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The Jansen Art Center is pleased to present Firefly Classics: Jeffrey Gilliam on Saturday, April 22 at 7:30pm. Firefly Classics is a concert series at the J celebrating the best in classical music. Jeffrey Gilliam is a pianist, currently teaching at Western Washington University.
Prior to joining the piano faculty at WWU in 1992, Gilliam taught at The Juilliard School, The University of Michigan School of Music, and at The International Menuhin Music Academy in Gstaad, Switzerland. He has performed and taught all over the world, including guest university teaching positions in Thailand and South Africa. He has received two Fulbright awards.
For the recital at the Jansen Art Center, Gilliam tells us that he chose works that he believed the audience would enjoy while showing off the magnificent Schimmel grand piano in the resonant space.
“For example, I’ve chosen Debussy’s Engulfed Cathedral prelude, because a lot of students and teachers know and love it, and because it will really fill the space. Some of my pieces will sound really big at the J, so be forewarned if you sit in the front rows!,” he added.
Gilliam continues his discussion of this upcoming performance:
“A topic of current interest for Western’s piano students and faculty is the piano transcription.I’m including two transcriptions: the Bach violin Chaconne, arranged for piano by Busoni; and Wagner’s Liebestod from his opera “Tristan and Isolde”, arranged by Franz Liszt.Wagner’s “Tristan” influenced everyone that followed him, including the young Austrian composer Alban Berg in his very first published work, his Sonata Opus 1. I’ve chosen Scriabin’s “Vers la flamme” because, like Wagner’s “Tristan”, it features a weird and enigmatic sound throughout. For me the Scriabin piece, (means “Towards the Flame”) functions as a Big Bang Theory for piano. My second half is devoted to Brahms’ epic Handel Variations and Fugue, one of the cornerstone pieces of the romantic piano repertory.”
Gilliam has recorded with violinists Yehudi Menuhin, Alberto Lysy, and Ruggerio Ricci for the EMI, Dinemec Classics, and Opus 111 labels.
Originally from Akron, Ohio, he studied piano with Cécile Genhart at The Eastman School of Music. He also studied collaborative piano with Martin Katz and Margo Garrett. In addition to teaching piano and collaborative piano at Western, he is Artistic Director of Western’s Sanford-Hill Piano Series.
Beyond his own success as a musician, Gilliam’s students have gone on to distinguished piano performance programs at Stony Brook, New England Conservatory, Rice University, and Eastman.
Tickets for this event are $25 and are available at the Jansen Art Center Gallery Shop and online at www.jansenartcenter.org. Firefly Classics is supported by the Certified Public Accounts firm, Telganhof & Oagten.
Every Wednesday, the J invites you to join us for live music with your lunch. Each week, we welcome a different performer to the Piano Lounge to entertain you during the lunch hour. On Wednesday, April 26, we welcome pianist Lorraine Robinson.
FRI JULY 28: WISH YOU WERE HERE
SAT JULY 29: THE WALL
Join the NW’s premier live tribute to Pink Floyd PIGS ON THE WING for an unforgettable 2 night stand of classic, timeless psychedelic rock at the San Juan Community Theater! Each night features a unique set and album performance – special 2 night passes available!
Both shows are open to all ages!
FRI JULY 28th: full performance of Pink Floyd’s 1975 classic album Wish You Were Here in its entirety, plus a full 2nd set of Pink Floyd from all eras!
FRI JULY 28: WISH YOU WERE HERE
SAT JULY 29: THE WALL
Join the NW’s premier live tribute to Pink Floyd PIGS ON THE WING for an unforgettable 2 night stand of classic, timeless psychedelic rock at the San Juan Community Theater ! Each night features a unique set and album performance – special 2 night passes available !
Both shows are open to all ages !
SAT, July 29th: Full performance of Pigs on the Wing’s current touring production of Pink Floyd’s 1979 concept album masterpiece The Wall ! This show is 2 sets, exclusively performing The Wall in it’s entirety, cover to cover.
As a part of the Wednesday Lunchtime Music program, the Jansen Art Center would like to present pianist Sylvia Bos on September 6. Sylvia Bos has spent a lifetime playing the piano professionally. She comes from a small town near Boston called Hingham, famous for its Colonial history. Sylvia started playing her family’s grand piano at the age of four. She attended The Julliard School in in New York City, won the Steinway Piano Contest and has played recitals at venues such as the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. She also played for the ballet academy in Sequim for thirty years. At the J, she likes to play classical standards, such as Beethoven. Enjoy delicious soups, salads and sandwiches from the Firehall Cafe while listening to live music in our Piano Lounge. There is no cover. Tips for the performers are always appreciated.
