8:51 a.m., Dec. 11, 2008----Thanks to University of Delaware connections and students, the residents of the Mary Campbell Center in Wilmington for persons with disabilities were treated to an exciting program of violin music, as part of the University of Delaware Master Players Concert Series.

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Bill McNabb, retired director of overseas studies who was at UD for 38 years, volunteers at the center and runs karaoke sessions and other activities.

He mentioned his volunteer work to Xiang Gao, University of Delaware associate professor of music and internationally renowned violinist, and how much the residents enjoyed music.

After touring the center and meeting the residents, Gao offered to arrange a special performance by himself and the violinists in his master's class.

It was a gala evening, not only for residents but for their families and friends, staff, volunteers and board members.

“I was facing the audience, and it was so rewarding and touching for me and my students to see the looks on the residents' faces as we played,” Gao said. “Afterwards they shook our hands or touched us. One resident who spoke only through a computer, worked hard at his computer to be able to say 'Wow!' It was a wonderful way to give back to the community, and I think the students themselves gained so much from the experience.”

Louis Arena, UD professor emeritus of linguistics, now heads the Mary Campbell board and wrote to President Patrick Harker about the evening.

“For one, non-stop hour, Professor Gao and his ensemble of students presented us with their gifts of talent and music and made our evening, literally, magical,” Arena wrote. “Most [residents] could not applaud with their hands but I know their hearts were expressing what their hands could not -- genuine joy.”

He concluded by calling the students and faculty, “our University's best ambassadors, in every sense of the term.”

“Music is the number one interest, in fact passion, of our residents, and we try to arrange different kinds of musical programs for them,” said Gina Coffiey, associate director of the center, who graduated from UD in 1973. “The residents were especially enthralled and captivated by this performance -- it was awesome.”

“The residents focused totally on the music,” McNabb, who coordinated the event and made the introductions, said. “It is difficult for some of the residents to be still, but you could hear their appreciation as they listened in total silence.”

McNabb, who has made a second career as a volunteer in community organizations, said it that it was an honor to be the conduit for the performance and that plans are underway for other possible spring programs at the center.

The participating students were violinists Robin Alfieri, Melissa Kitchen, Stephan Labelle, Duo Shen, Bonnie VonDuyke, Robbie Xu Su and pianist Hyun-Soo Kim.

Article by Sue Moncure