February 2009 Recital by Acclaimed American Pianist at NUI Galway Announced

Acclaimed American pianist Dr Orin Grossman will give a free lunchtime piano recital at NUI Galway's Aula Maxima Upper on Tuesday, 3 March at 1pm. The hour-long programme 'SWonderful – the Music of George Gershwin and Friends will feature the music of George Gershwin, ragtime musician Scott Joplin, and novelty piano composer Zez Confrey. The free, ticketless concert is open to the public and all are welcome. Since his successful New York Carnegie Recital Hall debut, Dr Grossman has pursued a long-standing interest in American jazz and popular music. His innovative combination of classical pieces with his transcriptions of jazz piano solos; and his extraordinary ability to move through different idioms, has led to a growing number of exciting and unusual recitals in New York and elsewhere around the world. In recent years, Dr. Grossman has been particularly associated with the music of George Gershwin, performing concerts of his song transcriptions and classical pieces to critical praise around the world. Recent concerts have been held in Cairo, New York, Florence, and St Petersburg, where he performed Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and gave the Russian premiere of Gershwin's Second Rhapsody with the St Petersburg Philharmonic. The Gershwin element of the recital will include Gershwin's three preludes, his first extended composition, Rhapsody in Blue, and six songs from The Gershwin Songbook to include: 'SWonderful; I am Just a Little Girl; The Man I Love; and Someone to Watch Over Me. According to Fionnuala Gallagher, Arts Officer, NUI Galway: "This is a rare and marvellous opportunity to hear the music of Gershwin from the heart of a true aficionado. Orin Grossman performs this one-hour lunchtime as a special gift to NUI Galway and all music lovers, and is not to be missed". Orin Grossman began piano and theory instruction at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA at the age of five. He went onto Harvard College, where he graduated Magna cum Laude in Music and won the prestigious Concerto Competition. He continued his studies at Yale University, earning a Ph.D. in Music. In 1971, he toured France with the Yale Orchestra, winning particular acclaim in concerts in Paris and Lyon. Dr Grossman joined Fairfield University in 1975 as an Assistant Professor of Fine Arts. In 1991 he was appointed Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. He is currently the Academic Vice-President at Fairfield University, where he is also Professor of Visual and Performing Arts. For further information, contact Deirdre Lydon at the Arts & Theatre office, NUI Galway on 091 495098 or deirdre.lydon@nuigalway.ie -ends-