The Chilliwack Symphony Orchestra & Chorus will end their 2015-2016 season with the seventh annual Piano Extravaganza on May 21.
As the season finale, Piano Extravaganza promises to be a thrilling, eclectic concert featuring talented student pianists, as well as professional keyboard artists who have accompanied the CSO as soloists in years past.
For the student pianists, many of whom are still young, the chance to perform with a symphony orchestra represents not only a magical moment, but a rare opportunity that will enhance their resumes as they pursue future musical endeavours.
Many of the students’ planned performance pieces have been specially arranged by music director Paula DeWit. The audience can expect to enjoy a wide range of works from Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag and W.A. Mozart’s first movement of Piano Sonata in C Major No. 7, to simple gems like N. Faber’s Colourful Sunset and Christopher Norton’s Open Window.
All the pianists were selected by a three-member jury in back in January. These exceptional piano students hail from the Fraser Valley, the Lower Mainland and as far away as Vancouver.
They were all recently treated to a masterclass held in Chilliwack led by special guest pianists of this year’s performance, Clinton and Erica Denoni.
Clinton Denoni will delight the audience with the first movement of the Beethoven Piano Concerto in C Major, with 13-year-old Charmaine Yang playing the second movement and Wesley Hawkins of Chilliwack playing the last. Erica Denoni will join her husband Clinton in a rousing four-hands Poulenc duet with the orchestra.
The May 21 concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre. Tickets are $24 for adults, $15 for students or $60 for a family, and are available in-person at the Centre Box Office (9201 Corbould St.), by phone 604-391-SHOW, or online chilliwackculturalcentre.ca.