CSM Ward Virts Free Concert Series Presents Pianist Russell Wilson, May 1
 

The College of Southern Maryland welcomes ragtime and jazz pianist
Russell Wilson to perform at the Ward Virts Concert Series at 3 p.m.,
May 1 at the Prince Frederick Campus, Room 119. The performance is the
last of six in the concert series, which is held at CSM’s Prince
Frederick Campus, 115 J.W. Williams Road, Prince Frederick.

Wilson, a native of Clinton, Md, is a pianist in the President’s Own
United States Marine Band. In addition to the piano, Wilson performs on
the keyboard, harpsichord and accordion for the Marine Band in public
performances throughout the Washington, D.C. area with its concert band,
string orchestra, small chamber groups and as a solo background musician
at the White House.

Wilson is the winner of the 2010 Carolina Ragtime Piano Contest and
runner-up in the 2010 World Championship Old Time Piano Playing Contest.

Wilson graduated from Surrattsville High School as valedictorian and
went on to receive his bachelor degree in classical piano and master
degree in jazz at the University of Maryland, College Park where he
studied classical piano under Cleveland Page and jazz with Ron Elliston.
While attending college he spent a summer working at Busch Gardens in
Williamsburg, Va playing in an Italian music group and another summer
working for Norwegian Cruise Lines playing in a show band and performing
solo classical recitals.

Wilson is married with one son, Barnabas.

The Ward Virts Concert Series is presented by Edward and Patricia
Mehosky, St. Clair and Mary Tweedie, Gerry Van De Velde and Rene
Cunningham, and CSM. The centerpiece of the concert series is a
world-class Boesendorfer Grand Piano, which was gifted to CSM by the
Ward Virts Piano Project as a gift to the entire community.

 The WVPP was formed by friends and classmates of pianist Ward Virts,
whose sudden death in 1993 inspired them to purchase this hand-made
piano and dedicate the piano to CSM’s Prince Frederick Campus in
Virts’ memory. Inspired by Virts’ life and spirit, his friends and
classmates conceived the project in order to bring the love of life,
beauty and music that Virts embodied to a new generation of Southern
Maryland students, performers and appreciative audiences.

 Admission is free and seating is open but limited.  Contact
443-550-6011, rfleming@csmd.edu or www.csmd.edu/Arts.

CSM’s campuses are accessible to patrons with disabilities. Audio
description for the visually impaired and sign language interpretation
for the hearing impaired are available with a minimum two weeks advanced
notices. If you are interested in these services, please contact the
academic support/ADA coordinator at 301-934-7614