Mississippi State University

11th annual Mississippi Piano Showcase opens on campus June 5

A team of internationally acclaimed musicians will share their talents and expertise with more than two dozen high school students June 5-9 at the 11th annual Mississippi Piano Showcase.

Sponsored by the Music Education Department, the summer music program brings to campus high school pianists and their teachers to study in master classes with guest artists and teachers.

Public concerts by the artists will be featured in the University Theatre of McComas Hall at 7:30 p.m. on four of the five days of the program. General admission is $15 for the complete series or $5 for individual concerts.

"The showcase offers a unique experience for high school students and the general public to hear high-caliber artists they might not get to appreciate except in larger metropolitan areas," said Joel M. Harrison, showcase director and associate professor of music education.

This year's visiting master teachers, in order of their scheduled concerts, include:

Logan Skelton, a Gulfport native and professor of music at Southwest Missouri State University, performing the Holland Mississippi Artist Concert on opening night, June 5.
Skelton has most recently appeared in concert in Boston, New York, Chicago, New Orleans, and Washington, D.C., among other locations. A featured artist on many public radio and television stations, he has recorded four compact discs for both Centaur and Albany record companies.
John McIntyre, faculty artist at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory, performing June 6. McIntyre frequently is featured on National Public Radio and has appeared on television and other radio productions in both the United States and Canada.
Carolyn Bridger, professor of piano and head of the chamber music division at Florida State University, performing June 8. She has been a featured soloist with the Atlanta and Baltimore symphonies and other major orchestras. The award-winning artist also has given numerous concerts throughout the world, most recently in Malaysia.

Also leading master classes will be Douglas McConnell, the Mississippi State music education department's composer-in-residence and professor of theory.

McConnell's original compositions—several being performed for the first time—will be presented June 7 by departmental keyboard faculty members Jackie Edwards, Leanne Fazio, Harrison, and Duncan McMillan. Joining the quartet will be Lana Johns on flute and Gail Levinsky on saxophone.

For additional information on the showcase and concerts, telephone the Music Education Department at 325-3070.

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Last modified: Friday, 14-Jun-2002 15:59:04 CDT.
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