Kadisha Onalbayeva and Michael Coleman
Wedding Ceremony

        Kadisha Altynbek Onalbayeva and Clarence Michael Coleman were united in marriage November 26, 2008 at Zion Lutheran Church in Silverhill. Pastor David Johnson officiated at the ceremony. - Click each picture to enlarge.

The new Mrs. Kadisha (Onalbayeva) Coleman

Groom and Groomsmen posed at the side entry to the church, M. Coleman, C. Schwartz, M. Miller, S. Ferry T. Jackson, D. Snowden, P. St.Pierre (l to r).

Charles Canning (pictured) and Ernie Burnett served as ushers.

        The bride was born in Jedici, Kazakhstan, and earned her B.M. degree in 1991 at the Kurmangazy National Music Conservatory in Almaty, where she studied piano and composition. She participated in piano and composition competitions throughout central Asia, winning many prizes. She has completed two M.M. degrees in both composition and piano at the University of New Orleans and is currently working on her doctorate in piano performance at LSU. - Click each picture to enlarge.

Groom Michael and Bride Kadisha.

Groom Michael and Bride Kadisha.

Bride Kadisha, Groom Michael, and Pastor Dave Johnson share a blessing at the conclusion of the Onalbayeva-Coleman wedding vows.

Bride Kadisha receives a wedding band from Groom Michael as Pastor Dave Johnson officiates at the Onalbayeva-Coleman wedding.

Groom Michael and Bride Kadisha lit a family "unity candle" as part of the wedding ceremony.

        The bridegroom is the son of Dorothy C. Coleman of Fairhope. He received his doctorate in music composition from the University of Maryland and holds degrees from the University of New Orleans and the University of South Alabama. He teaches at Pensacola Junior College and the University of West Florida and is the organist/music director at Zion Lutheran Church in Silverhill. The couple reside in Pensacola, Fla. - Click each picture to enlarge.

Bride Kadisha and Groom Michael were greeted with happy applause at the conclusion of the service.

Bride Kadisha and Groom Michael recessed after the ceremony and returned to dismiss each row of guests to the reception following the service in Zion's Fellowship Hall.

Kaden Soonthornsima, Jaden Sprung (front), Kyle Soonthornsima, and Caroline Cerise (rear) (l to r) were children in the wedding party.

Groom Michael and Bride Kadisha greeted guests Vera Avera and Ella Kubina (l to r) as they were dismissed row by row to proceed to the Fellowship Hall for a reception.

Groom Michael greeted guests Ella Kubina and Cindi Johnson (l to r) as they were dismissed row by row to proceed to the Fellowship Hall for a reception.

Groom Michael greeted guest Cindi Johnson.

Groom Michael and Peter Midgarden (l to r) shared a greeting prior to arriving at the Fellowship Hall for a reception.

Groom Michael and Bride Kadisha greeted guests Phil Owen and Nels Midgarden (l to r) as they were dismissed row by row to proceed to the Fellowship Hall for a reception.

The wedding party posed for a group portrait preceding the wedding.

Parish Council Chairman Peter Midgarden and wife Aleda (l to r) enjoyed a moment following the wedding service.

Betty and Steve Vasko (l to r) joined in festivities following the wedding service.

Ella Kubina and Vera Avera (l to r) shared in refreshments following the wedding service.

Ruth Ann Bultinck and Cindi Johnson (l to r) shared in refreshments following the wedding service.

Peter Midgarden, Steve Vasko, Michael Coleman, and Pastor Dave (l to r) shared greetings and refreshments in the parish Fellowship Hall. .

Groom Michael and Bride Kadisha.

        Baldwin County native son Michael Coleman is organist and music director at Zion Lutheran Church in beautiful Silverhill. Dr. Coleman, Adjunct Professor teaching music at Pensacola Junior College and the University of West Florida, is a graduate of Fairhope High School. - Click each picture to enlarge.

Kadi and Mike shared a moment in the Fellowship Hall.

The couple prepared to share wedding cake with guests.

The couple share wedding cake with each other first.

Mike, Linda Delgado, and Kadi in the Fellowship Hall.

Michael Coleman, Kadisha (Onalbayeva), and Pastor Dave Johnson (l to r).

Curious About Mike's Bride?

     Kadisha Onalbayeva was born in Kazakhstan and began her musical training at the age of five. She attended the Jubanov Special School for Talented Children in Almaty, Kazakhstan for 12 years. While at Jubanov she studied piano and composition, gave piano recitals and was involved in piano and composition festivals and competitions. Awards include first prize in the Soviet Union’s “New Talent” competition, national piano competitions and Central Asia piano competitions. She also participated in international music festivals in Yalta, Germany, Russia and Uzbekistan.

     After graduation from the Jubanov School, she entered the Kurmangazy National Conservatory of Music. While at the conservatory she studied piano, composition, accompanying, chamber music, and pedagogy. Kadisha was awarded the “President’s Award for Young Artists” and Chevron’s “Award for Talented Students” in piano and composition. She continued her career with solo recitals, concerto performances, chamber recitals, composition performances, and teaching. Kadisha also participated in performance seminars, workshops, and master classes. Her most important piano teachers were Ludmila Lapan, Asuly Dosaeva, Tatiana Sulemenova, Guljamila Kadirbekova, Klara Gospadar, Vladimir Sevidov, Vladimir Krienev, and Carroll Constance.

     Kadisha continued her activities as performer, composer, and teacher following her graduation from the conservatory. During this time she received a Soros Prize for her work in development of international cultural exchanges. This award paid for her first visit to America in January, 2000.

     This first visit brought her to New Orleans in January, 2000 to participate in the International Jazz Conference. In August, 2003 she came to study with Jerry Sieg and earned her M.M. in Composition from the University of New Orleans in May, 2005. In 2006 she then completed her M.M. in piano performance at U.N.O. with Mary Ann Bulla and is currently working on her doctorate in piano performance at Louisiana State University as a student of Michael Gurt. She plans to finish her doctorate in the fall of 2009.

     Throughout her career, she has been a strong supporter of new music. She has continued performances of her music and has participated in international new music festivals as composer, performer, and organizer throughout Central Asia, Austria, England, Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Tatarstan. While in America she has participated in new music activities in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina. She has been particularly interested in introducing the music of Kazakhstan in the U.S. and is a member of Kazakhstan Composers’ Union. She recently won the Southeastern Composers’ League (USA) graduate composition competition for her solo cello work, "Think…Know…After." She is currently a member of the national, state, and local branches of the Music Teachers’ Association. For the past several years, she has been the pianist/organist and music director for the First United Methodist Church in Plaquemine, Louisiana.

     Kadisha also enjoys strong family support from her daughter Malika and her new husband Dr. Michael Coleman.