Guest piano recital slated at SFA

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and School of Music will present Kenneth Saxon in a guest piano recital at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

The highlight of the program will be Robert Schumann's "Fantasie in C, Op. 17," according to Dr. Andrew Parr, SFA professor of piano. "The large-scale, youthful work is full of secret musical messages to Schumann's future wife, Clara, whom the composer was forbidden to see," Parr explained.

Saxon will also perform some lesser-known pieces by Bela Bartok's: "The Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm" and "The Rumanian Dance Op. 81, No. 1."

"The program is rounded out by Frédéric Chopin's quiet and mesmerizing work, 'Berceuse, Op. 57,' plus three of his mazurkas, or Polish dances," Parr said.

Saxon, who is the coordinator of collaborative piano at the University of Texas, Brownsville, has performed in Italy, Singapore, Mexico and throughout the United States. In 2007, he was recognized as Distinguished Musician by judges at the IBLA Grand Prize International Music Competition held in Ragusa-Ibla, Sicily.

He holds a doctorate in piano performance from the University of Alabama where he was awarded a Graduate Council Fellowship.

Admission to the recital is free and open to the public, as is the master class for SFA pianists at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 23. in Cole Concert Hall.

Cole Hall is located in the Wright Music Building, 2210 Alumni Dr. For more information, please call (936) 468-6407.