Cool Classics concert series showcases piano talent
Pianists who study with Utah State University’s Gary Amano are in the spotlight when the Cool Classics Concert Series returns to the USU campus. Spread over three nights, the event features pianists in recital in a series of theme evenings that include “College Virtuosos,” Young Virtuosos” and a final evening that features the talents of the musical Coombs family.
The Cool Classics Concert Series is an annual event on the USU campus. This year’s concerts are Wednesday, July 26, Thursday, July 27, and Saturday, July 29. All recitals begin at 7:30 p.m. and are in room 214 of the Chase Fine Arts Center.
Tickets are available at the door and are $5 a night or $10 for a series ticket. Proceeds support the USU Piano Scholarship Fund.
Amano is head of the piano program in the department of music at USU. His students have an impressive record at regional, national and international competitions.
“The Cool Classics concerts are an opportunity for the community to enjoy the rich talent right here in our state,” said Anarie White, series director. “Those attending also get to hear the works of the great composers.”
White is a USU piano performance major who studies with Amano. A junior, she has performed in the series for the past three years but takes a break from performing this year to direct the series. She is a Cache Valley resident from Richmond.
The opening recital, July 26, is “College Virtuosos” and features students majoring in piano performance at USU.
“These are all students who have played the piano for more than 10 years,” White said. “Each practices an average of 30 hours a week and is extremely dedicated to music.”
The evening’s performers include Jessica Roderer, age 18 of Wellsville, who will perform a Schubert “Impromptu” and Prokofiev’s “Third Piano Concerto” (iii). Emilee Bradley, 18, of Howell, Utah, will perform the first movement of Beethoven’s “Tempest” Sonata and the Schumann “Sonata in g minor” (i). Luke Hancock, 22, is from Idaho Falls, Idaho, and will perform the Scriabin “Sonata No. 4.” Sherilyn Lee, 18, of North Logan, will perform Chopin’s “Barcarolle” and the Beethoven “Piano Concerto No. 3” (i). Her brother, Brandon Lee, 20, will wrap up the program with a Scarlatti “Sonata” and Liszt’s formidable “Mephisto Waltz.”
The works represent some of the greatest and most difficult in the piano repertoire, White said.
“Young Virtuosos” night is July 27, and all performers are under the age of 18.
“Although these pianists are young, they demonstrate remarkable talent and abilities,” White said.
Scheduled to perform is Shannon Lee, 12, whose brother and sister perform in the “College Virtuosos” evening. Shannon will open the recital with Debussy’s “Minstrels” and Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto 1” (i).
Joseph Chang, 14, of Salt Lake City will perform the Mozart “Sonata K. 280” (iii) and the last movement of the Mendelssohn “Concerto No. 1.” Christina Qi, 15, of Sandy presents Beethoven’s “Sonata Op. 2 No. 2” (i) and the Gershwin “Concerto in F Major” (i). Song Choi, 16, also of Salt Lake City, will play the Mozart “Sonata K. 311” (i) and the Chopin “Concerto No. 2” (i). John Sargeant of Orem completes the evening and will conclude with a Schubert “Impromptu” and the “Hungarian Fantasy” by Franz Liszt.
The series wraps up Saturday, July 29, with the “Coombs Family Pianists,” a Cool Classic tradition of many years. The family, from Draper, Utah, includes six children, and all are serious students of the piano. Four will perform in recital at USU – Jonathan, 22, is attending school in New York City, and Gabe, age 5, has played the piano for only one year.
Family members slated to perform include Jessica, 10, who opens the evening with the Haydn “Sonata in E-flat Major” (i), followed by Mendelssohn’s “Concerto No. 2” (ii). Natalie, 13, will play the Bach “Partita No. 2” (i) and the St. Saens “Concerto 5” (iii). Zachary, 18, is a recent high school graduate and will attend USU as a piano major this fall. He will perform the Beethoven “Sonata Op. 90” (i) and Rachmaninoff’s “Etude Tableaux in E-flat minor.”
Hilary, 24, has completed both bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the Juilliard School in New York. She will perform works by Beethoven, Ravel and Liszt.
“We are delighted that Hilary is coming to Logan to perform,” White said. “Members of this talented family have been frequent performers with the Utah Symphony Orchestra and have won many national and international competitions. We are pleased to feature the Coombs in our final evening.”