By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Campbellsville University School of Music faculty member Dr. David Hedrick will present a lecture-recital on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 8 p.m. in The Gheens Recital Hall.
The public is invited to the free lecture-recital.
Hedrick's topic will be the life and music of Stephen Collins Foster, American songwriter born on July 4, 1826, and died at the age of 38 on Jan. 13, 1864. The program will consist of eight Foster songs and one instrumental composition.
The songs are arranged by Hedrick and will be accompanied by a CU string ensemble.
As a CU faculty member, Hedrick teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in music education, choral arranging and applied voice.
In the program, Hedrick will perform one stanza of Foster's original composition for voice and piano and then perform his arrangement with the string ensemble. The performers will be featured at a later date on radio station WUOL, the classical music station in Louisville, on the popular Lunchtime Classics program.
Hedrick retired in 2006 from public schools after completing his 28th year. Before coming to teach at CU three years ago, he was director of vocal music at Shelby County High School in Shelbyville, Ky., where he served a total of 23 years.
During his tenure at SCHS, his choirs consistently received Distinguished ratings at the KMEA Regional Assessment Festival and the State Music Assessment.
Hedrick received his bachelor of science degree with a music area (K-12 certification) from Campbellsville University and his master of music in education from Eastern Kentucky University.
He holds a doctorate in education from the University of Sarasota in Fla. As a professional musician, he has sung in opera, oratorio, musical theater and vocal recitals. He has presented numerous lectures and seminars in vocal music education.
Having spent more than 40 years as a church musician, he has also been associated with the outdoor musical drama, “Stephen Foster - The Musical,” for 36 years, where he presently serves as associate musical director and musical arranger.
He has been on two major tours to Japan with the “Foster” company, and his choirs have toured throughout the United States. He has worked with large and small choral groups, including award-winning ensembles.
Hedrick is a member of the Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA) and Music Education National Convention (MENC).
He continues to perform professionally, is a frequent adjudicator for festival assessments and is a published composer for Lorenz Music Publishing Co. He is co- author of the popular high school textbook “Humanities for High School Students” and the accompanying “Teacher's Resource Guide.”
For more information, contact the School of Music at (270) 789-5237.
Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,601 students who represent 93 Kentucky counties, 27 states and 31 foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News & World Report's 2009 “America's Best Colleges,” CU is ranked 22nd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the South for the second consecutive year. CU has been ranked 16 consecutive years with U.S.News & World Report. The university has also been named to America's Best Christian Colleges®. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his tenth year as president.