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PianoFest Northwest 2015: Sheila Weidendorf

  • Michael Nutt Mainstage 565 Camano Ave Langley, WA, 98260 United States (map)

PianoFest 2015 Opening Night
The Local Groove with Pianist Sheila Weidendorf

Festival PASSES are available
$85 Adults / $60 Youth

Wednesday, April 22 @ 7:30
$20 Adults / $14 Youth

Love the piano? Join us for an evening of interesting music solo music, chamber music and extemporaneous musical creation all featuring the sonorous, percussive orchestra that is the modern piano. We will begin the evening savoring a range of duo piano music—for both 1 piano/4 hands and music written for two pianos, including works by Schubert, Mozart and Brahms. We welcome duo pianists Kathy Fox, Dianne Vars, Mark Findlay and Peter Morton joining Ms. Weidendorf on the Michael Nutt Mainstage for this evening opening.

The feature portion of this opening night of PianoFest 2015 puts the spotlight on the works of local and area composers. Says host and pianist Sheila Weidendorf, “I wanted to take this opportunity with PianoFest to highlight area composers and their oeuvre—which just happens to be scored for the piano. We suffer an embarrassment of riches here on the Island and in the region, a richness of cultural and creative talent and opportunity. We happen to have people in our midst who not only play their instruments beautifully, but also compose substantive and sublime music.” Special Guests: Troy Chapman-Guitar, James Hinkley-Cello, Cynthia Morrow-Viola, and Angelique Poteat - Clarinet.
This program includes:

Piano preludes, performed by Sheila Weidendorf and composed by James Hinkley in 1988

  • Allegro Semplice
  • Vago e sempre legato
  • Allegro tempestoso

Pieces composed by Whidbey native Angelique Poteat      

  • Appearances, a suite for solo piano composed in 2005
  • Immer Singen for piano and cello composed in 2011, with cellist James Hinkley
  • Reflections on a Summer, a piano trio composed in 2008, with composer and clarinestist Angelique Poteat and violist Cynthia Morrow

Ms. Poteat's music has been recorded and performed in Australia, Germany, Lithuania, and all over the United States by the Enso Quartet, Philharmonia Northwest, Seattle Collaborative Orchestra, Saratoga Orchestra, Woodlands Symphony Orchestra, Trio Tara, New York New Music Ensemble, and by members of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.

Pieces by Alan Hovhaness

  • Sonata, opus 145 for solo piano
  • Sonata for cello and piano, opus 255, with cellist James Hinkley

Alan Hovhaness was a mid-century Armenian-American composer whose career began on the east coast of the USA and took him often to Switzerland, where he fell in love with the mountains. His orchestral work, “Mysterious Mountain,” is his most performed and recorded to date. An appointment as Composer-in-Residence with the Seattle Symphony in 1966-67 spurred a permanent move to Seattle. He said, “I like the mountains very much. I don't have to go to Switzerland; I expect to stay here.” Hovhaness died in Seattle in 2000. In advance of a memorial concert given at Seattle's Benaroya Hall, then Seattle Symphony conductor Gerard Schwarz said of Hovahness, “He was won of the great melodists of the 20th century, a master to us all...He was trying to bring beauty and sensitivity to our world...He was one of the great masters of our time.”

An original piece created in collaboration between guitarist Troy Chapman and pianist Sheila Weidendorf

$20 Adults / $14 Youth

PianoFest runs April 22 through April 26. 

Bringing world-class artists to the island in a celebration of piano music—classical to contemporary.


PURCHASING TICKETS

Click Here for Online Purchases
Via Phone: Please Call the Box Office at 
800.638.7631 or 360.221.8268
In Person: Visit the Box Office at 
565 Camano Ave, Langley, WA 98260

Online Tickets Purchases are available until 12-Noon the day of the show.

BOX OFFICE HOURS:
Wednesday through Saturday
1pm - 6pm
and 2 hours before every show

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Or questions regarding your ticket order please call or visit the WICA Box Office.

Earlier Event: April 16
Greg Ruby and the Rhythm Runners