Office of Communications

Contact: Laura Hanna

Director of Communications

Office: (817) 531-4498

lhanna@txwes.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INTERNATIONAL VIOLINIST TO PERFORM  BENEFIT CONCERT AT TEXAS WESLEYAN SEPT. 28

Violinist Mikhail Barash, classically trained in the former Soviet Union and a performer on the international concert circuit, will bring his acclaimed performance to Texas Wesleyan University at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28.

The Fort Worth stage is a familiar arena for Barash; it was here that he made his first professional appearance after immigrating to the United States in 1979. Barash performed with the Fort Worth Chamber Orchestra.

Soon after, however, Barash was involved in an automobile accident that injured his left hand and appeared to end his musical career. For more than 20 years, he did not play his violin.

Only after continued support from family and friends did he finally regain his confidence and restart his music. He has recently recorded two CDs and in July he performed before a large audience in Austria.

“He is making a graduated comeback,” said Dr. John Fisher, chairman of the music department at Texas Wesleyan. “He loves to play. He is outstanding. He has a fabulous instrument and a great command of it. He is a real force.”

Fisher said there has been a lot of local interest in Barash’s concert. “He will be playing several beloved violin favorites,” Fisher said. “Chestnuts, I would call them . . . romantic musical favorites that make for an evening of great musical pleasure.”

Selections include compositions by Fritz Kreisler, Franz Schubert, Johannes Brahms, and Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov.

Barash’s performance will take place in Martin Hall, 1309 Wesleyan St. A reception will follow. Both events are free and open to the public. All donations will be used for music scholarships.

For more information about the performance, call the Texas Wesleyan Department of Music at 817-531-4992. To RSVP for the concert, contact Jeannie Conner at 817-531-6548 or jconner@txwes.edu.