2008 Barr Concert Series

WESLEYAN MUSIC PRESENTS THE BARR INVITATIONAL DUO-PIANO RECITAL

The annual Barr Invitational Duo-Piano Recital series begins on Tuesday, March 25, 2008. Named for piano donors and philanthropists Dr. Howard and Mrs. Patricia Barr, the series is designed to encourage and promote duo-piano performance by talented professional artists in the earlier stages of their career.

This year’s recitalists are Jessica Koebbe and Lori Dunn. The concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Martin Hall with admission free and open to the public.

The five-piece piano program features a range of composers, from the romantic period's Johannes Brahms to the modern Dmitri Shostakovich. The duo will open with Five Spanish Dances by Moritz Moskowski. Works by Brahms and Darius Milhaud will follow. The second half of the program will feature Camille Saint-Saëns' Variations on a Theme by Beethoven and end with Shostakovich's Concertino for Two Pianos.

Lori Dunn, pianist, performs both nationally and internationally as a soloist and collaborative artist. She was a founding member of the Orenunn Trio (consisting of cello, trumpet and piano) and performed with the group throughout the Midwest in 2004. Dunn earned her Bachelor of Music in piano performance from the University of Kansas, and was honored as “Outstanding Senior Pianist.” She received a Master of Music in piano performance from Texas Christian University, and was awarded the 2005-2006 “Faculty and Friends Chamber Music Award.” Currently, she has a studio of 35 students in the Southlake and Fort Worth area, and enjoys accompanying local choirs and soloists and playing for Epworth United Methodist Church.

Jessica Koebbe, adjunct piano instructor at Texas Wesleyan, graduated from the University of Kansas with highest distinction in 2002 with a Bachelor of Music in piano performance. In 2004, she graduated with a Master of Music in piano performance from Texas Christian University under the instruction of Harold Martina. During undergraduate and graduate work, she participated in many musical events, including being a featured performer in the University of Kansas Undergraduate Honors Recital as well as the Texas Christian University Honors Recital, and placing at several local, state, and regional piano competitions. Since completing her master’s degree, Koebbe has continued to perform concerts in Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri. Koebbe has served on the faculty of the TCU preparatory school since 2002 and has also held an adjunct faculty position at Texas Wesleyan University as piano instructor since 2006. Her recent activities include accompanying on recent compact disc recording, Collage, by trombonist Bryan English, assistant professor of music at Texas Wesleyan, and performing with the Fort Worth-based Spectrum chamber music series.

The Barr Invitational Duo-Piano Recital series was created to recognize and continue appreciation for the donation to the Music Department by Dr. and Mrs. Barr of three of their personal grand pianos – including the two Baldwin SD-10 concert instruments used on this occasion.

Martin Hall was renovated with the generous gifts of Nicholas and Louella Martin and reopened in October 2002. Now, the 600-seat hall is the music department’s premier performance space, hosting concerts, recitals and university and community events. Martin Hall is located at 1309 Wesleyan St. at the northeast corner of Rosedale Street and Wesleyan Street on the Texas Wesleyan University Historic Campus in east Fort Worth. Free parking is available on campus.

For more details, contact the Department of Music at (817) 531-4992 or visit them on the Web at http://www.txwes.edu/music/music/index.htm.

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