CSI Plans Piano Concerts for Spring Semester

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KLIX) – Jazz pianist, composer and recording artist Justin Nielsen kicks off the College of Southern Idaho piano concert series for the spring semester with a performance scheduled for Jan. 27.

CSI’s music department has planned five performances during spring semester, each featuring an accomplished guest artist.

Other artists scheduled to perform on the dates listed include:

Feb. 17: Kimberly native Karali Soderquist-Hunter will headline a program featuring piano, voice, and violin. Joining her will be soprano Jamie Kay Alston and violinist Jennifer Rhodes. Known as the Salonnieres, the group will perform works of Bach, Brahms, Purcell, Debussy, and Schumann.

March 8: Bill Anschell, a jazz pianist of renown from Seattle who has performed several times at CSI. Anschell has recorded five jazz CDs of his own in addition to performing with top players including Lionel Hampton, Nnenna Freelon, Tierney Sutton, Russell Malone, Richard Davis, Russell Gunn, and Ron Carter. His original compositions and piano work are prominently featured on Freelon’s Grammy-nominated recording ‘Shaking Free.’

March 31: Barton Moreau made his concert debut at the age of 15 in New York City with the New England Youth Ensemble and has since performed as the featured soloist with several large ensembles including the Boise Baroque Orchestra. He received his doctorate in music from Arizona State University and serves as a lecturer of piano, music theory, and music history.

April 21: The concluding guest artist is Svetlana Maddox, a music instructor at the College of Western Idaho in Nampa. Maddox, who earned her doctorate in Piano Performance from the University of Arizona, has performed at Carnegie Hall in 2009, 2012, and 2013. She has already gained a fan base in Twin Falls from prior appearances. She will perform Robert Schumann’s ‘Carnaval’ in a lecture-recital format.

According to CSI, each artist will conduct a master class for CSI students between 3 and 5 p.m. in the CSI Fine Arts Recital Hall. Students who wish to perform during the master class need to coordinate with instructor Sue Miller atsmiller@csi.edu or 208-732-6769. There is a $10 fee for performers. The master classes are free and open to the public.

Each artist will present their own performance at 7:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Auditorium. Admission to the evening concerts is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $6 for students. A season pass for five concerts can be purchased at the Fine Arts Box Office for $40 for adults, $32 for seniors, or $24 for students.

Source: College of Southern Idaho