Live classical music returns to the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Wieden stage with a special recital concert by the students of Dr. Anatole Wieck, Professor of Upper Strings at the University of Maine in Orono, at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 15.

Dr. Wieck’s students will perform their year-end recital, and Dr. Wieck himself will play two pieces during this very special collaboration between the two UMaine campuses.

“Spring Stings” will feature several selections, including Mozart’s Duo for Violin and Clarinet featuring clarinetist John Brabant, Prelude and Allegro for Clarinet and Viola by Rebecca Clarke featuring clarinetist John Brabant, Vivaldi’s Concerto for Violin with violinist Michelle Dempsey, Schubert’s Sonata Arpeggione featuring violist Abigail Nash, Glier’s Romance with violist Abigail Nash, and Aaron Copland’s Hoe-Down featuring Dr. Wieck. He will be accompanied by Kathy Jellison.

Dr. Wieck has taught upper strings at the University of Maine since 1986 and conducts the University of Maine Chamber Orchestra. As an accomplished violinist, violist and conductor, he has performed, taught, and conducted in Europe, North America and South America and has participated in chamber music festivals all around the globe.

Born in Latvia, Dr. Wieck received his early musical training in Riga and Moscow. In 1973, he came to the United States to study at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City where he earned his Bachelor, Master and Doctorate degrees.

His principal teachers in Russia were Yuri Yankelevich and Zinaida Gilels. At Juilliard he studied with Ivan Galamian, Joseph Fuchs, Lillian Fuchs and Paul Doktor, and chamber music with members of the Juilliard String Quartet. After graduating from Juilliard he continued to study with composer-philosopher Iosif Andriasov.

Dr. Wieck is on the roster of the Maine Touring Artists Program, and since 1999, he has served as conductor-in-residence at Rocky Ridge Music Center in Estes Park, Colorado.

Tickets for the show are $5. The event is free to UMPI, NMCC and SAGE students with proper ID. For more information, call 768-9462.