Jazz violinist Regina Carter to perform with OU mentor

Regina Carter

Two renowned jazz artists, once student and mentor, will meet again on stage at Oakland University in "A Tribute to Duke Ellington.” MacArthur Foundation Fellow and OU artist-in-residence Regina Carter will perform with her former mentor and OU Professor Emeritus Marvin “Doc” Holladay on Friday, March 14 at 8 p.m. in the Varner Recital Hall. The concert will feature other notable jazz musicians from around the country.

Carter studied with Holladay during her training in the OU music program. Born in Detroit, Carter considers Motown R&B among her first musical influences. She began playing the piano at the age of two. Later, she pursued classical violin with the goal of becoming a soloist with a major orchestra, until she became interested in jazz. Carter attended the New England Conservatory before transferring to OU, where she became the first violinist to play with the jazz band, and where she met Holladay.

In 2001, Carter became one of the few violinists to play the violin of Niccolo Paganini, which has been cared for by the city of Genoa, Italy for 250 years. In 2006, Carter was awarded the prestigious MacArthur Foundation Fellowship and in 2007, she received the International Society of the Performing Arts’ Distinguished Artist Award.

Carter now serves as an artist-in-residence at Oakland University and the performance with Holladay is one of a few special performances she will participate in this year.

Marvin “Doc” Holladay

During Holladay’s visit, he will give a lecture, “Jazz Revolution: The Evolution of Indigenous American Classical Music,” on Thursday, March 13 at 7 p.m. in the Varner Recital Hall. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Tickets for the March 14 concert with Carter and Holladay are $16 for general admission and $8 for students. Tickets are available through Star Tickets Plus, or by phone at (248) 370-3013. Tickets are also available one hour prior to the performance at the box office.

These events are in keeping with the Oakland University College of Arts and Sciences theme, “Revolution: Celebrating Liberal Arts,” which encourages students through events and curriculum to explore the ideas and movements that have changed the world. For additional information and a listing of events, visit the College of Arts and Sciences Web site.