American Liszt Society Concert Dedicates New UI Steinway Piano
Wednesday, January 18 2006
Jan. 18, 2006 MOSCOW, Idaho – The University of Idaho Lionel Hampton School of Music will formally dedicate its new Steinway Concert Grand piano at a special concert Jan. 24. The recital, a special presentation by the Northwest Chapter of the American Liszt Society, is scheduled for 8 p.m. in the LHSOM recital hall. It will showcase the talents of three UI piano faculty – Jay and Sandra Mauchley and Steven Spooner – and seven UI students. The Northwest Chapter of the American Liszt Society Chapter is the only one in this area of the U.S., and one of the very few not located in a major metropolitan area. “This concert will display the pianistic accomplishments of both students and faculty and is a way our chapter of the American Liszt Society can reach out to the community,” said Spooner. The new Steinway, purchased with the assistance of Dunkley Music in Boise, further increases the quality of piano performances in the department, said Spooner. UI piano faculty, along with Mona Morrison of Dunkley Music, traveled to the Steinway factory in New York in December to handpick the school’s new nine-foot model “D” piano. The dedication concert has an outstanding lineup including the Mauchley Duo. Sandy Mauchley has been on the UI faculty since 1977; Jay Mauchley joined UI as piano faculty in 1978. The duo has played numerous concerts throughout the U.S., and also have established themselves as soloists. Both have received the UI Alumni Award for Faculty Excellence. Spooner, a member of the UI faculty since 2003, has performed around the world and is quickly becoming one of the more noted American pianists of his generation. He is currently performing an enormous recital series akin to Anton Rubinstein’s historic recitals of 1885. Student performers include: Kasie King, Spokane, Wash.; Emily Van Dyken, Sunnyside, Wash.; Tara Swanson, Benton City, Wash.; Levi Larson, Idaho Falls; Kent Queener, Troy; Chad Spears, Boise; and Michael Schwartz, Boise. Founded in 1964, the American Liszt Society promotes scholarship and general understanding of the full creative and historical significance of Franz Liszt, the famous Hungarian composer and virtuoso pianist. Liszt is widely considered to be one of the greatest piano virtuosi of all time, and the most famous of the nineteenth century. The society focuses on the education and development of composition and music performance. The northwest chapter was formed by Spooner in 2004; he currently serves as chapter president. Contact: Steven Spooner, UI School of Music, (208) 885-7440, sspooner@uidaho.edu; Joni Kirk, UI Communications, (208) 885-7725, joni@uidaho.edu -30- JK-01/18/06-LHSOM
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