THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 21, 1995 TAG: 9509180280
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 15 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAWSON MILLS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
Tom Douros, pastor of the Community Church of Norfolk, and his son, Tommy, are on the concert trail again.
It's a case of history repeating itself, in more ways than one.
This past Sunday, they presented a concert of classical piano music at Douros' church on Peterson and Overbrook streets. The concert will be repeated at Old Dominion University's Wilson Chandler Recital Hall, at the corner of 49th and Elkhorn (behind Webb Center) on Friday at 8 p.m. The performance will conclude a concert tour that has taken them to three other area churches.
Many who are familiar with the elder Douros' religious activities are unaware that before being called to the ministry, Douros, 68, studied to become a classical concert pianist for more than a decade. His teachers included Gwynne Ewell, who, with her sister, directed the Ewell Conservatory of Music in Norfolk for almost 50 years.
Son Tommy, 25, a 1995 graduate of ODU with a degree in physical education, has studied piano under his father and at Liberty University for more than a dozen years. The younger Douros performed as pianist in the Pocahontas Restaurant of the old Cavalier Hotel at the Oceanfront throughout the summer; previously, he played in Phillips at Waterside for several months.
Father and son performed together in concert at ODU 12 years ago; that was followed two years later by a church concert tour.
``I envisioned this a couple of years ago,'' Tommy explained. ``I told my dad, `Why don't we pick it up again?' It gives me a chance to play for people who want to hear me and allows my father to introduce a new work he's composed.''
The new work, entitled ``Tone Pictures,'' is based on a composition of the same name originally composed in 1917 by Ewell, following the death of her mother. After Ewell died in 1949 the work was lost; Douros has rewritten it from memory, having heard her play it the year she died. Recalling her original themes and melodies, he has re-created her five movements, adding a sixth of his own. Two of the movements have Ewell's original titles; Douros has provided names for the remaining four.
The elder Douros will perform the work, with poetry and paintings to accompany each movement.
The younger Douros will perform Mozart's ``Rondo,'' Brahms' ``Hungarian Dance No. 5,'' Mendelssohn's ``Hunting Song,'' excerpts from Liszt's ``Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2,'' and Chopin's ``Waltz Brillante'' and A-flat ``Polonaise.''
Another of Douros' sons, Bobby, 37, will perform the first movement of Beethoven's ``Moonlight Sonata'' as an offertory.
Both concerts are free and open to the public. An offering will be taken. MEMO: For more information, call Pastor Tom Douros at the Community Church of
Norfolk at 853-8933. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Tom Douros and his son, Tommy.
by CNB