FMU’s South Carolina Chamber Music Festival returns for sixth year

The South Carolina Chamber Music Festival, produced by Francis Marion University’s Dr. Paolo Gualdi, will make its way to Florence for its sixth season and a full week of classical chamber music beginning on Monday, Feb. 19.

The festival will once again bring together world-class musicians from Brazil, Serbia, Hungary, Italy and the United States.

All festival events will be held in the Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center’s Black Box Theater, so purchasing tickets in advance through the FMU Performing Arts Center box office is recommended. Ticket prices for all 7:30 p.m. performances are $5 for the general public, though students from FMU and are admitted free to all events with a valid student I.D., but are required to have a ticket as well.

The festival kicks off on Monday, Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m. as wife and husband combo Danijela Zezelj-Gualdi and Paolo Andre’ Gualdi present “Masterworks Violin and Piano” with music by Beethoven, Ravel, and Sarasate.

On Tuesday, special guests Duo Sureño (voice and guitar) will join forces with our own FMU MI Faculty, performing music by Villa-Lobos, Diabelli and others for the Festival’s Faculty and Friends night.

Wednesday night will see renowned percussion master Kobie Watkins premiering and recording a new, original work FMU’s music professor Dr. Brandon Goff. The recording session will begin at 7 p.m.

Thursday’s penultimate performance will be highlighted by Elizabeth Loparits and Mauricy Martin’s piano duet Where Europe Meets South America. Music by Schubert, Brahms and more.

On Friday night, the acclaimed Richter Uzur Duo, comprised of guitarist Brad Richter and cellist Viktor Uzur, will take the stage to perform From Bartók to Beatles, a clever mix of contemporary and classical arrangements.