FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 25, 2007

Contact: K.E. Schwab  

724.738.2199

 karl.schwab@sru.edu

Teaching violin, viola by day; featured soloist by night

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – By day he’s Warren Davidson, an instructor of music who teaches violin and viola and conducts of the Slippery Rock University Symphony Orchestra. But at night, he takes bow in hand slips into his black tie and tux and becomes featured soloist who plays the subtleties of such respected composers as Max Bruch with the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra.

           Davidson, who joined the SRU faculty in 2001, was profiled in a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review feature last Thursday by Bob Karlovits. The story detailed Davidson’s solo work in the season-opening concert with the Westmoreland orchestra at the Palace Theatre in Greensburg.

            Davidson serves as concertmaster for the Westmoreland Symphony and the Altoona Symphony Orchestra in Blair County and serves as principal viola for the McKeesport Symphony Orchestra.

            The Bruch work, one of Davidson’s favorites, gives him “a thrill,” he told Karlovits. “We all revere the Beethoven concerto and the Brahms concerto, but we love Bruch.” He said the second movement is “fabulous” and the overall work is exceedingly melodic because it lets a soloist “sing, sing and sing.” Talking after the concert, Davidson said, “The audience response was very gratifying.”

            His conductor, Kypros Markou praises Davidson calling him a “collaborator and colleague” with the orchestra. Davidson joined the Westmoreland symphony in 1982.

            He earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy and his master’s degree in violin at Duquesne University, and then worked for a year in Italy.

                When not teaching, or playing in one of the symphonic orchestras, Davidson plays with the Academy Orchestra, a group he founded.

            As if these activities didn’t keep him busy enough, he is a finalist in the Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra’s search for a new conductor.

Slippery Rock University is Pennsylvania’s premier public residential university. Slippery Rock University provides students with a comprehensive learning experience that intentionally combines academic instruction with enhanced educational and learning opportunities that make a positive difference in their lives.

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