Belmont Abbey College offers a full season of concerts at the beautiful Abbey Basilica, 100 Belmont-Mt. Holly Rd. Belmont. Each of these concerts is free for all, but donations are accepted. The college is off exit 26 from I-85, and very close to Charlotte in nearby Gaston County.
All concerts are at 8 p.m. unless otherwise indicated.
2019/2020 season
Sept 23, 2019 Venezuelan Lopez-Tabor Duo from returns to the Abbey
Music from Europe and South America
The Lopez Tabor Duo, Alfonso Lopez, violin, and Michelle Tabor, piano, have performed and toured together since 2004. This is their 4th exciting appearance at the Abbey.
Alfonso Lopez is one of the most prominent and versatile musicians of his country. He holds the important position of concertmaster of the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra, the national and principal orchestra, which has been nominated twice (in 2013 and 2017) to receive a Latin Grammy award. He is also a conductor, teacher, and composer. Michelle Tabor grew up in Venezuela and now lives in Tallahassee, FL. She holds doctorate, masters, and bachelor’s degrees in music from Florida State University, the University of Denver, and Tulane University.
October 7, 2019 Medieval Songs and Stories – Carolina Pro Musica
From the Cantigas de Santa Maria (compiling encouraged by Alfonso X), to the rarely-heard Cantigas de Amigo, and selections from Carmina Burana, Carolina Pro Musica shares songs of the Blessed Virgin Mary, love and life.
Carolina Pro Musica was established in 1977 to promote the performance of music written before 1800 through the use of historic instruments and/or copies and in the performance practice of the periods in which the music was written. The ensemble has had a concert series since that time utilizing local churches and historic St. Mary’s Chapel, Charlotte. They have performed in the Southeast, in Boston during the Early Music Festival, and in Europe (Poland and the UK) including Handel’s London home, now a museum. Belmont Abbey College has honored them as Abbey Artists since 2001.
Nov 25, 2019 Dash Duo – trumpets with pianist Polina Khatsko
The Dash Duo and Polina Khatsko will lift your spirits with beautiful music by Ravel, Mozart, and Debussy. Founded in 2010, the Dash Duo has delighted audiences across the United States with their virtuoso performances. Husband and wife trumpeters Mary Elizabeth Bowden and David Dash teach at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts; Dash as the Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Bowden as a Resident Artist.
The Duo has given recitals and masterclasses at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Lee University, and the University of New Mexico as well as several concert series. They have performed as a duo with the Naples Concert Band and Naples Symphony Orchestra. Mary is a Yamaha Artist and has multiple recordings through Summit Records. She performs as an international soloist and chamber musician with her group, Seraph Brass. David is a member of the Santa Fe Opera and was previously a member of the Naples Philharmonic and “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. Mary and David perform together in the faculty quintet at UNCSA.
Dec 6, 2019 Holiday Concert
Annual concert by voice and instrumental students featuring music from around the world and carols for all to sing played on the basilica organ. The program will feature the Abbey Chorus and voice class plus instrumentalists. The program includes students and faculty. Music of the season will be diverse with familiar songs like “Carol of the Bells”, Christmas Child by Loonis McGlohon, Gesu Bambino by Pietro Yon, and songs in Spanish and Swahili. There will be carols for all to sing accompanied by the Basilica Organ.
Jan 27, 2020 Anima Vox – Voice & Flute – with a music premiere “Meditations on the Blessed Virgin Mary”
Anima Vox is an innovative flute and soprano duo specializing in seamless concert experiences and free improvisation. Flutist Tadeu Coelho and soprano Carole Ott blend their voices in ways that are simultaneously striking and ethereal.
Always striving to diversify the chamber music field, the duo’s repertoire ranges from Gregorian Chant to free improvisation and everything in between. Recent concert projects include Between Two Worlds, Lullabies for Little Ones, and Burning Bright.
This program will include Meditations on the Blessed Virgin Mary – a work written by the duo for their Abbey Basilica performance.
Feb 10, 2020 Secrets of the Russian-Gypsy Guitar
Zingaresca Duo: Vadim Kolpakov and Oleg Timofeyev
Soulful and virtuosic music for the Russian-Gypsy guitar, fiery dances and engaging songs.
Oleg Timofeyev, the pioneer in the revival of the Russian seven-string guitar, and the celebrated Russian-Roma (Gypsy) virtuoso Vadim Kolpakov join.
Dr. Timofeyev brings his vast knowledge of the little-known Russian guitar tradition, repertoire, and historical practice. Vadim Kolpakov has been steeped in the Russian Roma musical tradition from childhood, and he is equally stunning playing the seven-string guitar, singing, and dancing. Joining forces in 2004 as Zingaresca (which in Italian means: “in a Gypsy style”), the two musicians have been exploring an intricate mix of written legacy of Russian guitar composers with the exciting living tradition of the Russian Roma(“Gypsies”).
For their program, Oleg and Vadim use a great range of musical resources. Among them are the rare guitar publications of Mikhail Vysotsky(1791-1837), virtuoso arrangements of Sergei Orekhov (1936-1998), the original compositions of Vadim’s celebrated uncle Alexander Kolpakov, and the most recent arrangements of Fedor Kondenko
March 30, 2020 Uniquely English – Music of Purcell and beyond
The Baroque in England flourished under Henry Purcell but composers from other lands had to pick up the mantle. Carolina Pro Musica also performs works by European composers Finger, Pepusch, & J.C. Bach.
Carolina Pro Musica was established in 1977 to promote performance of music written before 1800. They perform with historic instruments and/or copies and voices using performance styles of the period in which the music was written.
May 3, 2020 3:00 PM Annual Spring Concert
Abbey chorus, voice and instrumental students and faculty present a diverse program of sacred and secular music.
Charlotte on the Cheap is a member of 
Leave a Reply