FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, September 20, 2010

Contact:  Robert Preston, Jr.,
              912.260.4276
              robert.preston@sgc.edu

Acclaimed Piano Quartet The 4 Grands Coming to SGC

Experience an evening of beautiful music with the renowned piano quartet The 4 Grands on Monday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m. on the campus of South Georgia College. The 4 Grands is comprised of four talented pianists, all from the South Georgia area, who perform regularly throughout the region. Individually, they are Becky Anderson, Becky Rogers, Susan Spivey, and Jon Durkovic, each possessing an impressive resume of performance and composition. Collectively, they are the critically acclaimed 4 Grands and have performed before thousands of captivated listeners during their years of playing together.

The event is hosted by the South Georgia College Cultural Events Committee and the Coffee Alliance for the Arts. It is free and open to the public. The concert will be held in McGouirk Auditorium inside Peterson Hall.

Becky Anderson is the pianist for Central United Methodist Church in Fitzgerald. She studied music with Shirley Burch, and at Florida State University under Professor Tommy Wright while pursuing degrees in German and English. She has partnered with Andy Daughtry of Valdosta in a series of two piano concerts. Becky and her husband Tim are publishers of Fitzgerald's weekly community newspaper, The Herald-Leader.

Becky Rogers graduated summa cum laude from Shorter College with a Bachelor of Music in piano performance, studying with the renowned Madame Elizabeth Buday, Professor of Music. She also obtained a minor in organ studies. Upon graduation, she received the Outstanding Senior Music Major Award. As a member of a choral ensemble from Shorter College, Becky performed at the International Youth Music Festival in Gratz, Austria. She also performed solo piano works at concerts in Austria, Italy, and Switzerland. Currently Becky teaches music education for pre-K through fifth grade at Tiftarea Academy. She was named Teacher of the Year for 2008-2009 and also received the Panther Impact Award. In addition, she serves as organist of First United Methodist Church in Tifton and is a private piano instructor. Becky is married to Richard Rogers, and they have three children, George (wife Laura Beth), Mary Alice (husband Joe), Sara Beth and one grandchild, Harris.

Susan Spivey graduated magna cum laude from Valdosta State University with a bachelor’s degree in piano performance in 1994. She later completed another bachelor’s degree in music education in 1996. During college, Susan performed with various groups including the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra. She also served as accompanist for the Valdosta State Choir and Chamber Singers and accompanied extensively for student performers. While in school, she performed in Master classes at the Georgia Music Educators’ Association Conference under the teaching of Maurice Hinson and Leonard Mastrogiacomo. She was named Outstanding Senior Music Major for VSU in 1994. For the past 15 years, Susan has been the pianist at First Baptist Church of Fitzgerald, as well as accompanist for the Fitzgerald High School and Ben Hill Middle School choral programs for festivals, competitions and literary events. Susan and her husband, Scott, have three children, Len, 10; Taylor, 6; and Caroline, 2.

Jon Durkovic earned his bachelor’s degree in church music at Asbury College studying organ with Gerard Faber and master’s of music in conducting from the University of Alabama where he studied with Dr. Sandra Willetts, Dr. Gerald Welker and Organ Performance with Warren Hutton. His primary instrument is the organ and he serves as organist and primary accompanist as well as directs the handbell choirs at Porterfield Memorial United Methodist Church in Albany. Mr. Durkovic is manager of the historic Grand Theatre, Grand Conference Center, Grand Plaza Park and Carnegie Center in Fitzgerald, Georgia. He is married to Nelda Durkovic. They have two children, Cara (husband Jason) and Evan, and one grandson, Ty.

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About South Georgia College

South Georgia College (www.sgc.edu) was founded in 1906 and is an accredited two-year institution in the University System of Georgia. Located in Douglas, Ga., the college's environment gives students exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty. With over 20 majors and transfer opportunities, South Georgia College provides the finest education possible to the citizens of its service area.