From our Members…

Portland Ovations Pre-Concert Lecture with Laura Kargul on Saturday, Jan. 25, 3:00 pm Hannaford Hall, USM Portland Campus. Free and open to the public

This free, public lecture, “Hot Off the Keyboard: Great Composers as Improvisers,” will precede the concert by pianist Gabriela Montero, which starts at 4:00.  Concert tickets are not required to be admitted to the lecture.

Hot Off the Keyboard: Great Composers as Improvisers

In a pre-concert lecture, “Hot off the Keyboard,” pianist Laura Kargul will discuss the renowned improvisational skills of some of the greatest classical composers. Works such as the Bach toccatas, Mozart variations, Chopin nocturnes and Liszt Hungarian Rhapsodies often sound as though they were forged in the fire of a solo late-night jam session, perhaps under the influence of wine, or worse. When a pianist performs such works as if they were “transcribed improvisations,” listeners can experience the music as if it is being composed in the moment.  Dr. Kargul will discuss and demonstrate how a pianist can make a work composed long ago sound spontaneous and new, “hot off the keyboard.” 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Ovations: https://portlandovations.org/event/pre-performance-lecture-hot-off-the-keyboard/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/409671619965580/

Bridget Convey and Gulimina Mahamuti will be among eight featured pianists performing at the Elliott Schwartz Memorial Practice Rooms Project – a unique and fun musical adventure taking place the day before Schwartz’s birthday on Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 7 pm at the Portland Conservatory. The Project will feature premieres of nine pieces for multiple pianos, to be performed in the practice rooms of the Portland Conservatory.  While the performers will be in different rooms, they will play the compositions at the same time and explore new means of ensemble communication. See details in the enclosed poster.

The Resinosa Enemble will be performing a FREE concert at UMA Jewett Hall, on Saturday 10/19 at 7:30pm.
Featuring our 2019-2020 program “American Reflections”.
RESINOSA ENSEMBLEJoelle Morris, mezzo-sopranoEliza Meyer, celloBridget Convey, piano
Featuring three new works composed by Maine composers: Rick Nelson, Nancy Gunn, and Dan Sonenberg. As well as works by: Andre Previn, Lukas Foss, and Bunita Marcus.
https://www.uma.edu/news/concert-by-resinosa-ensemble-to-feature-works-of-uma-faculty-ellen-taylor-and-richard-nelson/

Dr. Gulimina Mahamuti (www.gulimina.com) will be featured guest artist performing a solo piano recital at Colby College’s Music in the Museum concert series on November 14, 2019 at noon. For more information, visithttp://www.colby.edu/museum/2019/07/08/music-in-the-museum-gulimina-mahamuti/.

The Portland Conservatory of Music is proud to announce the 2020 Ocy L. Downs Biennial Piano Price Competition.  Click here to see the repertoire requirements and here to see the application. The application deadline is March 1 and the competition will take place on March 28 at PCM.  Please let me know if you have any questions or need further info. 

Jean Murachanian, Ph.D.Executive DirectorPortland Conservatory of Music

(207) 775-3356director@portlandconservatoryofmusic.orgwww.portlandconservatoryofmusic.org

Waterville Junior and Senior High Schools are looking for a paid accompanist from January to May of this school year. The schedule is flexible. Inquiries should be directed to Ciara Hargrove, WJHS and WSHS Choral Director at chargrove@aos92.org.