GVSU musicians to unite with local students for piano festival

More than 40 grade school musicians from across Michigan, as well as Grand Valley State University faculty and students, will celebrate 20th- and 21st-century piano music with a day of recitals that are free and open to the public.

The 20th/21st-Century Piano Music Festival will be divided into four age groups, with elementary, intermediate, junior and high school students performing during various recitals beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 31, in the Sherman Van Solkema Recital Hall (room 1325) located in the Performing Arts Center on the Allendale Campus.

“As pianists, we often focus on traditional repertoire, such as those by Mozart, Beethoven or Chopin, but we forget that 20th century and 21st century composers have written, and continue to write, beautiful and exciting pieces for the piano,” said Sookkyung Cho, assistant professor of piano.

Several Grand Valley piano students and faculty will also perform throughout the festival. Featured during these presentations will be students Angela Schmitt, Connor Austell, Brian De Young, Yushan Ying, Anna Vander Boon, Luis Silva and Grace Maust, with saxophone accompaniment provided by Karsten Wimpish. The students will be joined by Cho, Helen Marlais, associate professor of piano and pedagogy, and Arthur Campbell, professor of clarinet.

Below is the full schedule of performances during the festival:

10 a.m. – Elementary level (grades 1-4)

11 a.m. – Intermediate level (grades 5-6)

12:30 p.m. – Performances by Grand Valley faculty and students

1 p.m. – Junior level (grades 7-9)

2:30 p.m. – Performances by Grand Valley faculty and students

3 p.m. – High school level (grades 10-12)

For more information, call the Music and Dance Department at (616) 331-3484 or visit www.gvsu.edu/piano.