Pianist Scott Carrell will combine artistic playing with informative comments to bring the world's greatest music to life in a concert Feb. 27[FRIDAY] at the Ada Arts & Heritage Center. The Magic of the Piano features standard classical works as well as lesser-known masterpieces and will begin at 7:30 p.m.
The free concert is sponsored by East Central University's Music Department and is a Centennial event marking the university's 100th birthday.
A native of Texas, Carrell has performed numerous recitals as soloist and as collaborator, including concerto appearances with the Austin Symphony Orchestra, the Pine Bluff Symphony Orchestra, the Southwestern University Orchestra, the Plainview Symphony Orchestra, the Fort Worth Civic Orchestra, the Little Rock Wind Symphony,and twice with the Harding University/Community Orchestra.
Currently teaching piano, music theory and composition at Harding University in Searcy, Ark., Carrell is in demand as a soloist, collaborative artist, teacher and adjudicator. An active chamber musician, he co-founded the Searcy Chamber Music Series and has performed on many of its concerts.
He released a new compact disc in 2007, Ragtime Memories, which consists of ragtime pieces in classic, novelty and player piano styles. Composers represented include Joplin, Scott, Lamb, Confrey, Berlin and others, plus two original rags. His previous disc, Crossings was released in 2005, and includes works by Chopin, Debussy, Haydn, Schulz-Evler and Carrell. It features the world-premiere recording of the title work, an original composition based on a painting by an Arkansas artist.
The French Piano Institute awarded him a prize for the best performance of a work by Henri Dutilleux at the 1996 FPI Festival in Paris, France. He was also honored with the Distinguished Teacher Award from Harding University for the 2003-2004 academic year.
Carrell received degrees from Southwestern University, the University of Illinois and the D.M.A. from the University of North Texas. He studied with internationally known artists Drusilla Huffmaster, Ian Hobson and Vladimir Viardo and participated in masterclasses with Abbey Simon, Gail Delente and Dominique Merlet.
An active member of the Arkansas State Music Teachers, he has presented sessions at both regional and state conferences and served as the state coordinator for the student composition competition. He became the MTNA South Central Division coordinator in 2004. His judging activities include students at all levels, from local festivals to national competitions.
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