UVa-Wise professor, alumna to perform joint piano recitals

Feb. 29, March 3

The University of Virginia’s College at Wise invites the community to piano recitals by Professor Emeritus of Music D. Michael Donathan and UVa-Wise alumna Kathy Thacker Stewart on Friday, Feb. 29 at 1 p.m. and Monday, March 3 at 8 p.m. The recitals will be presented in the Chapel of All Faiths at UVa-Wise.

The recitals, presented in honor of Donathan’s 70th birthday, will feature works by Volk, Schubert, Mozart, Gottschalk, Naoumoff and Brahms.

Donathan and Stewart have been performing together at the keyboard since 1986.

Donathan retired from full-time teaching in 2002 after 26 years of service to the College, where he was the founding chair of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts. Donathan also founded and directed the College Community Choir, the UVa-Wise Chamber Choir and numerous student choirs. He was named the a Distinguished Professor in 2002 and received the Buck Henson Student Life Award in 2004 for his volunteer work with College student organizations.

A 1977 alumna of the College, Stewart is an instructor at UVa-Wise and is a former president of the College’s Alumni Association. She also serves as a reading specialist with Wise County Schools, and she has performed as an accompanist for UVa-Wise choral performances since 1983.

The recitals are free and open to the public. Students attending the recitals may fulfill a cultural activities credit.

For more information, contact the Office of College Relations at 276-328-0130, or e-mail D. Michael Donathan at dmd5x@uvawise.edu.

Posted February 15, 2008