Illinois State University’s School of Music is pleased to announce three distinguished guest artist recitals to be held in Kemp Recital Hall, September 12–14. Each guest artist recital will begin at 7:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
Opening this year’s Guest Artist Recital Series on Tuesday, September 12, is performer David Zerkel, professor of tuba and euphonium at the University of Michigan. Zerkel, along with guest collaborative pianist Liz Ames, have programmed a full recital of music for tuba and piano. The repertoire on this program was mostly written by composers who were born after 1973—although this may not seem too surprising considering the first tuba ever appeared in 1835, and composers did not consider the tuba a soloistic instrument until the early 20th century. Two works on Zerkel’s recital were written as recently as earlier this year by American composers James Naigus and Amanda Harberg.
On Wednesday, September 13, audiences can hear another guest artist from the brass area: Dr. Cory Mixdorf, trombone professor at the University of Arkansas. Mixdorf will be accompanied by Bulgarian pianist Miroslava Panayatova. Mixdorf’s program includes Suite, Op. 14 by American composer Jack Cooper, which features the soloist in several improvisational sections, and Cristal by Brazilian composer Cesar Camargo Mariano and which has been performed on many instruments and by many artists including Yo-Yo Ma.
Wrapping up the week of guest artist recitals will be Vienna-based fortepianist Daniel Adam Maltz. Maltz will be traveling with his own fortepiano, which is a keyboard instrument that predates the modern piano and which composers such as Mozart and Beethoven would have performed on. The unique timbre and articulation of the fortepiano will be expertly demonstrated as Maltz performs two sonatas by Mozart and two sonatas by Joseph Haydn on Thursday, September 14.
In addition to presenting evening recitals, each of this week’s guest artists will be working with students in master classes during the day.
