David Russell and; Zaiba Sheikh Bios

Violinist <b>David Russell</b> is one of the most celebrated violin pedagogues of his generation. Currently, the Anne R. Belk Distinguished Professor of Violin at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Mr. Russell previously served on the Violin Faculty at The Cleveland Institute of Music for 24 years, and was Visiting Violin Faculty at Oberlin College Conservatory of Music. He is Founder and Director of Mountaintop Mastercourse for Violin, held annually in Elizabethtown, NY. He has been a member of the faculty of some of the world's most prestigious violin schools, including Ivan Galamian's Meadowmount School of Music, the ENCORE School for Strings, Keshet Eilon International Violin Mastercourse (Israel), ARIA International Summer Music Academy, Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, and LMFL courses in Llandovery, Wales, Bristol, U.K., and Le Chambon-sur-Lignon, France.<br><br>He has been a Distinguished Member of the Jury at international competitions such at the Sion-Valais International Violin Competition (Switzerland), and the International Violin Competition of Buenos Aires (Argentina), as well as at several important U.S. national competitions.<br><br>He has given numerous recitals and masterclasses across North and South America, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, and was the featured artist in the "World String Masters" performance and masterclass series in Lisbon, Portugal, as well as the featured teacher for the Guest Masterclass series at the Conservatorio Superior di Musica of Cordoba, Spain.<br><br>Artistic Director for the North American Premier of "Violins of Hope-Charlotte", a two-week series of concerts, lectures, films and museum exhibitions featuring 18 violins restored from the Holocaust by Israeli violin maker Amnon Weinstein, Mr. Russell performed as soloist with the Charlotte Symphony, along with renowned soloists such as Shlomo Mintz, Pedro Eustache, Hillel Zori and Cihat Askin.<br><br>Mr. Russell's former students include IMG Artist Chad Hoopes, members of orchestras such as The Cleveland Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, The Louisville Orchestra and others. Several are members of noted string quartets and still others are noted University and Conservatory teachers.<br><br>Pianist <b>Zaiba Sheikh</b> has served on the collaborative piano staff of the Cleveland Institute of Music, ARIA International Summer Music Academy, and LMFL programs in Bristol, U.K. and Llandovery, Wales and Le<br>Chambon-sur-Lignon, France. Before moving to Charlotte, she also served as Choir Accompanist, Assistant Music Director for Musicals, and French teacher at University School, a private boy’s preparatory high school in Hunting Valley, Ohio. In the Charlotte region she has served as pianist for<br>faculty and students at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte as well as at Winthrop University. She was also recently awarded the Arts and Science Council’s Regional Artist Grant which recognizes individuals who merit support for artistic development projects.<br><br>As a student of Menachem Pressler and Leonard Hokanson at Indiana University, she earned a Bachelor of Music Degree, and added a Master’s Degree in Collaborative Piano from The Cleveland Institute of Music under Anne Epperson and Russell Miller. She then served on the Collaborative Piano Staff at that prestigious school.<br><br>Zaiba Sheikh has widely collaborated with her husband violinist David Russell, Anne R. Belk Distinguished Professor of Music at UNC Charlotte, in recitals in the U.S., Canada, China, Spain and the U.K. She is currently in her third year as Music Director and Pianist for Opera Carolina’s Opera Xpress, and will be serving as répétiteur for I Dream, the final production in Opera Carolina’s 2019-20 season.

Prayer Concerns

New Prayer requests will be placed in the bulletin for two weeks. <br>Please help us keep Prayer Concerns current with weekly updates emailed to firstpresb@firstpresb.org.<br><br><b>HOMEBOUND/NURSING FACILITIES</b><br><b>Peggy Barnhardt </b><br><b>Iris Efird</b><br><b>Juanita Holt</b><br><b>Frances Milem</b><br><b>Betty Overcash </b><br><b>Barbara Wise</b><br><b>Loretta Young</b><br><br><b>MEMBERS</b><br><b>Paul Barnhardt</b> - Health concerns<br><b>Donna Mauldin</b> - broken wrist<br><b>Bill Hammond</b> - Health concerns<br><b>Judy Goodnight</b> - Cancer<br><b>Connie Rary</b> - Cancer<br><b>Debby Baker</b> - Cancer<br><br><b>FAMILY &amp; FRIENDS OF MEMBERS</b><br><b>Roxanne Debord</b> - daughter of Tony &amp; Judy Hunter, starting chemo.<br><b>Krystle Tacia</b> - friend of Chariti Lowder, breast cancer - treatment plans pending that may include radiation and additional surgeries. <br><b>Amy Ritchie</b> - friend of Jane Jacobs (Breast Cancer), recovery from surgery.<br><b>Wade Nunnery</b> - father of Karen Pless, Prayers answered! has shown improvement and has been able to come home WITHOUT Hospice care!<br><b>Bob Smith</b> - Judy Hammond's brother, Stage 3 Lung Cancer, now at Wake Forest Medical Center with pneumonia.<br><b>Amy Westover</b> - friend of Chariti Lowder (Esophageal Cancer- had surgery, now back at work and improving)<br><b>Barbara Coffey</b> - friend of Judy Hunter (Cancer treatment)<br><b>Lori Holder</b> - daughter of Sam McAllister (MS) <br><b>Hope Community &amp; Pastor Nate Stratman</b> (church plant in Wilmington, NC)