As a part of the Wednesday Lunchtime Music program, the Jansen Art Center would like to present pianist Nell Veenstra on September 20. Nell received her undergraduate degree, Bachelor of Arts, from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with an emphasis in music education and piano performance. Her teaching experience spans 30 plus years, working with children as well as adults. She retired from East Lansing Public Schools in 1998, where she taught elementary music. Nell was a member of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association for several years while she was teaching. Nell was also a member of the Music Teachers National Association and active with the local chapter in Lynden. Besides teaching music, she directed children and adult choirs in her church, and was in charge of music for Friendship, a program for mentally challenged adults. Nell enjoyed performing and played for many church-related services, as well as teaching private piano to children and adults. Currently, Nell is playing part-time for church services and volunteering at the Christian Health Care Center where she teaches two music classes biweekly. Enjoy delicious soups, salads and sandwiches from the Firehall Cafe while listening to live music in our Piano Lounge. There is no cover. Tips for the performers are always appreciated.
As a part of the Wednesday Lunchtime Music program, the Jansen Art Center would like to present pianist Doris Mae Bajema on September 27. She is a Washington State certified piano teacher whose hard work inspires others to master the art of playing the ebony and ivory keys, playing familiar and lighthearted pieces for everyone to enjoy. Enjoy delicious soups, salads and sandwiches from the Firehall Cafe while listening to live music in our Piano Lounge. There is no cover. Tips for the performers are always appreciated.
Washington Truck Meet – Sanctioned BBQ Contest – Beer Garden – Music
Cost is $30 per day, for child and caregiver/parent to participate.
For children who may have difficulty expressing themselves, needing another way to communicate and to relax.
Come dance and move with your child at this Expressive Arts skills dance and movement group. Open to the public allows the child and parent flexibility to come when they can.
Contact Arise Well Counseling Services LLC for more about this 8 week group.
A walk in the forest, a mountain stream, a dog chasing squirrels, a polar bear sauntering across the ice – all these and more are explored in the solo piano performance “Mother Earth.” Sure to ignite the imagination, the program will feature a premiere of “Sounds of a Fjord” by Norwegian composer Kaja Bjørntvedt. Don’t miss this musical and poetic journey through earth’s spectacular landscapes.
Becky Billock, a Pittsburgh-based piano soloist, recording artist, and chamber musician is touted as “an unforgettable listening experience.” (Fanfare Magazine)
Program includes works by Amy Beach, Marion Bauer, Henry Cowell, Edvard Grieg, Karen Tanaka, Bonnie McLarty, Elisenda Fabregas, Patrick Burke, Germaine Tailleferre, Robert Schultz, Katherine Hoover, Gwyneth Walker, and Kaja Bjørntvedt.
Full bio, pictures, program notes and more can be found at www.beckybillock.org.
Performing Brahms, Ades, Chopin, Schumann
Winner of the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant in 2011, Mr. Hochman previously made his New York recital debut in 2006 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, proceeding to establish a vibrant and venerated musical presence in New York City through concerts with the New York Philharmonic and the American Symphony Orchestra, his Carnegie Hall debut with the Israel Philharmonic and a succession of prominent recital and chamber performances at 92nd Street Y. Following his debut with the Chicago Symphony in a Mozart Piano Concerto project with Pinchas Zukerman and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, he performed his Los Angeles Philharmonic debut at the Hollywood Bowl and was engaged for three subscription series with the Pittsburgh Symphony.
Performing Bach, Ravel, Chopin
Winner of the 2017 Concours Musical International de Montréal for piano and recipient of a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship, Zoltán Fejérvári has appeared in recitals throughout Europe and the United States in such prestigious venues as Carnegie’s Weill Hall in New York, the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, the Library of Congress in Washington DC, Gasteig in Munich, Lingotto in Turin, the Palau de Música in Valencia, the Biblioteca Nacional de Buenos Aires and the Liszt Academy in Budapest. He has performed as a soloist with the Budapest Festival Orchestra, the Hungarian National Orchestra, the Verbier Festival and Concerto Budapest Orchestras among others, under such conductors as Iván Fischer, Zoltán Kocsis, Ken-Ichiro Kobayashi, and Gábor Takács-Nagy.
