Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Monster Piano Concert

Happy Spring from East Lansing!  It's the last week of what has been a very exciting semester in the piano department at the Michigan State University College of Music which, in addition to the stimulating piano pedagogy activities outlined in previous posts, was also recently highlighted by a visit from renowned pianist and pedagogue Russell Sherman, Distinguished Artist-in-Residence at the New England Conservatory, who gave an inspiring performance of the Liszt Transcendental Etudes and a moving masterclass last week.

 composite of hands at the keyboard

We're celebrating the end of the academic year with a rousing "Monster Piano Concert" this Sunday at 3pm at the Wharton Center on the campus of Michigan State University.  Eight pianists, including me, Panayis Lyras, Deborah Moriarty, Alan Nathan, Ron Newman, Kyomi Sugimura, George Vatchnadze and Ralph Votapek, will be performing 8-piano arrangements of great works.  Here's the program:

Brahms:

Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80


Bach: 

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring

Aria

Sheep May Safely Graze


Wagner:

Tannhäuser Overture


Saint-Saëns:   

Danse Macabre, Op. 40


Dvořák:   

Slavonic Dance in D major, Op. 46, No. 6

Slavonic Dance in G minor, Op. 46, No. 8


Chabrier:   

España


Joplin:   

The Entertainer

Stoptime Rag


Sousa:   

Stars and Stripes Forever


Additionally, three of my students, Albie Feeny (1st prize in the 9th and 10th grade division), Nolan Feeny (first prize in the 5th and 6th grade division), and Rachel Symanzik (first prize in the 3rd and 4th grade division) will be performing movements from classical period Sonatas and Sonatinas as winners of their respective divisions in the Eileen Keel competition held earlier this semester.   This performance will also be at the Wharton Center, and will begin at 2pm.  Tickets are available from Wharton Center's box office by calling (517) 432-2000, or (800) WHARTON.  Here's a link with more information: https://www.whartoncenter.com/boxoffice/performance.aspx?pid=684

I hope you'll join us---judging by our rehearsal last night, this should be a lot of fun!


10 comments:

javier said...
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Unknown said...

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Piano Teacher said...

Thanks for sharing! I believe you're interested in multi-piano performances as well as piano concerts and recitals. It is true that teaching is both a challenging and a rewarding experience. But what can be more rewarding and fulfilling than seeing your students reach their academic goals and share their skills and talents through your programs, activities and piano teaching strategies. Keep on sharing great post like this and let the world know how great your students are.

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Unknown said...
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Play Piano said...

Liszt's transcendental etudes, along with his hungarian rhapsodies, are some of the most difficult piano pieces to play. I've seen a few performances of each and was utterly amazed at the sheer technical difficulty of each. I'm glad you got to enjoy a performance of this. "Harmonies du soir" is my favorite etude and the piece that truly turned me on to Liszt.

Teach Yourself Piano said...

Wow! Wagner's Tannhäuser Overture on the piano? The forcefully pulsing strings at the beginning must have been difficult to transcribe. I'd like to hear that. It sounds like your piano teaching has had great results with your students, they're playing some very advanced pieces. Well done!

learn2playpianos said...

I like to watch many piano concerts. I even tried to learn to play piano once, but I'm not talented enough.

Piano Lessons NJ said...

Utterly fantastic. I would have loved to hear this recital, as I am only familiar with duets such as Mozart's music for 2 pianos. Thanks for some great blogs.

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Concerts like this are those who live life once shame that I missed.