Maestro Robert Bernhardt
The Lee University Symphony Orchestra will take the stage with pianist Jim Witter to present the music of Simon and Garfunkel for the next installment of Lee’s Presidential Concert Series. The performance will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m. in the Conn Center.
The Lee Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Maestro Robert Bernhardt, who led the Chattanooga Symphony for 19 years and is a guest conductor for orchestras around the country. This is Mr. Witter’s second appearance at Lee, after he and the Lee Symphony Orchestra thrilled a large Conn Center crowd with the music of Elton John and Billy Joel in 2014.
Simon and Garfunkel's music is "classic stuff for all the Baby Boomer generation", says Lee president Dr. Paul Conn. The duo were two young men from Queens, New York, whose music dominated the popular folk-rock world throughout the 1960's. They recorded numerous #1 hits which have become classics, including "Sound of Silence," "Bridge Over Troubled Water," "Mrs. Robinson", and "I Am A Rock" which are recognizable anthems to all generations from the '60's to the present day.
Mr. Witter’s music and songwriting have been recognized on both sides of the border, earning him multiple awards and nominations from the Canadian Country Music Association, the Juno Awards, and the Dove Awards. From his first self-titled record to “All My Life” and “Forgiveness,” Witter has had 10 top ten radio hits in Canada, seven hit videos on CMT, and chart action in the United States on Billboard and R&R.
Maestro Bernhardt joined Lee's School of Music in the fall of 2011 as an artist-in-residence and conductor of the Lee Symphony Orchestra. He also serves as music director emeritus of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera and principal pops conductor of the Chattanooga, Grand Rapids and Louisville Symphonies. He was formerly the music director and conductor for 19 seasons with the CSO, and is the first to be named director emeritus.
Maestro Bernhardt has served in various capacities with the Sewanee Music Festival, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Lake Placid Sinfonietta, Kentucky Opera, Amarillo Symphony Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony, and the Boston Pops, among numerous others.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children and seniors. They can be purchased at the Lee University Box Office in the Dixon Center, or by contacting 614-8343, Monday-Friday, from 3-6 p.m.
For more information about the Presidential Concert Series, visit http://www.leeuniversity.edu/pcs or call the School of Music at 614-8240.
Jim Witter