USU Pianists Perform a Cool and Classic Sound

Utah State University presents the annual Cool Classics Concert featuring USU piano performance and pre-college students July 21 and July 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the USU Performance Hall.

“Cool Classics will provide an opportunity for the audience to see a variety of high-caliber students of all ages play some of the most difficult repertoire,” said Luke Hancock, Cool Classics coordinator and the first graduate of USU’s piano performance master’s degree program in the Department of Music. “The music will be educational, memorable and, most of all, entertaining.”

The July 21 concert, College Virtuosos, features current and former students of Gary Amano, Utah State University’s director of piano studies. Performers include Brandon Lee, Luke Hancock, Adam Nielsen, Mark Gubler and Jeff Detton.

Pre-college students ages 10­-18 combine forces to perform concerto pieces during the Rising Stars concert July 22.

Pieces such as Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and Islamey will be performed at College Virtuosos. The works of Beethoven, Gershwin, Mozart, MacDowell and many more will be presented at Rising Stars.

“Brandon Lee will perform Islamey, which is considered the hardest piece ever written,” said Hancock. “Several of us have practiced up to eight hours a day in the past few years to master works like Islamey. We want to perform our best and have worked hard to do so.”

Admission to each concert is free, and $5 student piano scholarship donations are encouraged after the show.

More information is available online at the Caine College of the Arts website or by calling 435-797-8022.

Related links:

• USU Piano Performance Program
• USU Piano Pedagogy Program
• USU Department of Music
• USU Caine College of the Arts

Writer: Rachelle Nielson, Caine College of the Arts, 435-770-4273, rachelle.nielson@usu.edu

Contact: Denise Albiston, Caine College of the Arts, 435-797-1500, denise.albiston@usu.edu