The Gordon State College Recital Series opens Thursday, Oct. 20 with Clarinetist Laura Ardan.

Arden, principal clarinet, has been with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) since 1982 and holds the endowed Robert Shaw Chair.

She has been a featured soloist with the Orchestra in works by Mozart, Weber, Debussy, Copland, Bernstein, Finzi, Rossini, Shaw, and Michael Gandolfi, and has also performed with the Cleveland Quartet.

A student of Roger Hiller and Stanley Drucker, Ardan attended The Juilliard School of Music on scholarships from both Juilliard and the Naumburg Foundation. Before joining the ASO, she was a resident clarinetist and teaching artist at the Lincoln Center Institute for four years. She also played in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for two seasons.

The season continues Monday, Nov. 7 with D'anna Fortunato, mezzo-soprano, Peter H. Bloom, flute and Mary Jane Rupert, piano.

Grammy-nominated Mezzo-soprano, D'Anna Fortunato is widely considered to be one of America's premier concert/oratorio singers, while having established herself as a respected operatic artist as well.

Robert H. Bloom, flute and Mary Jane Rupert, piano have performed with Fortunato for many years, and they tour the globe as the Duo "2."

Other performances of the series include:

Jonathan Adam Hayes, trumpet

Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017

Jonathan Adam Hayes is an internationally recognized performer, educator, and clinician. A versatile musician, Adam has performed on trumpet throughout North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, including performances with over 40 professional orchestras throughout the world.

John Boonenberg, piano

Thursday, April 6, 2017

John Boonenberg is a highly versatile, prize-winning pianist who has performed both nationally and internationally to great acclaim. He has appeared in solo recital and as concerto soloist in Germany, Poland, Puerto Rico, Czech Republic, Italy, and across the US. He has participated in festivals including the Internationale Konzertarbeitswochen in Goslar, Germany, the Prague International Piano Masterclasses in the Czech Republic, the Poland International Music Festival in Naleczow, the Gilmore International Keyboard Festival in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro, North Carolina, and Interlochen Summer Arts Academy.

All performances will feature an opportunity to enjoy a gourmet dinner and a show for $25 per person. The dinner will be served in Highlander Dining Hall prior to the performance, a shuttle will be available to take concert-goes to the Fine Arts Theater.. Tickets for a performance only are available at the door and are $10 adults, $7 senior citizens/non-GSC students. All performances are presented on the stage of the Gordon State College Fine Arts Theatre and begin promptly at 7:30 p.m.