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Ok, Lori Dunn and I just finished our latest duo concert (for two pianos) this past week. We were invited to perform on the 3rd Annual Stephen Barr Memorial Concert Series at Texas Wesleyan which was held on Tuesday, March 25th, 2008.

The concert was comprised of the following works:

Five Spanish Dances, Op. 12 by Moszkowski

Five Waltzes from “Waltzer”, Op. 39 by Brahms

Les Songes: Suite for Two Pianos by Milhaud

Variations on a Theme by Beethoven, Op. 35 by Saint-Saens

Concertino for Two Pianos, Op. 94 by Shostakovich

with an encore of Hoedown from “Rodeo” by Copland

We had so much fun doing it-feel free to take a listen! If you want to download the concert, we’ve got two formats, MP3 (68mb) or Flac (238mb).

We’ll hopefully be performing this concert again in Lawrence, KS this summer.

Earlier in the semester I performed a Mozart Piano Trio, K. 564 with some members of the FW Symphony Orchestra on a concert at Tx. Wesleyan and also appeared with them on the Spectrum Chamber Music series held here in Ft. Worth. Hopefully we can get those files up online here soon.

Also earlier in the semester several faculty joined together to collaborate on a vocal concert which included a performance of the Brahms Liebeslieder, Op. 52 which we’ll also try to get up on here.

Last fall I collaborated with the trombone professor Bryan English here on a concert and we took two of the chamber pieces from the concert and put them on his recently released Compact Disc entitled “Collage” which is available on itunes and at Amazon.com so check that CD out when you get a chance!

So, that’s what I’ve been up to for the majority of the school year (other than teaching)! Lots of practicing:) Enjoy

Last night I was prompted (thank you, Melitta!) to do a better job of keeping people updated with what I’m doing professionally as well as personally, so I’m going to try to do a quick run down of what I’m up to with my job.

This fall marks my  2nd year of teaching/accompanying at Texas Wesleyan University and my 6th year of teaching at Texas Christian University in the Music Preparatory Division.  I have really enjoyed building up my studio at TCU and currently have 13 wonderful students there (I’m only there very part time due to my Wesleyan schedule).

At Wesleyan I’m doing more teaching this year than I did last year. I’m teaching class piano (yay) as well as 25 piano students.  I’m doing a tiny bit of student accompanying (I play for 6 vocal students each week) and a lot of additional rehearsing for upcoming performances.

Right now I’m working with the trombone professor (Bryan English) at Wesleyan on a concert we’ll be giving on Oct. 18th which will include  a couple of chamber pieces, a piece composed for this recital, a set of pieces called “Skylines” by Uber with trombone, piano, and percussion, a Wilder sonata for piano and trombone, and the subZERO-concerto for Bass Trombone.  In early November, we’ll be recording an album with several of these pieces.

I’ll also be accompanying a vocal student on her senior recital in November.

Next spring will be a busy time!  I’ll be playing one of the duo piano parts on the Brahms Liebeslieder for the vocal professor’s (Julie McCoy) recital in February.  Should be fun…..I need to order the music!

A few weeks after that the other piano professor (John Fisher) and I will present a joint chamber music concert with members of the Ft. Worth Symphony Orchestra.  I’ll perform the Mozart G Major piano trio and he will be performing a Faure quintet, I believe.

Each year at Wesleyan, the Barr family sponsors a duo piano concert titled the Barr Invitational and they invite duo pianists in to perform.  This year my duo partner, Lori Dunn and I will be giving the concert.  We’re very excited about it and have recently chosen our music.  I’m trying to remember what we chose……an Arensky suite, Gershwin’s Cuban Rhythms, a Shostakovich concertino, some Muszinksy pieces, a Saint-Saens Variations on a Theme by Beethoven, and I think a couple of other pieces that I’m forgetting at the moment.  In preparation for that concert, Andrew and I are going to be purchasing a second piano to have here at the house to help Lori and I have a consistent place for rehearsals (we gave a concert last year and trying to find a place with two pianos available during the times we needed was a challenge!).

I’m on the board for the Fort Worth Music Teacher’s Association as Vice President of Programs and am also on a the FWMTA Piano Solo Competition committee.  I also help head up the TCU Music Preparatory Division’s Honors Recital (auditions and recital) each fall.

Last spring I affiliated with the Fort Worth Alumnae chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota and have enjoyed getting to know some of those women.  This year I’ll be the liason between the alumni chapter and the Beta Kappa chapter at Wesleyan.

Ok, that sort of sums up what I’m doing this school year! Basically on a daily basis, I’m either teaching, rehearsing, or practicing for a good 10 hours   It’s intense, but I do get a nice summer break!