I recently had the privilege of volunteering at the Dauphin County “Music & Wine Festival” in Fort Hunter Park, Harrisburg, PA, sponsored by the M&T Bank. The Brenner Family main stage featured performances by the Kelly Bell Band, We Are One Tribute X-Perience Band, and saxophonist, vocalist, and songwriter, Vanessa Collier. Working closely with Larry […]
On Mother’s Day, 2017, my cellist and I performed a collaborative recital for the Pennsylvania Federation of Music Clubs Harmonia Association. As an encore, we presented Dvořák’s “Songs My Mother Taught Me” in honor of our own mothers and the mothers in the audience who have sacrificed so much for others. We were also thrilled […]
During the Revolutions of 1830, romantic artists responded to economic recession and political conflict with a number of aesthetic, emotional, and formal deviations in their work. Reflecting on pieces by Eugene Delacroix and Hector Berlioz, we can uncover intent to evoke reactions in individuals and empower revolutionaries with these artistic decisions. The events leading to […]
“I will seize fate by the throat; it shall certainly never wholly overcome me.” -Ludwig van Beethoven Beethoven’s ideas of human freedom and fundamental rights aligned him with events of the French Revolution in the 1790s. Even before the decline of his hearing at the turn of the century, he was very idealistic in his […]
I recently returned from a week in Vermont at the scenic Adamant Music School. There were nearly thirty attendees to perform in and observe the week of master classes with renowned Irish pianist, John O’Conor. The classes culminated with recitals on Friday and Saturday, with all events open to the public. The emphasis on musicality […]
In honor of Edvard Grieg’s birthday (June 15, 1843- September 4, 1907), I performed some of his lyric pieces with Dr. Craig Jurgensen. Dr. Jurgensen has been championing works of Grieg for much of his life. He fostered a love of Grieg’s music as he continued to hone his piano skills into college. Just as […]
I recently traveled to Philadelphia to hear a concert of the Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Justin Freer. They performed the world premiere of John Williams’s musical score to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), accompanied by the film. I was so impressed by the quality and cohesiveness of the music. It was clear […]
If you have recently attended a classical concert with a themed program, you have probably noticed similarities in musical style or most evidently the composers’ nationalities. Upon closer look at two recent concerts I attended, I also noticed strong connections in the origin stories of each work. I was thrilled to hear Evgeny Kissin perform […]
My family and I recently visited our dear friend Jim Compton in Sterling, VA, though it was bittersweet not seeing Carol Turner-Compton, who recently passed away. Carol was one of my most beloved and influential piano teachers, with whom I studied from fifth to seventh grades. We have been visiting Falcons Landing for many years […]
When I think of a celebration, I think of good food, wonderful people, and great music! This was definitely the case at the Pennsylvania Federation of Music Clubs (PFMC) Biennial Convention held from April 20-23, 2016 in Sayre, Pennsylvania. I had the pleasure of attending the conference that also served as the Club’s 100th birthday […]