Sunday, March 23rd, 2025

2:00 p.m.

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Cantrell Hall 

The University of Virginia's College at Wise

1 College Avenue, Wise, VA 24293

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Free and open to the public

W. Campbell Edmonds Concert Series

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A unique concert adventure of classic favorites from Bach to Brahms, The Beatles and Bluegrass, as well as music inspired by nature's awakening from all over the world featuring seven-time Grammy nominee and

Grammy award-winning cellist/pianist/composer Dave Eggar with renowned piano soloist Yifei Xu, fiddle virtuoso Dan Qiao, and classical and world percussionist/composer Brandon Williams, with special guest

Grammy-nominated guitarist Phil Faconti.

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Dave Eggar has appeared as a featured solo performer at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Barbican Center London, the Sydney Opera House, Aspen Music Festival, Lincoln Center and more. His mission to “not just cross over, but to cross through” multiple genres of music is apparent with all of his releases. Whether it’s classical, reggae, bluegrass, jazz, pop, or world music, he finds a common voice within his musical vocabulary and introduces it with his own unique and imaginative vision.

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New York - based Chinese pianist Yifei Xu has been acclaimed for her charismatic stage presence and appraised as an “incredibly passionate and logical pianist,” with “an amazing demonstration of prodigious skills” and “unique touches for the distinctive sound.” The adaptability of Xu's programming to traditional Baroque, Classical, Romantic repertoires and the Avant-garde style of current modern times, speaks to the range of her versatility. Her performances over the years span many cities and prestigious venues in Asia, Europe, America such as Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Harvard Club of New York City, Bryant Park, Merkin Hall at Lincoln Center, BargeMusic, Roulette, The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, Noguchi Museum, and the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, among others. 

Dan Qiao has enjoyed a vibrant career as a violinist performing in concerts worldwide, including in China, Europe, and the USA. She began playing violin at the age of 4 and attended the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing for her master’s degree. In 2015, she moved to the United States to pursue a second master’s as well as a doctoral degree at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Qiao has performed as a solo and chamber musician at prestigious festivals around the world. In 2019, she played a chamber music recital in France with legendary violinist Maxim Vengerov. She has also played in Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Dan has received many honors and awards for her work as a solo and chamber musician, including 1st prize in chamber music at the Beijing International Harp Music Festival, 1st place and top scholarship at the Three Arts Scholarship Competition, and is a multi-time winner of the CCM concerto competition. 

​​​​Brandon Williams, a percussionist hailing from Salt Lake City, Utah, holds a BA in music from the University of Utah and is currently pursuing his master's degree in music at Carnegie Mellon University. Prior to his move to Pittsburgh, Brandon distinguished himself as the Principal Percussionist of the Salt Lake Symphony. His musical prowess extends beyond traditional orchestral settings, as evidenced by his role as a percussionist for The MT Pit and contributions to recordings such as Mean Girls The Musical. Notably, Brandon lent his talent to the recording of David Maslanka's Symphony #10 with the University of Utah Wind Ensemble. Brandon is recognized for his exceptional versatility, seamlessly navigating classical orchestral styles and pushing boundaries with groundbreaking contemporary repertoires in solo percussion, wind ensemble, percussion ensemble, and orchestral music.

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Phil Faconti is a two time Grammy nominated producer. Faconti has performed throughout the United States and in Europe as a solo guitarist. His unique blend of classical, flamenco and contemporary styles creates a captivating musical journey for the listener, elegant and expressive. His recent recording endeavors include Lewis Capaldi, Foreigner, ZAYN, Norah Jones, Five For Fighting, Dave Eggar & Tasha Warren, Amber Rubarth, Ricky Montgomery, A Great Big World, Joey Bada$$ and more. A Brooklyn native, he now resides in Bristol Virginia/TN.

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Pro-Art partners with a variety of venues, therefore individuals with accessibility needs or general questions are encouraged to call (276) 376-4520 or email the Pro-Art office at pro-art@uvawise.edu. For evolving conditions related to weather cancellations, or similar unforeseen circumstances, patrons are encouraged to check proartva.org for up-to-date information. 

Pro-Art is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as the C. Bascom Slemp Foundation, The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, Mountain Empire Community College, the Columbus Phipps Foundation, and the Lee County Community Foundation.

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