Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Piano enthusiasts of East Texas can mark their calendars for two guest piano recitals to be presented by the Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and School of Music.
James Nalley, a 2008 International Steinway Artist, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, and Kwan Yi, winner of the 2008 Schmidbauer International Young Artist Competition, will perform at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1. Both recitals are free and will be held in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.
Nalley, assistant professor of piano at Florida State University, has performed across the United States, Canada and Europe. He is the winner of many national and international competitions and made his New York debut in Carnegie Hall to great acclaim.
His program includes Beethoven's "32 Variations on an Original Theme in C minor, WoO 80," Franz Liszt's "Ballade No. 2 in B minor" and Mily Balikerev's "Islamey: An Oriental Fantasy."
Yi began studying piano at age 11 in Korea and attended the Juilliard School Pre-College Division. He received his Bachelor's of Music from the Curtis Institute of Music and is currently studying with Robert McDonald at the Juilliard School.
His recent awards include the National Foundation in the Advancement in the ARTS Award, the ASCAP Foundation's Ira Gershwin Award for Outstanding Musicianship and the Grand Prize in the 2007 Sorantin International Young Artist Competition.
Yi's program include and works by Frédéric Chopin, Franz Liszt and W.A. Mozart.
Cole Concert Hall is located in the Tom and Peggy Wright Music Building, 2210 Alumni Dr. For additional information, please call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.