Afternoon of string performances to benefit Gaineswood, Two Rivers Arts Council
Friends of Gaineswood and Two Rivers Arts Council have teamed up to present “Strings in Demopolis,” an afternoon of instrumental music by Giovanni De Chiaro and “Dr. Bonnie and Friends” at two different sites.
The moving event Sunday, Oct. 10, will start on the grounds of the historic Gaineswood house museum at 2:30 p.m., said Nancy Lindsey, site director. The hour-long concert is free and open to the public, but donations are welcomed. With a $50 donation to the Friends of Gaineswood, new members will receive the annual newsletter and a pass for one free tour.
Lindsey said 50 chairs will be provided for those attending. She encouraged people to bring their own chairs or blankets in case attendance exceeds the chairs available.
Lindsey said De Chiaro offered to perform a benefit for Gaineswood after he toured the home and saw the need for funding to preserve the site. He will have books and CDs for sale, and proceeds from purchases will benefit Gaineswood.
The second part of the afternoon event will begin at 4 p.m. at the Marengo County History and Archives Museum on Walnut Street. Dr. Bonnie Rice, music director at the Demopolis First United Methodist Church, and several fellow musicians will perform.
Again, there is no charge, but donations to benefit the Two Rivers Arts Council will be appreciated.
An American classical guitarist, De Chiaro, made his debut in 1976 at Carnegie Hall. Since then his talents have taken him throughout the country as well as Canada, South America, Europe and Mexico. De Chiaro is a recording artist, has released four anthologies of his transcriptions and has filmed two programs for PBS .
He was professor of guitar at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg for 25 years and now is Artist in Residence for the Rapides Parish School System in Alexandria, La., where he also is founder and director of the Alexandria Youth Orchestra. De Chiaro now serves as professor of classical guitar at Louisiana College in Pineville, La.
“Dr. Bonnie,” a native of Birmingham, earned her B.S. in Theology and Church Music from Southeastern Bible College. At the University of Alabama she received her master’s degree in music followed in December of 2018, by her doctoral degree in Musical Arts.
The accomplished musician plays piano, organ, cello and guitar and often performs cello with the Starkville, Miss., Symphony Orchestra and other regional orchestras.
She leads all the music programs at UMC and plays the organ for worship services. She is a past member of the Two Rivers Arts Council Board of Directors.