The Evangel University Orchestra will present its spring concert on Thursday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the Spence Chapel Auditorium.
The featured soloist for the program is Springfield Symphony principal cellist and Evangel University adjunct professor, Matthew Pierce.
The concert is free and open to the public.
The Evangel University Orchestra is under the direction of Dr. Larry Dissmore, who is completing his 30th year on the Evangel faculty. The orchestra is comprised this year of 44 student musicians pursuing majors in music, as well as a variety of other fields available at the University.
The program will include various selections by European and Latin American composers.
Pierce will be the featured soloist in the Cello Concerto in A Minor by Camille Saint-Saens. In addition, the Orchestra will perform Offenbach’s Overture to Orpheus in the Underworld, the “Berceuse and Finale” from Stravinsky’s Firebird, and the Danzon No. 2 by Arturo Marquez.
About Pierce
Matthew Pierce serves as the adjunct cello professor at Evangel University.
Across town, his new position as principal cellist of the Springfield Symphony is the latest in an orchestral career that stretches across two decades and a number of states.
Pierce’s resume highlights include a combined twelve seasons as principal cellist of the Plymouth Philharmonic and the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestras while in New England, ten further seasons with the Missouri, Cedar Rapids, and South Dakota Symphonies while in the Midwest, and ongoing seasons with the Springfield-Drury Civic Orchestra and the Springfield Regional Opera while here in town.
A new resident of Springfield, Pierce is also an avid chamber music performer, appearing regularly with Evangel’s Excelsis Piano Trio and with other chamber groups throughout the region.
The Department of Music at Evangel University offers majors in music, music education, music performance, music business/technology and worship leadership. Each program is carefully designed to ensure that students build strong musical skills, gain professional training and experience a wide range of musical activities.