Van Cliburn Medalist Performs at Albion College Progressive Piano Concert

Great music supports a good cause as Albion College's Music Department presents the fourth annual Progressive Piano concert on Saturday, September 8, beginning at 5 p.m. in the College's Goodrich Chapel. The progressive concert will move to several neighborhood locations, ending at approximately 6:45 p.m. at the home of Rob and Gail Reed on Allen Place.

Eastman School of Music faculty member Barry Snyder will be featured during the progressive concert. A Van Cliburn silver medalist in 1966, Snyder has won numerous performance and teaching awards, and pursues an active concert and recording career. Kenneth Drake, faculty emeritus from the University of Illinois, will bring and play a fortepiano, the 18th-century forerunner to the modern piano. Past competition winners Naomi Yamaguchi, Geoffrey Kocks and Moshe Benson will perform, as well as David Abbott and Lia Jensen-Abbott, piano faculty at Albion College.

The event supports the Albion College Piano Festival, a unique learning and performance opportunity for young musicians. Albion College's piano festival features competitions and workshops conducted by professional pianists and specifically designed for pianists from elementary to high school ages. This rare opportunity for young musicians to to prepare for formal competition, receive professional feedback and win prizes is supported in part by funds from the Progressive Piano concert.

Albion College's 2012 Piano Competition takes place November 1-4, 2012, with competitors coming from throughout the state and from Albion's sister cities in Noisy-le-Roi and Bailly, France.

The Progressive Piano concert is open to the public and free, although donations to the competition are requested. For more information on times and locations, contact the Albion College Music Department, 517/629-0481, or organizer David Abbott at .

Albion College Orchestra, Women's Chorus Open Up to Community Musicians

The Albion College Music Department is calling interested musicians to join the Symphony Orchestra and the Women’s Chorus this fall.

The Albion College Symphony Orchestra rehearses Tuesday evenings from 7-10 p.m. in Goodrich Chapel. All string instruments are welcome, and wind, brass, and percussion will be accepted based on needs of the orchestra. Adult community players and accomplished high school musicians are encouraged to become members. The orchestra plays several concerts throughout the school year. Past repertoire has included pieces by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Mozart, and Dvorak.

Albion College’s Women’s Chorus is open to high school girls as well as women of all ages. The group meets Thursday evenings from 7-9 p.m. in the basement of Goodrich Chapel, room 127. The group performs a variety of choral music, including classical, jazz, and folk. In the fall, the Women’s Chorus performs during the Albion College choral concert and at Lessons and Carols in December.

Those interested or seeking additional information may contact Symphony Orchestra Director James Ball at or 5/17/629-0256. or Women’s Chorus Director Karen TenBrink at or 517/629-0481.

Piano Faculty Put Practiced Hands to Carnegie Hall Recital

Alumni and friends reveled in the outstanding talent of Albion's piano faculty, as David Abbott and Lia Jensen-Abbott performed a Carnegie Hall recital earlier this month. A number of Albion residents traveled to New York City for the concert in Carnegie's Weill Recital Hall, joining area alumni and New York City residents looking for an evening of piano music.

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