JSU Music Faculty Recital Slated for Oct. 13

10/09/2015

JSU’s Dr. Jeremy Benson will perform a recital of music from different musical periods on Tuesday, October 13, 2015. Special guests include: Christopher-Joel Carter, piano; Joe Lester, violin; Samantha Lester, viola, and JSU student Bryce Anderson, cello. 

Hailed by the New York Times as "Powerful and Passionate," Dr. Jeremy Benson, joined the faculty at the David L. Walters Department of Music in the fall of 2011 where he teaches applied flute, music literature courses, and graduate music history. In 2012, he received the Ray & Ruth Ringer Award, which is presented to one JSU faculty member annually. As an active soloist, chamber musician, and adjudicator, Dr. Benson was named a first prize winner at the 2011 Alexander & Buono International Flute Competition, and he performed a New York City debut solo recital at Carnegie Hall in October 2011. He was also the First Prize Winner at the Kentucky Flute Society's Concerto Competition in 2010. He has served on adjudication panels for several national flute competitions and master classes in addition to being a lecturer and performer at national and regional flute conventions. He is the Principal Flutist in the Gadsden Symphony and often plays piccolo with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra.

Benson completed degrees at Jacksonville State University (BA), Florida State University (MM), and the doctor of musical arts degree in flute performance from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. He is the leading researcher and expert about flute compositions by the contemporary Japanese-French composer Yuko Uѐbayashi, and his doctoral research serves as the only primary source about Uѐbayashi and her original flute compositions.

Information about Benson’s latest album, “Pure HYMNagination,” can be found here.

Selections for the program include: a flute and string quartet by Mozart- “Quartet in D Major,” “Gershwin Rhapsody” (an arrangement by Benson and Carter), “Strauss Sonata in E Flat Major”, “Schumann Sonata in A minor” and other others.

Special guest pianist Christopher-Joel Carter has been the reigning champion in the Liberace Piano Competition in Las Vegas since 2008 and has performed as the headlining pianist at the M Resort. He was selected Master of Ceremonies during the Celebration Finale Concert at Liberace’s 91st birthday celebration at the Liberace Museum. Professionally, he is active as the accompanist for the Florence Camerata, in North Alabama. 

This event will take place in the Mason Hall Performance Center on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free.