The Cavalier daily :: Thursday, April 9, 1970 :: University of Virginia Library

Consisting of soprano, violin, and
piano, the L'Abri Ensemble has made
several extended tours in both Europe
and the United States. Featured by the
group is soprano Jane Stuart Smith, of
considered opera renown.

A native of Roanoke, Virginia, Miss
Smith attended Juilliard and Tanglewood
Music Schools and studied with Maestro
Ettore Verna of New York. She made her
American debut in Detroit as a Chinese princess
in the title role of Puccini's "Turandot." This
was followed by her European debut in Venice.
Italy, in the same role.

Miss Smith continued her opera career for a
number of years with performances in Nice,
Palermo, Catania, Cairo, Athens, Naples, and
other cities. She gained acclaim as an
outstanding interpreter of the Wagnerian roles,
appearing in Carnegie Hall and on TV-radio.

Now a member of L'Abri Fellowship in
Switzerland, Miss Smith continues to give
concerts and has appeared in performances of
the Messiah, the St. Matthew Passion and other
oratorios.

Also appearing with the ensemble is violinist
Frances W. Kramer. Mrs. Kramer holds the
Master of Music degree from Northwestern
University and has had additional study with
Georgio Ciampi and at the Chicago Conservatory
and American Conservatory under Stella
Roberts.

Completing the trio is pianist Ruth Stark,
who was proclaimed a child prodigy at age eight
and won first place at the Kansas State Music
Contest at age thirteen, going on to win the
gold medal at the National Competition the
same year. She is now an accompanist for Sol
Hurok artists, and has been studying recently at
Meadowbrook School of Music.

The Ensemble will perform several classical
pieces, including works by Handel, Schubert,
Bach, Cumming, and Creston.

Admission is free, although donations will
be accepted to cover the group's expenses.
Proceeds exceeding expenses will be directed to
the community service program of the University
YMCA, which is sponsoring the event.