The clarinet recital that Frostburg State University faculty member Dr. Mark Gallagher will perform on Friday, April 24, will hold a special meaning for him as he performs in memory of his late mother, Barbara Gallagher, who passed away in January.
Gallagher will be performing as part of the Department of Music Faculty Artist Series at 8 p.m. at Emmanuel Episcopal Church on Washington Street in Cumberland.
“My mom was a pianist and loved music,” Gallagher said. “She encouraged and supported me all throughout college and into my playing career. When she was able, she tried to hear me in performance whenever she could, which included a trip to New York City when I made my New York debut.”
His program will include “Six Studies in English Folks” by Ralph Vaughn Williams, “Dancing Solo” by Libby Larsen, “Concertino” by Carl Maria von Weber, “Sonata” by Leonard Bernstein and “Night Piece” by Arthur Foote. Betty Jane Phillips will accompany him on piano.
For Gallagher, the pieces selected hold special memories and connections in his lifetime with his mother, including “Six Studies,” his first piece performed at a Solo and Ensemble Contest. The performance did not go well, but it is his mother’s comfort and encouragement that he carries from the experience. As for his final selection, his own arrangement of “Night Piece,” “I've decided to end the program with that work as a peaceful homage to her.”
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the FSU Department of Music at 301-687-4109.
FSU is committed to making all of its programs, services and activities accessible to persons with disabilities. To request accommodations through the ADA Compliance Office, call 301-687-4102 or use a Voice Relay Operator at 1-800-735-2258.
