family have played in the ensemble.
Accordion Virtuosi of Russian was founded by Pavel Smirnov, and three generations of his family have played in the ensemble.

Accordion Virtuosi prove they can squeeze out more musical styles than polkas from their instruments - their concerts can include anything Strauss waltzes to a sabre dance.

Lee University will welcome back Accordion Virtuosi of Russia to its Cleveland, Tenn., campus for the Presidential Concert on Tuesday, Feb. 13. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. in Pangle Hall, 180 Central Ave. in Cleveland.

The accordion players first performed at Lee in 2015.

"When we booked Accordion Virtuosi the first time," says Lee President Paul Conn, "we didn't know quite what to expect. We invited them because of the wonderful reviews they were getting in major cities.

"The result was one of the most unusual and delightful programs ever on our series. The crowd loved it. We immediately went to work to arrange a return visit. This is a concert you don't want to miss!"

With a repertoire that encompasses musical genres ranging from folk music to rock songs, Accordion Virtuosi has performed at venues such as Olympia Hall in Paris, the Great Philharmonic Hall in St. Petersburg and Verona's Arena in Paris. The ensemble has toured in Austria, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Norway, Spain, Japan and the U.S.

Founded in 1943 by Professor Pavel Smirnov, the ensemble has been led by three generations of the Smirnov family. Smirnov's sons, Yuri and Vladimir, currently lead Accordion Virtuosi of Russia.

Tickets are $15 adults, $5 for seniors and children. They can be purchased at the Lee University Box Office in Dixon Center or by contacting 423-614-8343.

Campus Concerts

Three area universities are hosting choral and instrumental concerts on their campuses Saturday and Sunday. All performances are free and open to the public.

photo The world-famous Fisk Jubilee Singers will perform Saturday evening in Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists as part of Southern Adventist University's Black History Month activities.

Fisk Jubilee Singers Concert

» Where: Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists, 4829 College Drive

» When: 6 p.m Saturday, Feb. 10

The two-time Grammy-nominated Jubilee Singers have won a Dove Award and were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

Centennial Tribute to Leonard Bernstein

» Where: Southern Adventist University, Ackerman Auditorium

» When: 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10

Two SAU musical groups, the Wind Symphony and Jazz Ensemble, pay tribute to Leonard Bernstein in a pops concert with pieces from "West Side Story," "Wonderful Town," "On the Town" and more in "Happy Birthday, Lenny!" The famous composer would have been 100 years old this year.

UTC Symphony Orchestra Concerto Concert

» Where: UTC Fine Arts Center, 752 Vine St.

» When: 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11

Directed by Sandy Morris, this 60-member college-community orchestra will perform the overture to "The Magic Flute," Vivaldi's Concerto in C Major for piccolo featuring Mikaela Parker, Weber's "Concertino for Clarinet" with Diego de Cordova performing. The concert will conclude with Xinwen Zhang's performance of the first movement of Mendelssohn's Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 25.

Lee Symphonic Band Concert

» Where: Lee University, Conn Center, 150 11th St., Cleveland, Tenn.

» When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11

The Symphonic Band is made up of select brass, woodwind and percussion instrumentalists, directed by Mark Bailey.

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