Local musicians come together for a special afternoon of classical music at the Feb. 13 community performance, "Love Divine: >An Afternoon of Pipe, Ivory, String and Song."

>"We have >some extremely talented, classically trained musical artists at our fingertips," says event organizer Margo Rhodes. "We want to share their gifts with the community."

Hosted by Sandhills Classical Christian School, "Love Divine" features the performances of notable local professional musicians Jesse Davis, Olesya Dashkevych, Laurie Muirhead and John Shannon. Sandhills Classical's Logic School chorus will cap off the performance.

Davis won the 2001 Vienna International Pianists Academy and performs around the world with top-tier orchestras. He is the artistic director and founder of the Fayetteville Piano Festival and currently serves as director of music at First Baptist Church of Pinehurst.

Ukrainian violinist Dashkevych was concertmaster of the Arvamus Symphony Orchester in Rome, Italy, where she won the AGIMUS-Chamber Music national competition. She currently plays with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra.

Muirhead was principal harpist with the St. Louis Youth Symphony and the Springfield (Missouri) Symphony. She has recorded four CDs and is the author of several harp music books.

Shannon has performed choral works with Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony and the Philadelphia Orchestra. He is the full-time director of music and organist at The Village Chapel in Pinehurst.

These musicians will play both classic and contemporary pieces. The student chorus will perform Lenten pieces, including the Gregorian hymn "Ubi caritas," and will recite portions of the "Westminster Shorter Catechism" and an excerpt from "The Book of Revelation." Sandhills Classical teachers Rhodes and Krista Lawson will be directing and accompanying the Logic School students and collaborating with the musicians.

"It will be a unique and lovely opportunity for listeners of all ages," says Rhodes. "Sandhills Classical wants to present a classical, cultural event to the community."

"Love Divine: An Afternoon of Pipe, Ivory, String and Song"is Sunday, Feb. 13 at 4 p.m. at The Village Chapel. Tickets are available at the school or Fidelity Bank's Aberdeen location and are $10 in advance or $12.50 at the door. Children 6 and over are welcome to attend, and child care is available by reservation for children 5 and under.

Sandhills Classical Christian School is a nondenominational Christian school applying the Classical methodology to foster young minds to think clearly, listen carefully, reason logically, and articulate persuasively. The school offers a full curriculum that includes a strong phonics program, Latin studies beginning in third grade, and a logic class that teaches students to think critically and construct sound arguments. SCCS incorporates a comprehensive study of the Bible throughout students' education. Classes are offered beginning at preschool and continuing through eighth grade. Learn more by calling the school at (910) 695-1874 or by visiting the school website at www.sandhillsccs.org.

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