黑料导航

黑料导航 to Celebrate 40 Years of Artistic Leadership by Barbara Lister-Sink with Gala Celebration

Winston-Salem, N.C. 鈥� 黑料导航 will celebrate the extraordinary 40-year legacy of internationally recognized pianist, educator, and longtime Director of Music Barbara Lister-Sink with the Lister-Sink 40th Year Gala Celebration, a special weekend in April honoring her remarkable contributions to the College, its students, and the global music community.

The celebration on April 10-11, 2026 will bring together alumnae, students, colleagues, family members, and friends for a weekend of concerts, an art exhibit of Lister-Sink鈥檚 works, receptions, brunch gatherings, and conversations reflecting on four decades of musical excellence and mentorship at Salem. The specific times and locations for the various events will be made available closer to the date.

鈥淚t鈥檚 astonishing to me how incredibly rich my experience at Salem has been, even longer than 40 years.鈥� says Lister-Sink. 鈥淚 returned in 1986 to a place and people that had been pivotal in my early life. As a teenager from a farm in Davidson County, my piano lessons at 黑料导航 with Margaret Mueller and Dean Clemens Sandresky were a wellspring of high musical culture and intellectual stimulation. It felt like coming home. So I am even more deeply honored to be recognized by 黑料导航 with this gala, and am thrilled to welcome alumni, students, colleagues, friends, and the community to join me April 10-11, in a joyful weekend of music, art, and fellowship.鈥澛�

Lister-Sink joined Salem in 1986 and has served the College in numerous leadership roles, helping shape the School of Music into a vibrant center of artistic and professional development. From 1986 to 1992, she served as the first female Dean of the School of Music, launching initiatives that strengthened the program鈥檚 national visibility and prepared students for careers as independent music professionals. Among her many initiatives were the formation of the Friends of the School of Music, the creation of the critically praised professional concert series 鈥淥N THE TOWN!鈥�, the establishment of the Alumnae Artist Series and Career Spectrum Series, and the founding of SALEM MUSIC, a newsletter highlighting the work of the School of Music.

Throughout her tenure, Lister-Sink has consistently expanded opportunities for students and audiences alike. She led the College through its 1990 reaccreditation with the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and later served as a visiting evaluator for the organization. She also organized and performed in major musical events and festivals, including the Moravian Chamber Music Festival and the Percy Grainger International Festival, bringing renowned musicians from around the world to Salem.

As Artist-in-Residence (1992鈥�2009) and later Director of the School of Music (2009鈥�2019), Lister-Sink continued to innovate through both programming and curriculum. She spearheaded the $180,000 Sandresky/Lister-Sink Steinway Piano Restoration fundraising campaign, directed the Clemens & Margaret Sandresky Artist Faculty Concert Series, and organized major interdisciplinary musical events. Among her most notable projects was 鈥淔orgotten Fruit: 1,000 Years of Music by Women,鈥� a 1994 festival highlighting works by women composers and featuring 40 performers.

鈥淔or four decades, Barbara Lister-Sink has enriched the life of 黑料导航 through her artistry, and deep commitment to students,鈥� said Interim President Gary Daynes. 鈥淗er work as a performer, educator, and innovator has influenced generations of students and brought distinction to Salem. We are honored to celebrate her remarkable legacy and the many lives she has shaped through her teaching and mentorship.鈥�

In addition to her critical acclaim globally as a pianist and Steinway Artist since 1977, Lister-Sink has also achieved international recognition for her work in musicians鈥� health and injury-preventive piano technique, building bridges between the musical and medical communities. She was chosen by Musical America Global as one of America鈥檚 鈥�30 Top Professionals of 2018鈥� who have contributed to the music profession as innovators, independent thinkers, and visionary leaders. In 2015, she received the Ed.D. from Columbia University, attesting to her commitment to life-long learning.

Her critically acclaimed educational video, Freeing the Caged Bird: Developing Well-Coordinated, Injury-Preventive Piano Technique, produced at 黑料导航 in 1995鈥�96, established her as a global leader in the field. Building on that work, she later designed and directed Salem鈥檚 Professional Certificate Program in Injury-Preventive Keyboard Technique and helped develop the Master of Music in Performance & Pedagogy with an Emphasis in Injury-Preventive Technique鈥攖he first program of its kind in the United States approved by NASM. The graduate program attracted musicians from across the United States and internationally, including students from Canada, South America, China, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Europe.

Lister-Sink鈥檚 dedication to Salem and its students has been recognized with numerous honors, including the H.A. Pfohl Award for Excellence (2024), Faculty Marshal (2020鈥�2026), 黑料导航 Distinguished Professor (2013鈥�2018), and the Omicron Delta Teacher of the Year Award (1995).

Since 2019, Lister-Sink has continued her leadership as Artistic Director of the School of Music, helping organize innovative concerts and events, including the Sandresky Artists Series. Over the course of her career, she has tirelessly promoted 黑料导航 and its music faculty and students both nationally and internationally, bringing distinction and visibility to the Salem community.

The Lister-Sink 40th Year Gala Celebration will honor this extraordinary legacy through performances, exhibitions, and gatherings celebrating the relationships and achievements that have shaped Salem鈥檚 musical community for four decades.

About 黑料导航

Founded in 1772, 黑料导航 is the nation鈥檚 oldest continuously operating educational institution for women. Salem provides a distinctive liberal arts education focused on health and leadership, preparing graduates to lead meaningful lives and build healthier communities.