Jason Koski/University Photography

President David Skorton plays "My Funny Valentine" for wife Robin Davisson at the inaugural concert Sept. 7.

Inauguration day (Sept. 7) was also the occasion of Cornell President David Skorton's concert debut on campus, as well as the first official performance held in the newly renovated Bailey Hall.

Skorton, whose main instrument is saxophone, played flute with the Cornell Jazz Ensemble, the opening act for the inaugural concert. After emerging from stage right with a flute tucked under his arm, Skorton introduced his son, Joshua, a junior at Stanford University, and his wife, Robin Davisson, both sitting in the audience.

"Robin, I wouldn't be here if not for you," he said. "This is for you."

He then performed the lead melody on "My Funny Valentine," which was met with applause from the audience of about 850.

Trumpeter Paul Merrill, Cornell's Gussman Director of Jazz Ensembles, said the jazz quintet -- with Josh Abraham '08 on tenor saxophone, Matt Robbins '04 on piano, Ali Mcgregor '09 on double bass and Zach Jauvtis '07 on drums -- was not an official Cornell ensemble but rather a pick-up group of musicians from other ensembles, assembled for this occasion.

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Simon Shaheen

The jazz group played a 15-minute set, and then the stage was reset for Palestinian virtuoso Simon Shaheen and Qantara, a 10-piece Arabic fusion group that provided another hour of music.

Martin Hatch, Ph.D. '80, a Cornell associate professor of music, introduced Shaheen by saying he was inspired to form the Cornell Middle Eastern Music Ensemble with Nikolai Ruskin after seeing Shaheen perform at an Arabic music retreat five years ago.

Skorton's next gig on campus is Oct. 21 during the First Year Family Weekend, when he will perform on alto saxophone in concert with a group of 90 to 100 student musicians.