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Gospel singer Ethel Caffie-Austin to appear at the Cultural Center on Feb. 23

1/30/02

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The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History will present a free concert featuring gospel singer Ethel Caffie-Austin on Saturday, Feb. 23, in the West Virginia State Theater of the Cultural Center in the State Capitol Complex. The program, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7:30 p.m. A reception will follow the performance.

A native of Mt. Hope, Caffie-Austin is known as West Virginia’s “First Lady of Gospel Music.” A singer, pianist, choir leader and educator, she has appeared at festivals across the country and in Europe. She is in wide demand as a clinician and regularly presents gospel workshops in conjunction with the annual Vandalia Gathering in Charleston. Caffie-Austin founded the Black Sacred Music Festival in Institute and has several recordings and an instructional videotape to her credit. She lives in Dunbar.

The concert is part of the Cultural Center’s “With Friends” series. Classical pianist Barbara Nissman will continue the series on May 11 with a program featuring the music of Russian composers.

For more information about this or other programs of the Division, call (304) 558-0162.

The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. The Cultural Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. Visit the Division’s website at www.wvculture.org for more information about programs of the Division. The Department of Arts, Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

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