Student concert to benefit Simeon Popov Memorial Fund

Thursday, February 21, 2002, By News Staff

Student concert to benefit Simeon Popov Memorial FundFebruary 21, 2002Kevin Morrowkdmorrow@syr.edu

Syracuse University music students will perform a benefit concert at 8 p.m. Feb. 28 in Crouse College’s Setnor Auditorium to carry on the memory of a fallen colleague.

Donations will be accepted at the door to support the Simeon Popov Memorial Fund. Popov, a graduate student in SU’s Rose, Jules R. and Stanford S. Setnor School of Music, was killed Jan. 20 when he interrupted a robbery at an off-campus apartment. The 27-year-old native of Bulgaria was on track to receive his master’s degree in music this May.

Syracuse University established the memorial fund in early February. With sufficient support, the fund will:

  • purchase basic equipment for the Music Academy Pancho Vladigerov, Popov’s former school in his native Sofia, Bulgaria;
  • provide a new instrument as an award to a promising young trombonist at a future competition at the Music Academy; and
  • provide an annual prize to a graduating Setnor School student, to be given at the school’s spring awards ceremony in April.

The Thursday night concert is an important performance for the many talented young vocalists and instrumentalists. “I believe I speak for everyone in the School of Music when I say that Simeon impressed us all with his passion for life, love and music,” says sophomore music industry major Dana Wise, president of the School of Music Student Government Association. “We can think of no better a tribute to the extraordinary person he was than to honor him through the music that he loved so much.”

Among the performers are soloists Jen Bevilacqua (guitar and vocals), Jessica Feinberg (vocals), Marina Jeraci (piano), Natalie Jones (clarinet) and Kevin Shihoten (piano).

They are joined by the a cappella groups Groovestand and The Mandarins; the Sammy Award-winning Prime Time; the jazz group of Dan Reitz with Kinyatta King, Bob Lee and Jim Wuest; the trombone quartet of Carmen Byron, Justin Clark, Gregorio Hernandez and Paul Ketchen; the trumpet trio of Emily Butler, Melissa Long and Kristin Thompson; the violin-and-piano trio of James Dickenson, Tamaki Higashi and Milica Vukmanovic; and the Setnor School of Music Trombone Choir.

Those unable to attend the concert may also make a gift directly to the Simeon Popov Memorial Fund c/o Hendricks Chapel, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244.

For more on Simeon Popov, visit http://sunews.syr.edu/popov.asp.