Piano Masterclass May 22

David Abbott and Lia Jensen Abbott will be conducting a piano masterclass on Saturday, May 22 at 9 a.m. at the Jackson Symphony Orchestra Peter A. Weatherwax Rehearsal Hall, 215 W. Michigan Ave., downtown Jackson. They will be working with several intermediate and advanced piano students of JSOCMS instructor Carol Ivkovich.

Masterclasses are an opportunity for all teachers and piano students to “sit in” on a private coaching session and learn new teaching and playing skills. Music being performed will include Beethoven Sonatas, Bartok’s Romanian Dances, Brahms’ Intermezzi, and current contemporary piano literature. The public is invited to observe. There is no charge for this class.

Dr. David Abbott joined Albion College as Associate Professor of Piano in the fall of 2005. He earned his Bachelor and Doctor of Music degrees from Eastman School of Music and Master of Music from Juilliard. He was previously on the faculty of the Zurich Conservatory of Music, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the Idyllwild Arts Academy in California. David has also taught courses for over 15 years for the Rocky Ridge Music Center in Estes Park, Colorado.

Dr. Lia Jensen Abbott earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a Master of Music and Master of Art in Piano and Music Theory from Pennsylvania State University, and a Performance Diploma from Indiana University. She completed her Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Lia has taught at the Con Brio Music Festival in Blonay, Switzerland, and in 2009 reached the second round of the International Mendelssohn Piano Competition in Taurisano, Italy. Lia is currently Assistant Professor of Piano and Music Theory at Albion College.