Tremendous talent!

Anyone who knows me knows I have a younger brother who I am quite proud of, for so many reasons. One of which is his incredible musical talent.
Which he is putting to good use at college in the Music Education Department.

And so as not to embarrass him too much....

Oh forget it Bill - I'm gonna embarrass ya!

This past sunday night was his Senior Recital at Marwick-Boyd Auditorium on the Clarion University campus. This means JUST HIM - alone, on stage, playing piano for a half hour with a room full of people there just to hear him and only him.
Lots of family and friends were there, besides his professors, to lend him support. Even his piano teacher that taught him from when he was a wee lad through high school and beyond, was there to witness the event.

And he was...Wonderful! Impressive! Top-notch! Sensational! And a hundred other adjectives I want to list here. But won't.


tickling the ivories

Seriously, he did a fabulous job and I know he feels an incredible weight lifted off his shoulders, having this recital behind him now. Now he can relax!

The program included selections from Scarlatti (Sonata in D Major), Haydn (Sonata in E Minor, Hob 34), Bartok (Sonatina), and my absolute favorite - Chopin (Polonaise in C-Sharp Minor, Op.26, No.1).... I almost wish I was renewing my vows or having some kind of formal gathering so you could play that just for me.


concentration is KEY.

The difficulty of the pieces was staggering, in my mind. Perhaps someone with more music in their background than high school band and chorus and a few years of piano lessons may not think the complexity was that demanding, but I found the arrangements quite merciless as well as intricate, and cannot imagine learning it - let alone memorizing them.

That's right, folks - he had to memorize every agonizing bar of music. During the third selection (the Chopin), my husband finally looked at me and said "he doesn't have any music in front of him!"... he had just noticed.
Simply amazing.


That smile is one of relief - he's finished!

So many congrats, Bill - you did such an outstanding job!

I'll stop going on about it now...
But that Chopin number....simply DIVINE!