The Winter 2017 Shpachenko & Friends Chamber Music Festival will include two evening performances and several master classes with top new musical guest artists.
Hosted by Cal Poly Pomona music professor and Grammy nominated pianist Nadia Shpachenko, the festival’s concert events kick off at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17 with a performance by the Ray-Kallay Duo. Pianists Vicki Ray and Aron Kallay also plan to offer a free master class to students from 5 to 7 p.m. in Building 24, room 105.
Shpachenko, along with Cal Poly Pomona students, staff and alumni, will perform Wednesday, March 1 as part of the Phillip Clarke Memorial Piano Scholarship Fundraiser. Piano students will perform two newly written compositions for six pianists, showcasing Tom Flaherty’s Igor Stravinsky-inspired “Igor to Please” and James Matheson’s “Bagatelle,” a nod to Ludwig van Beethoven.
Students will perform these piano sextets with Shpachenko on three pianos and two toy pianos. Both pieces also will be performed in four master classes for the composers of the works and the performers who recorded them for Shpachenko’s upcoming album, which will contain new works inspired by older composers.
The March 1 concert will also feature Shpachenko’s performances of two piano concertos – Chopin’s “Concerto No. 1” and Rachmaninoff’s “Rhapsody of the Theme of Paganini,” with piano students accompanying her, as well as collaborative and solo performances from students, staff and alumni.
Master classes with the Ray-Kallay Duo, pianist Genevieve Feiwen Lee, and composer Matheson will include coaching and discussions on performances and compositions by CPP students and are free and open to the public.
Concert Performances
Ray-Kallay Piano Duo Recital – Friday, Feb. 17
8 p.m. – Tickets $15 general/$10 student – Music Recital Hall
Phillip Clarke Memorial Piano Scholarship Fundraiser – Wednesday, March 1
8 p.m. – Tickets $15 general/$10 student – Music Recital Hall
Master Class Schedule
Chamber Music Master Class with the Ray-Kallay Piano Duo – Friday, Feb. 17
5-7 p.m. – Free – Music Building 24, room 105
Piano Master Class with Genevieve Lee – Thursday, Feb. 23
1-3 p.m. – Free – Music Recital Hall
Composition Workshop & Performance Master Class with James Matheson – Monday, Feb. 27
Noon-2 p.m. – Free – Music Recital Hall
Event tickets may be purchased online at csupomona.tix.com or at the Music Recital Hall Box Office, Building 24, room 188, Monday-Friday from noon to 1 p.m. and one hour before concert time. Parking is $7. Artists and Events subject to change.