The Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center will host three renowned musicians on Wednesday for an evening of chamber music. 

Assistant Piano Professor Jessica Welsh, Cello Instructor Sarah Berry, and Sara Sasaki invite attendees to join them for a master class in the Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center, Room 189, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Welsh will play piano, Berry will play the cello, and special guest Sasaki will play the violin. 

Welsh said she was inspired by this event because it featured a performance with Sasaki, a close friend. Sasaki and Welsh had shared many musical experiences in Dallas. Welsh and Sasaki lived in Dallas before Welsh moved to WKU. Welsh said she is excited to introduce Sasaki to her students and colleagues, as well as showcase her new home in Bowling Green.

Sasaki is based in Austin, Texas, and offers violin and viola lessons to students of all ages.  

The sets of songs they will be performing are:

• “Three Negro Spirituals,” by Florence Price, which includes: “O Holy Lord,” “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian” and “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child.”
• “Road Movies,” by John Adams, which includes: “Relaxed Groove,” “Contemplative” and “40% Swing.”
• “Midnight on the Water/ Bonaparte’s Retreat,” by Mark O’Connor.
• “Café Music,” by Paul Schoenfield, which includes: “Allegro,” “Rubato-Andante Moderato” and “Presto.”
• “Hoe-Down,” from “Rodeo” by Aaron Copland.

For the program, Welsh said, they chose a selection of American repertoire that emphasizes spiritual and jazz influences, particularly given that Sasaki is skilled in both classical and folk styles of violin playing. The repertoire ranges from popular 20th-century American pieces to Florence Price, an African American composer whose music is beginning to receive more attention, according to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

“We selected all American repertoire that is spiritual and/or jazz-inspired, because our guest artist, Sara Sasaki, is equally at home in the classical and fiddle realms of violin performance,” Welsh said.

Welsh hopes the performance will connect performers and the audience, and said that shared musical experience can enhance understanding and show the importance of diversity.  

“My hope is that students will experience new-to-them repertoire that is diverse and paints a picture of our diverse experiences as Americans,” said Welsh. “And my hope is that this shared experience reminds us all that our unique perspectives make us better collectively.”