Local high school senior Carter Cadwallader was seeking a venue in which to perform his graduation recital and recently reached out to Greensboro’s historic Festival Hall through an online messaging forum, hoping to find a willing organization to help him reach his goal.
Cadwallader, an aspiring concert pianist, currently is applying to conservatories around the globe to further his musical education and among the requirements for entry into many of these prestigious institutions is to perform a full program before the public.
Festival Hall Board Vice Chairman Justin Cullifer came across Cadwallader’s plea and recognized that Festival Hall would be an excellent choice for the young musician’s recital. After meeting with Cadwallader and Festival Hall Director Nicole Chillemi, everyone agreed to move forward and the concert has been scheduled for Nov. 30, at 7 p.m.
“This is one of the main purposes of Festival Hall, to support and foster young artists like Mr. Cadwallader and help them reach their creative potentials,” Chillemi stated.
In conjunction with Cadwallader’s concert, Festival Hall also has announced a new fundraising campaign to purchase its first-ever concert piano. Tickets for the graduation recital are only $5 each, but Festival Hall is asking for additional donations, no matter the amount, to help them achieve their goal.
“The community has always been generous to Festival Hall,” Chillemi said. “Our hope is we can all chip in to procure a piano worthy of our beautiful hall so we can continue to grow as a performing arts and events center, to provide more opportunities for us all.”
In the meantime, Festival Hall thanks the Oconee Performing Arts Society (OPAS) for generously lending their piano for Cadwallader’s performance.
Cadwallader also has a concert booked in Arizona, the home of his piano instructor, Dr. Maria Helena Ferraz, a private teacher and member
of the Arizona Study Program and the Arizona Music Teachers Association. Cadwallader’s program will include works by Bach, Beethoven and Schubert, among others.
For more information about Cadwallader’s Graduation Recital or to donate to Festival Hall’s piano fund, please visit www.festivalhallga.com or call Nicole Chillemi at 762-243-8022.