A faculty piano performance on March 11 promises to be a true “family affair,” when the Music Department at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith presents piano instructor Alice Brooks Sanders in concert with her four children. This free concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Breedlove Auditorium.

 

In addition to Sanders’ performance on the piano, this event will showcase the individual talents of Mary Sanders (soprano), Clara Sanders Marcus (piano), Isabel Sanders (horn) and Edward Sanders (vibraphone). The program will include music for solo piano, piano duet, horn, voice and vibraphone.

 

"From the very first Suzuki violin recital, I have enjoyed performing music with each of my children,” said Sanders. “Making music together was an integral part of our family life, and it is a special joy to perform a program that includes all of them."

 

A native of Texas, Sanders holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Baylor University and a Master of Music degree from the University of Oklahoma. She performs regularly as a solo recitalist and accompanist and is a certified MusikGarten preschool teacher. In addition, she has taught piano at St. Gregory's University in Shawnee, Okla., where she lives with her husband, Glenn, a professor of history at Oklahoma Baptist University and an avid music-lover. She is a member of the National Guild of Piano Teachers, the Music Teachers National Association, and the American Guild of Organists. Sanders is also director of the music ministry at the United Presbyterian Church in Shawnee.

 

Mary, who also lives in Shawnee, graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University and the University of Connecticut with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history. She is currently a Ph.D. student in history at Oklahoma State University. Her dissertation research focuses on American Protestant responses to terrorism in the 20th century. Mary studied voice with Kaye Shields and Don Clark. She is an ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church USA and sings in her church choir.

 

Clara graduated from Houghton College in Houghton, N.Y., with degrees in piano performance and multicultural studies. She managed an after-school tutoring program for three years and now is pursuing a Master of Divinity/Master of Social Work degree at Duke Divinity School and the University of North Carolina. She studied piano with Jane Magrath and William Newbrough and voice with Don Clark. She is married to Shane Marcus and they have a son, Cyprian, who is 5 months old. The family lives in North Carolina.

 

Isabel graduated from Houghton College with degrees in horn performance and English. She studied horn with Jim Hansford and Bryan Casey and voice with Don Clark. She is working as a youth specialist with Gateway to Prevention and Recovery in Shawnee and is engaged to be married in May to Jim Vitale.

 

Edward graduated from Shawnee High School in 2013 and is a freshman at Oklahoma Baptist University. During high school he acted in numerous drama productions, receiving All-State honors, and was also a member of the drum line. He has interests in political science, religion and music but has not yet declared a major. He lives in Shawnee.

 

For more information about the concert, contact Sanders at 479-788-7558.