Fine Arts Association Lunch and Listen

The Fine Arts Association of Southeastern Kentucky, Inc. will hold its first Lunch and Listen event this Saturday in Corbin, featuring talented violinist Rachel Ramsey accompanied by Ann Toadvine on piano.

The event will be held at First Baptist Church in Corbin, at 11:00 a.m. and is free and open to the public.
Ramsey and Toadvine will perform a variety of Baroque, Romantic and Contemporary selections during their performance. The lively Romania Folk Dances of Bela Bartok will be a delightful contrast to Jules Massenet’s Meditation from Thais. Other selections will include music by the composers Handel, Eccles, Gounod and Kreisler. Following the concert, a catered lunch will be served in the Fellowship Hall.

Rachel Ramsey is originally from the Atlanta area. She began studying violin at the early age of two and was performing on stage by the time she was three. Most of her life, Rachel studied under her mother, Valerie Gardner, a graduate from the Curtis Institute of Music and a former member of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Rachel also took lessons from Jeannette McCurley, Sonya Galamian Foster, David Cerone, and Jay Christy. When Rachel was eleven, her mother began training her to become a violin instructor, and she began teaching her first students at the age of twelve. Rachel competed in the regional and state-wide competitions for Georgia All-State for six years–sitting third seat twice, second seat twice, and Concert Mistress her last two years. Rachel is married to Rev. Patrick Ramsey, pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church. They have four sons: Sean, Drew, Aidan, and Luke. Rachel is presently teaching private lessons. She and her family live in London, Kentucky.

Ann Toadvine grew up in Northern Illinois. She has studied piano, organ, flute, and voice. Ann earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in music with a concentration in piano performance from Asbury College. After college, she studied piano with Richard Morris, former head of the keyboard department of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Later, she attended Eastern Kentucky University where she received her Master of Music degree in piano performance. Ann also studied with Patricia Montgomery, former head of the piano department at the University of Kentucky. She has held church music positions in Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania. Ann has enjoyed accompanying various groups and soloists, playing organ or piano for special events, and teaching private lessons. Ann is married to Dr. Stephen Toadvine, medical director at Baptist Regional Medical Center. They have six children: Toni, Rae, Kendall, Joel, Sommer, and Lincoln, and live in Corbin.