As the Eastern Music Festival (EMF) is coming to a close this week, you have only a few more opportunities to hear wonderful classical music by EMF students who have spent the summer honing their performance skills. This year, there are about 250 students from 41 US states and nine countries.* EMF has been special to us in Greensboro since its origin 61 years ago. It is a chance to showcase our city to all of the participants from elsewhere.
The above photo features Dr. Judie Davie Wright and John Keane. John is the 2022 recipient of the Dr. Kieth Wright Cello Scholarship. John studies at Shenandoah University with Julian Schwartz. Dr. Davie Wright arranged the scholarship in her husband's honor shortly after his death. Dr. Wright retired from UNCG and Dr. Davie Wright from Guilford County Schools. After books, libraries, storytelling, and preparing people for a library science career, the EMF was one of their favorite activities; they were season ticket holders. Dr. Wright was especially fond of cello music. At the time the decision was being made to underwrite a scholarship, there wasn't an EMF cello scholarship, so the choice was an easy one. To date, there have been seven recipients of the Dr. Kieth Wright Cello Scholarship.
On the evening we attended EMF with Dr. Davie Wright (July 15), John was performing in the student orchestra, and he stopped by for a quick visit with us during intermission. Additionally, after the July 22nd student concert, John performed a brief concert for his parents, who hail from Richmond, VA, his girlfriend, and for Dr. Davie Wright. What a nice gesture and a great example of how sometimes when we give, we receive even more in return. Let's hope all EMF participants all have a chance to make some local, Greensboro, connections.
*Jennifer Fernandez, News & Record, p. A2 July 24, 2022.
A fine portrait shot.
Posted by: William Kendall | Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 06:44 PM