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Published Friday, March 13, 2009 in Close-Up

Three artists join Wadsworth & Friends March 28 concert lineup

Three world-renowned classical musicians will join previously announced soprano Courtenay Budd and violinist Chee-Yun as they perform with Charles Wadsworth in his Wadsworth & Friends Concert March 28, at Newnan's Wadsworth Auditorium.

They include pianist Jeewon Park, who visited with Wadsworth in 2007; along with flutist Angela Jones-Reus and cellist Edward Arron.

Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. event are available at Scott's Bookstore in Newnan, Morgan's Jewelry in Ashley Park, and the Bank of Coweta at Thomas Crossroads. General seating adult tickets are $20 and senior/student tickets are $15.

Jeewon Park is rapidly garnering the attention of audiences for her dazzling technique, poetic lyricism, and artistic versatility. A native of Korea, she made her debut at the age of 12 with the Korean Symphony Orchestra. After having won numerous major honors in Korea, she moved to the United States in 2002, continued with her musical education, and earned degrees from The Juilliard School and Yale University.

Ms. Park has delighted concert audiences in her frequent appearances throughout the U.S. and internationally. She most recently recorded an album of chamber works, which was released in the fall of 2008. She has been heard in live broadcasts on National Public Radio and New York's classical radio station, WQXR. Additionally, her performances have been nationally broadcast throughout Korea. She lives in New York City with her husband, cellist Edward Arron, with whom she has performed regularly in concert since 2001.

Angela Jones-Reus has performed extensively as orchestral musician, soloist, and chamber musician throughout Europe, the United Kingdom, Japan, the United States, and South America, and can be heard on a great many classical music recordings. In 2008 she was invited to perform as principal flutist with the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra and will return to this prestigious festival again this summer.

Ms. Jones-Reus is a graduate of The Juilliard School (Master of Music, 1986) and the North Carolina School of the Arts (Bachelor of Music, 1985), and was the sole winner of the Fulbright Scholarship to Italy in music in 1987. Previously residing in Europe, she is currently Professor of Flute at the University of Georgia (since 2000) and is internationally active as a soloist, chamber musician, and teacher.

Edward Arron is a native of Cincinnati who began his studies on the cello at age seven. He grew up in New York, is a graduate of the Julliard School, and is rapidly gaining recognition worldwide for his elegant musicianship, impassioned performances, and creative programming.

Arron made his New York recital debut in 2000 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Earlier that year, he performed Vivaldi's Concerto for Two Cellos with Yo-Yo Ma and the Orchestra of St. Luke's at the Opening Night Gala of the Caramoor International Festival. Since that time, he has appeared in recital, as a soloist with orchestra, and as a chamber musician throughout the U.S, Europe, and Asia.

Also, Wadsworth, a one-time University of Georgia student, will return to the campus in Athens March 29 as host for a special concert as part of celebrations surrounding his 80th birthday.

"Charles Wadsworth and Friends" will be held in the Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall March 29 beginning at 7:30 p.m. The UGA concert is open free to the public.

Wadsworth, founder of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, will perform with UGA faculty member Angela Jones-Reuss, flute; Chee-Yun, violin; Edward Arron, cello; Courtenay Budd, soprano; and Jeewon Park, piano. The concert will include works by Bach, Saint-Saens, Brahms, Weber, Rachmaninoff and Wadsworth.

Wadsworth studied for eight years with Hugh Hodgson, the founder and first director of what is now the Hugh Hodgson School of Music at UGA and part of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. Hodgson and Despy Karlas, a retired music school faculty member and also his teacher at UGA, encouraged Wadsworth to attend the Julliard School of Music in New York City, and this led to his lifelong career as an international champion of chamber music performances.

Following his performance in Athens, he will travel the next day to Charleston, S.C., to begin his fiftieth and final year as chamber music director for the Piccolo Spoleto Arts Festival.

Wadsworth, who grew up in Newnan, has performed all over the world. He is married to Susan Wadsworth, a Vassar graduate and founder of Young Concert Artists, Inc. They reside in New York City and have been married for 50 years.