The Asheville Symphony Orchestra is inviting all Guild members to attend a very special virtual piano recital on Zoom THIS Friday, February 19, at 7 p.m. All information follows below, including instructions for how to download and use Zoom, if you have not used it before.
IMPORTANT NOTE: You must register for this event in advance. Click here to register or scroll to the end of this message and click the orange “register now” button.
WHEN
Friday, February 19, 2021
7 p.m.
WHERE
Anywhere you have access to the internet and Zoom; read on for instructions on how to view the performance.
PROGRAM
J.S. Bach – Prelude and Fugue in G Minor, BWV 861 from the Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I
Willie “The Lion” Smith – Fading Star
William Grant Still – Seven Traceries
Timo Andres – Wise Words
Mary Lou Williams – Blues for Peter
Mary Lou Williams – Excerpts from the Zodiac Suite
For a special treat, stay tuned after the performance for an exclusive Q&A session with soloist Aaron Diehl and Asheville Symphony Music Director Darko Butorac. Interested in submitting a question ahead of time? Email info@ashevillesymphony.org with your entry!
How to attend the performance:
Please be sure to download Zoom on the device (phone, tablet, computer) you plan to view the performance on. Click here to download Zoom on your computer. Once the program downloads, open up the file to complete setup. To download Zoom on your phone or tablet, please visit the App Store or Google Play on that device and search for “Zoom.”
Reserve your spot for this event to receive your complimentary invitation and personalized link to attend. Reservation ahead of time is required to join us for this event.
After you make your reservation, you will receive a personal, non-shareable link that you’ll use to attend the performance on Friday, February 19 at 7 p.m. Doors will open to our virtual lobby at 6:30 p.m.
In the meantime, mark your calendars for the evening of February 19, pick out your preferred concert attire (for example: your tennis outfit coupled with a top hat), place a takeout order with your favorite local restaurant, pick up some to-go cocktails, and set aside a bottle of your favorite beverage.
You probably already know quite a bit about German composer Johann Sebastian Bach. But this curated program by Aaron Diehl contains many more incredible composers that the Asheville Symphony would like to introduce to you.
Willie “The Lion” Smith
(1893 – 1973)
Wille Smith was an American jazz pianist and one of the masters of the stride style. He is considered one of the great masters of the genre during its peak along side James P. Johnson and “Fats” Waller. Born in Goshen, New York, six-year-old Willie’s fascination with music began when he discovered an old organ his mother used to play and began to experiment. As a young man, he played piano across New York City and Atlantic City before serving in World War I. Upon his return, he and his contemporaries started to develop the “stride” style. He spent the rest of his career touring North America and Europe, showing off his mastery of the unique, world-changing style of stride piano.
William Grant Still
(1895 – 1978)
William Grant Still Jr. was a highly productive American composer with over 200 works accredited to him including symphonies, solo pieces, choral works, operas, ballets, and more. William was the king of firsts in his time: he was the first American composer to have his work produced by the New York City Opera, the first African American to conduct a major American symphony orchestra, the first African American composer to have a symphony performed by a leading orchestra, and more. During his time in Harlem, he contributed to the Harlem Renaissance and collaborated with several important cultural figures such as Langston Hughes, Alain Locke, Arna Bontemps, and Countee Cullen. You won’t want to miss hearing Aaron Diehl perform Seven Tracieries by this musical and cultural legend.
