Australian violinist Charmian Gadd to play free concert at WWU Dec. 9

Western Washington University’s Department of Music will host Australian violinist Charmian Gadd in concert at 8 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 9 in the Performing Arts Center Concert Hall.

The evening concert is free and open to the public.

The performance marks a return to Bellingham for Gadd, who had a remarkable presence here in the 1980s as a performer and teacher. Along with her husband, Richard Goldner, Gadd also established a stimulating concert series titled “Musical Viva International.”

Gadd will be joined by her Sydney-based piano partner, Phillip Shovk, for the evening program featuring beloved sonatas by Beethoven, Bartok, and Faure as well as a selection of shorter works.

A winner of several international prizes, Gadd began to collaborate with Shovk, also a laureate of the international competition field, when she returned to Sydney as chairman of Strings at the highly respected Conservatorium there. Their program will showcase not only much-loved repertoire, but also their 20-year partnership and the ease with which they communicate.

In addition to her evening program, Gadd will present a public master class at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7 in the room 24 of the Performing Arts Center.

For more information call Western’s Department of Music at (360) 650-3130.