(September 25, 2009, New Orleans, La.) - Cellist Karen Ray will perform in a free concert on Friday, October 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the University of New Orleans Performing Arts Center Recital Hall as part of the UNO Musical Excursions Local Attractions concert series.

Ray performs locally with the Windsor Chamber Players and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and appears frequently as a soloist and chamber musician on several recital series in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast area. Ray has also played the medieval vielle for many years with the local ensemble Musica de Camera.

In her native Pacific Northwest, Ray plays with the Oregon Coast Festival and she has appeared on the series Chamber Music San Juan. She lived for six years in Germany where she was a member of the Siegerland Orchestra and played regularly at the Koln Opera.

With graduate degrees in musicology and music theory as well as cello performance, Ray has been an asset to the music faculties at UNO, Loyola University and Tulane University.

She is featured on cello on several CDs by inspirational singer Trish Genco, a finalist for a UCMVA Catholic Grammy Award in 2006 and 2007; played vielle on Musica de Camera's latest CD; and played cello and vielle on Celtic singer Betsy McGovern's latest release.

The UNO Musical Excursions program is presented by the UNO Department of Music and the Graduate Program in Arts Administration.

The University of New Orleans (UNO), the urban research University of the State of Louisiana, provides essential support for the educational, economic, cultural and social well-being of the culturally rich and diverse New Orleans metropolitan area. It opened its doors in 1958 as part of the Louisiana State University System "to bring public-supported higher education to Louisiana's largest urban community." Today, UNO offers 43 undergraduate degree programs, 37 masters, and 11 doctoral programs. The 340-acre main campus sits on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain, offering easy access to all parts of the metro area. For more information, visit www.uno.edu.

Johanna M. Schindler  

Office of Communications and Publications

(504) 280-6939

Fax (504) 280-7061

jschindl@uno.edu