Friday, November 1, 2013

The Morning Call: 'Renowned pianist Sandra Rivers performs, talks at Kutztown'

Sandra Rivers


Kutztown University's music program has taken some steps forward recently, as illustrated by the newly remodeled Schaeffer Auditorium, and the upcoming appearance of Steinway pianist Sandra Rivers.
Rivers was one of the first African-American students at the Juilliard School in New York and is currently on the faculty of the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music. She is coming to the campus at the invitation of Tim Schwarz, who has just taken over the conductorship of the Kutztown orchestra.
Her appearance has several components, all free and open to the public. The first is a rehearsal with the orchestra in Schaeffer Auditorium 2:30-5:30 p.m. Sunday. That will be followed 5:45-7 p.m. by a lecture in the Georgian Room of Old Main on racism and sexism in classical music based on her experiences as a black classical musician, followed by a Q-and-A session.
Rivers will conduct a piano master class 3-5 p.m. Monday in the Georgian Room. And, finally, the Kutztown orchestra will give a concert with Rivers in Schaeffer Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Rivers will perform Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3. Schwarz says this concerto was chosen because it best matches the ability of the 45-member Kutztown orchestra, which will be supplemented by 25 carefully chosen students from Bethlehem area high schools.
The other pieces on the program are a suite from Bizet's "Carmen" and Saint-Saens' "Danse Bacchanale."

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