The Bellingham Music Club opens its 107th year right after Labor Day. Under the theme Concerts à la Carte, the 2022-2023 season offers eclectic and delicious tastings starting with French fare for piano four hands.
Gabriel and Rebecca Mañalac present a unique selection of music originally conceived for the stage. Written in the brief period between 1914-1920 by French composers who were increasingly challenging the norms of traditional classical music, this program nevertheless features an amazing variety of styles. From Fauré’s neo-Baroque elegance to the rollicking rhythms of Milhaud’s Le Boeuf sur le Toit, this program will delight the ears and the imagination. As you sit back to enjoy, perhaps you might picture yourself rubbing shoulders with the likes of Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, and Charlie Chaplin, in that swirling hub of art, philosophy, and a bit of madness – the French Cabaret!
BMC matinee programs are free and open to all – BMC’s gift to the community!
Under the theme Concerts à la Carte, the Bellingham Music Club’s 2022-2023 season offers eclectic and delicious tastings starting with French fare for piano four hands.
Gabriel and Rebecca Mañalac present a unique selection of music originally conceived for the stage. Written in the brief period between 1914-1920 by French composers who were increasingly challenging the norms of traditional classical music, this program nevertheless features an amazing variety of styles. From Fauré’s neo-Baroque elegance, to the rollicking rhythms of Milhaud’s Le Boeuf sur le Toit, this program will delight the ears and the imagination. As you sit back to enjoy, perhaps you might picture yourself rubbing shoulders with the likes of Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, and Charlie Chaplin, in that swirling hub of art, philosophy, and a bit of madness – the French Cabaret!
To mark Night Beat’s 10th year, BMC is making music even more accessible to the community, and ticket purchase is not required. Students are always free; $20 suggested donation for others.
The Bellingham Music Club continues its 107th season under the theme Concerts à la Carte, with eclectic tastings throughout the year.
Violinist Grant Donnellan and pianist Judith Widrig offer a tribute to Ukraine in another installment of their European travelogue. Elegies, Melodies and Lullabies – A Musical Journey from the Baltic to the Black Sea with composers Mykola Lysenko and Valentyn Silvestrov (Ukraine), Arvo Pärt (Estonia), Grazyna Bacewicz (Poland), and others with ties to Ukraine: Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff.
Free program preview on Wednesday, November 2, 10:30am at Trinity Lutheran Church, 119 Texas St., Bellingham. All are welcome! This is BMC’s gift to the community!
More information on bellinghammusicclub.org.
The Bellingham Music Club continues its 107th season under the theme Concerts à la Carte, with eclectic tastings throughout the year.
Violinist Grant Donnellan and pianist Judith Widrig offer a tribute to Ukraine in another installment of their European travelogue. Elegies, Melodies and Lullabies – A Musical Journey from the Baltic to the Black Sea with composers Mykola Lysenko and Valentyn Silvestrov (Ukraine), Arvo Pärt (Estonia), Grazyna Bacewicz (Poland), and others with ties to Ukraine: Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff.
Friday, November 4, 7:30pm at First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall Ave. in Bellingham.
To mark Night Beat’s 10th year, BMC is making music even more accessible to the community, and ticket purchase is not required. Students are always free; $20 suggested donation
Canadian-American pianist Jacques Després has concertized for four decades on three continents through his performances as a soloist with orchestras, solo recitals, collaborative work and recordings. He is equally well-known as a lecture-performance artist, formally with Western Washington University and currently on the faculty at the University of Alberta. Després is unquestionably “A rare combination of virtuosity and artistic integrity.”
Dr. Després’ performance will include excerpts from Debussy’s Préludes (book 1), Brahms’s Three Intermezzi, Op. 117, and Brahms’ Capriccio, Op. 116.
Free program is on Wednesday morning, September 6, 10:30am (two days after Labor Day) at First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham. Come early and mingle with BMC friends: we will welcome you with coffee and nibbles starting at 9:30am.
Matinees are always free; they are BMC’s gift to the community! More information on bellinghammusicclub.org
Bellingham Music Club’s 108th season offers programs that transforms, uplifts and inspires, starting with a recital by Canadian-American pianist Jacques Després.
This acclaimed pianist has concertized for four decades on three continents through his performances as a soloist with orchestras, solo recitals, collaborative work and recordings. He is equally well-known as a lecture-performance artist, formally with Western Washington University and currently on the faculty at the University of Alberta. Després is unquestionably “A rare combination of virtuosity and artistic integrity.”
