Unveiling!

So, I've put down Grieg... I've played it plenty the past year, and I felt it needed a rest after my last concert.

That's why I'm doing something new!  

I am sending an audition tape into the "From the Top" radio show!  

This is something I have wanted to do for a while now... just never got the time, I guess!  OK, OK... truth be told, I've been working on this since last summer!  That's right!  See, the audition calls for two pieces.  I spent the last ten months thinking and thinking about the pieces I wanted to put on the tape.  I think it will be no surprise to any of you that one of the pieces will be the Sousa/Horowitz "Stars and Stripes Forever".  After performing it last month for audiences ranging from 150 to 3300 people, it's become a bit of a staple in my repertoire! 

The second piece was a bit of a challenge... You see, I'm quite opinionated when it comes to what I want to play.  I went from Rachmaninoff preludes, to a set of  variations by Horowitz, to some pieces from Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet"... I just couldn't find something I was too excited about playing!  I finally decided to resurrect a piece I hadn't played for a while and use that.  The piece is Sergei Rachmaninoff's "Polichinelle".  It's a wonderful early piece of his; full of brilliant chords and long length runs at break neck speed!  In the middle of a ton of action, everything stops and we hear a gorgeous theme of surpassing beauty. Later the first theme comes back and it ends with a wonderful set of octaves!  I'm pretty excited about this one!

We'll see how this all goes!

   

Curtain Call...

Playing Grieg...

As you all know, yesterday I took to the stage to play Grieg with the local orchestra.  It was great!  I worked a lot on this piece and I finally got the opportunity to perform it!  

Praise God!

Enjoy the pictures!!!

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The hall begins to fill and the orchestra members wait for the conductor...

There was a video production company present.  The concert is going to be broadcast on TV quite a few times!

The full orchestra.

Walking out on stage to begin...

And yes, that's me at the piano!

The Grieg went beautifully!

Here I am after the concert with my sister, Eden.

And you do have to have some fun, right???

Thanks Mr. C!

Although it took a bit of time, we did get a great family picture!

Here is my entire wonderful family!

After the concert, we all got together for dinner!  It was great fun!

And of course things did get crazy...

...And crazier!!!

Am, yeah... That's Judah for you!

It was a wonderful day!  I thank all my friends for supporting me though all of this!

Here is a short clip of me playing...

Until next time!

The Composer...

Edvard H. Grieg

(This is NOT me!!!)

This is the composer of the wonderful, "Piano Concerto in A-minor" which I am playing with the orchestra this Sunday afternoon!

Of Rehearsal and Newspapers!!!

Yes... It's next week!  Next week I head to the "Performer's Entrance" and play solo with an orchestra for the first time!  This is exciting! 

This concert has a lot of firsts for me.  First time actually having to go to a rehearsal, first time I play in front of an orchestra, first work with a conductor... Well, it's a bit different, but I'm learning a ton about working in a completely different set of circumstances!

Tomorrow is the last rehearsal before the dress rehearsal... I have to thank all the wonderful friends and musicians for taking the time out to talk with on soloing.  My teacher, Mr. Harold Gray, has been a huge help to me ever since I started working on this piano concerto seriously about six or seven months ago.  I also am extremely indebted to Maestro Christopher Parkening.  Mr. Parkening has been like a friend and a role model to me ever since I met him last year.  When I had problems during the rehearsal process, I called him up and he really gave me his expertise! 

I also am posting a newspaper article that came to one of our local papers recently about the concert!  I hope you enjoy it!

Click HERE!

Hope to see you at the concert!

Christian Heritage Music Night 2012

Pictures From the Concert!

Hello All!  

I am excited to release the pictures from my latest concert last Sunday!

We had a wonderful time.  The 15th of April, (the day of the concert.) happened to be the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic.  Because of that, we had lots of people come in Titanic-era clothing!  After the concert, we hosted a Titanic themed reception at our house for all the friends!  It really was a great success!

So sit back and enjoy the pictures!!!

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As our very close friends arrive early, I can be seen in the back... Practicing... or something like that!

The most amazing picture of my little bros you'll ever come across!

Goofing around before hand with my photographer and twin brother, Evan... Ammmm, he's NOT my twin!!!!

Thanks Evan for all the pictures!

And voila! The concert has begun!

One of my famous jokes??? Note the expression there!

Thank God for all music that brings glory to Him!

Speaking on the stirring tale of John Harper. The Irish Minister that went down with the RMS Titanic.

His dying words were, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved!"

After the concert, all that were in Titanic-era clothing assembled for a big group shot!  I want to thank each and every person in this picture for taking the time to really support me!  

Oh yeah, that's me in the hat... the TALL hat!!! 

Thanks Evan for that!

Okay, and you can't resist a little good fun afterwards!!!

Amm, to clear up any misconception, that's me and my wonderful sister, "Bet"!... Once again, I'm the one in the hat! (But you probably already knew that!)

Although I don't have any pictures of the reception, I can assure you all that it was a wonderful time of family, friends, fellowship, and last but not least, food!

The evening (or should I say early morning) ended with the watching of the new film, Tintin with our dear friends the S. family!  We all enjoyed the film and finally headed to bed at 4:00am!

Yes, it was a rather hectic day... But at the same time, it was wonderful!

Special thanks to Evan S. for the pictures!