October means beautiful music at RU

Radford University’s Department of Music brings musical diversity to campus for an exciting month of performances. These free recitals feature a new faculty member and guest artists from across the U.S. during October.

“This semester we have several opportunities for students and the community to enjoy some amazing music by outstanding musical artists,” said Al Wojtera, chair of the Department of Music, “We are also presenting the first opportunity for the public to experience one of our newest faculty members, pianist Kwan Yi, in a solo faculty recital.”

On Oct. 6, Yi presents “Kwan Yi Performing Beethoven.” He a graduate of the Curtis Institute, Juilliard School and the Peabody Institute, and has frequently collaborated with Itzhak Perlman and Roberto Diaz on national tours.

His recital features an all-Beethoven program consisting of recognizable classics such as the "Pathetique" and "Moonlight" Sonatas. His former teacher, Leon Fleisher was a student of Artur Schnabel. As Yi starts his professorial journey at RU, as a former student of Fleisher, he finds it fitting to present a program confirming Beethoven's lasting influence.

In addition to Yi’s recital, there are several guest artists performances including Mary and Rodney Stucky, a voice-guitar duo; Classic Strings Duo and Friends; and Milen Parashkevov, guitarist.

Mary and Rodney Stucky’s Oct. 7 recital includes works by Robert Ballard, Étienne Moulinié, Ernesto Cordero, works collected by Federico García Lorca, and arrangements by Rodney Stucky.

Since 1991, the Stuckys have specialized in 16th-20th century music for voice and plucked instruments, including vihuela, lute, baroque and classical guitars. They have performed throughout the mid-west and east coast as well as at the Ecole Normale de Musique and the Conservatoire Supérieure in Paris, France. Both are professors at the College-Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio.

On Oct. 14, the Classic Strings Duo and Friends present “New Music Virginia”, featuring new compositions by Virginia composers Bruce Mahin, Byron Petty, Martha Radike Craig and Edgar Williams. A pre-concert seminar with the artists is open to the public at 3:30 p.m. in Porterfield 107.

The Classic Strings Duo is Kevin Matheson on violin and Bryan Matheson on viola, who are based in Blacksburg. Their friends include Julia Goudimova, cellist and Shuko Watanabe Petty, piano.

The two were hailed as “two perfect virtuosos” at their international performance debut at Carnegie Weill Recital Hall as part of the Ibla Grand Prize Competition Winners’ Tour. For eight seasons Bryan Matheson served as concertmaster and Bryan Matheson as principal violist in the Renaissance Music Academy Chamber Orchestra.

Originally from Shumen Bulgaria, Milen Parashkevov’s Oct 31 performance features works by Johann K. Mertz, Francisco Tarrega, Nikita Koshkin and Carlo Domeniconi, as well as one his own pieces.

Parashkevov’s received his B.M.A. in guitar performance from Mozarteum-Salzburg, Austria, and a M.M.A. and D.M.A. from Texas Tech University. Currently Parashkevov is a guitar instructor at Campbell University, North Carolina.

All performances start at 7:30 p.m. in the Performance Hall in the Covington Center. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, call 540-831-5177 or visit www.radford.edu/music.