MUSIC

The Concord Band's Winter Concert will feature internationally acclaimed pianist Michael Lewin playing two monumental works for piano by American composers: Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin and Célèbre Tarantelle by Louis Moreau Gottschalk. The concert, to be held at 51 Walden St., Concord on March 2, 2013 at at 8:00 pm.

The program (subtitled “Made in America”) comprises works written between 1858 and 1950, primarily by American composers. While the orchestral version of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue is widely known, it was preceded by a scoring for piano and wind ensemble. It is this earlier version, arranged by Thomas Verrier, based on scorings by Ferde Grofe, that Mr. Lewin will perform with the Band.

Michael Lewin enjoys a distinguished international reputation as concert pianist, recording artist and master teacher. He received his BM and MM from the Juilliard School, and studied with Leon Fleisher, Adele Marcus and Irwin Freundlich. His career was launched with victories in the Franz Liszt International Piano Competition in the Netherlands, the William Kapell International Competition and the American Pianists Association Fellowship.

Mr. Lewin’s active concert career has taken him to 30 countries, performing in the world’s major concert halls. Mr. Lewin’s discography has received extraordinary critical praise, and reflects the great scope of his musical interests. His newest release is “If I Were a Bird,” a selection of 20 bird-themed pieces, on Sono Luminus, which received a Grammy nomination in the "Producer of the Year" category.

Deeply committed to guiding and nurturing gifted young pianists, Michael Lewin is one of America’s most sought-after teachers. He is a member of the Piano Faculty at The Boston Conservatory, where he also directs the Piano Masters Series, and at Boston University, where he is Visiting Artist in Piano. 

Also on the program will be Suite of Old American Dances by Robert Russell Bennett, Children's March by Percy Aldridge Grainger, Combination March by Scott Joplin, Variations on America by Charles Ives, and Americans We by Henry Fillmore. The concert begins at 8:00 pm in The Performing Arts Center at 51 Walden Street in Concord on Saturday, March 2, 2013 (snow date March 3 at 2 pm). Tickets are $20 each ($10 for students and seniors) and are available at the door or by calling 978-897-9969.

The Concord Band, founded in 1959, is one of the leading community concert bands in the United States. It is well known for its innovative programming and the exceptional quality of its commissioned pieces. It presents both formal and Pops concerts throughout the year. Thousands attend its summer concerts each year at Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, Massachusetts.

For additional information, contact:
Email: publicity@concordband.org
978-897-9969
Concord Band website: www.concordband.org
Michael Lewin: http://www.michaellewin.com/