Dr. Després’ performance includes three complete major works for the piano: Debussy’s Préludes (Book 1), Brahms’s Three Intermezzi, Op. 117, and Brahms’ Fantasies, Op. 116.
Full-length BMC Night Beat is on Friday, September 8, 7:30pm, at First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall Ave. in Bellingham. No ticket purchase is required, and all students are free; we suggest a $20 donation for others. More information on bellinghammusicclub.org.
After visiting the British Isles and journeying from the Baltic to the Black Sea, Grant Donnellan continues his travelogue series with Latinissimo! – a program for violin, piano and guitar inspired by Spain and Latin America.
Judith Widrig, David Feingold and Eli Schille-Hudson join him to perform works by De Falla, Granados, Piazzolla, Sarasate, and Turina. Grant will accompany music selections with a captivating narrative guaranteed to bring sunshine to your day!
Free program preview is on Wednesday, November 1, 10:30am at First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall Ave. in Bellingham. Matinees are always free; they are BMC’s gift to the community!
Grant’s return as our musical travel guide Sounds Sublime!!! Do join us!
After visiting the British Isles and journeying from the Baltic to the Black Sea, Grant Donnellan continues his travelogue series with Latinissimo! – a program for violin, piano and guitar inspired by Spain and Latin America.
Judith Widrig, David Feingold and Eli Schille-Hudson join him to perform works by De Falla, Granados, Piazzolla, Sarasate, and Turina. Grant will accompany music selections with a captivating narrative guaranteed to bring sunshine to your day!
Full-length BMC Night Beat is on Friday, November 3, 7:30pm, at at First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall Ave. in Bellingham. No ticket purchase is required, and all students are free; we suggest a $20 donation for others.
Grant’s return as our musical travel guide Sounds Sublime!!! Do join us!
In Bellingham Music Club’s first program of 2024, pianist Judith Widrig and violinist Carolyn Canfield share “Musical Stories” as well as ravishing playing.
They will perform the crown jewel of the string sonata repertoire, César Franck’s Sonata in A major, as well as Lera Auerbach’s modern contribution, Sonata no. 2, ‘September 11’. They will round out their program with works by Lili Boulanger, Larisa Kuzmenko, Rebecca Clarke, and Arvo Pärt.
Free program preview on Wednesday, February 7, 10:30am at First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall Ave. in Bellingham. BMC’s gift to the community!
BMC is now in its 108th season of making music accessible to the community. To learn more about the current “Sounds Sublime” season and other BMC endeavors, including its coveted student awards, please visit https://bellinghammusicclub.org/
Bellingham Music Club’s season continues as pianist Judith Widrig and violinist Carolyn Canfield share “Musical Stories” along with ravishing playing in an original program designed for BMC.
They will perform the crown jewel of the string sonata repertoire, César Franck’s Sonata in A major, as well as Lera Auerbach’s modern contribution, Sonata no. 2, ‘September 11’. They will round out the program with works by Lili Boulanger, Larisa Kuzmenko, Rebecca Clarke, and Arvo Pärt.
BMC Night Beat is on Friday February 9, 7:30pm at First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall Ave. in Bellingham. No ticket purchase is required, and all students are free; we suggest a $20 donation for others.
BMC is now in its 108th season of making music accessible to the community. To learn more about the current “Sounds Sublime” season and other BMC endeavors, including its coveted student awards, please visit https://bellinghammusicclub.org/
The Mañalac Piano Duo presents a recital of music with forward-looking takes on historical and national musical styles and composers. Beginning with the French composer Ravel as he explored his Basque roots, through the music and dance traditions of Spain, then moving to American opera composer Margaret Garwood, whose Suite for piano duet pays witty homage to three composers (two European and one South American) – Prokofiev, Ravel, and Ginastera. The program closes with Logan Skelton’s setting of seven American folk songs, from simple lullabies to rollicking dances – and featuring an unusual piano technique in the finale!
See Southern California pianist Jason Stoll at the Jansen Art Center, as he showcases a rich repertoire, from Chopin to Respighi, Price, Bowen, and beyond. With a multifaceted career as a concert soloist, recitalist, chamber musician, educator, and collaborative artist, Jason promises an unforgettable evening of musical brilliance.
Join WCC Music Department faculty Dr. Gabriel Mañalac for a musical exploration on the themes of damnation and redemption with works for solo piano including William Bolcom’s The Garden of Eden ragtime suite, Sergei Prokofiev’s Suggestion Diabolique, and Franz Liszt’s “Dante Sonata, inspired by Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy. A Q&A will follow the performance.
