KINGA AUGUSTYN, VIOLIN & MICHAEL BARON, PIANO

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4

3:00 p.m.

Polish-American violinist Kinga Augustyn is a versatile New York City-based virtuoso performer and recording artist. “Stylish and vibrant” (The Strad), and “beyond amazing, one hell of a violinist!” (Fanfare), Augustyn has performed as a soloist with orchestras in the United States, Europe and Asia. As a recitalist and chamber musician, Kinga has appeared at the Stern Auditorium and the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Aspen Music Festival, the Chicago Cultural Center, Teatro Ristori and Gran Teatro La Fenice. For this recital she partners with pianist Michael Baron in presenting masterpieces for violin and piano, and solo violin.

A Celebration Of Spirituals

VALERIE FRANCIS, soprano

IMANI SARAI FRANCIS, soprano

MICHAEL BARON, piano

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10

7:30 p.m.

Dr. Valerie Francis, Director of Opera at Nicholls State University, Executive Artistic Director for the Celebration of the Negro Spiritual Concert Series, and the Nicholls State University Gospel Choir will be joined by her daughter, emerging artist Imani Sarai Francis, first-place winner in the Advanced American Negro Spiritual category at the National Association of Teachers of Singing Southern Region Competition in their first concert in the Nisita Concert Series. This amazing mother and daughter artist duo celebrate the African American Spirituals in performances and lectures throughout the United States and abroad. Their presentations preserve the Negro Spiritual literature, its proper performance practices, interpretation, historical significance, and vocal techniques.

Laila Biali Jazz Trio

LAILA BIALI, vocals

BRANDON ROBERTSON, bass

PAUL GAVIN, percussion

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20

7:30 p.m.

Join the multi-award-winning Canadian vocalist, pianist and songwriter Laila Biali for a memorable evening of live music as part of the Nisita Concert Series. Laila’s trio will feature bassist Brandon Robertson, Dorothy and John Guigon Endowed Director of Jazz Studies, and drummer Paul Gavin, masterfully mixing jazz and pop, bringing virtuosity and unpredictability to songs that are concise and catchy. Expect pop hits reimagined, jazz classics as you’ve never heard them before, Canadian songbook gems, plenty of original material and personal stories that weave it all together with warmth and joy.

SPENCER MYER, PIANO

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29

7:30 p.m.

Laila Biali

Lauded for “superb playing” and “poised, alert musicianship” by the Boston Globe, and labelled “definitely a man to watch” by London’s The Independent after his 2012 Wigmore Hall recital debut, American pianist Spencer Myer is one of the most respected and soughtafter artists on today’s concert stage. Myer has garnered stellar audience and critical acclaim from around the globe and is rapidly establishing himself as one of the most outstanding pianists of his generation. Currently an Associate Professor at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, his appearance in the Nisita Concert Series will be highlighted by a performance of all 24 Debussy Preludes.