 Rika Uchida |
MEDIA CONTACT: Tory Olson, 515-271-1834, tory.olson@drake.edu
Rika Uchida, Drake University assistant professor of piano and theory, will join Kumiko Shimizu in performing music for two pianos in a recital at Drake University on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
The performance, which is free and open to the public, will start at 8 p.m. on the Jordan Stage in Sheslow Auditorium in Old Main, 2507 University Ave. It is the 2nd performance in a tour, which began at Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss., on Aug. 31.
Uchida and Shimizu, assistant professor of piano at Delta State University, originally met at the University of Oregon. They have been planning to perform together since they received their doctoral degrees in piano performance.
“I love playing music for two pianos,” Uchida said. “It’s so orchestral — with two pianos, we can do so much more than playing solo — I just love it!”
The duo will present works by Argentinean, French, Spanish and American, composers, including:
- “The Girls” from “Three Romances” by Guastavino
- “Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun” by Debussy (written for orchestra and later arranged for two pianos)
- “Triana” from “Iberia” by Albéniz (written for solo piano and later arranged for two pianos)
- “Night Waltz” by Bowles
- Selections from “Spanish Rhapsody” by Ravel (written for two pianos and later arranged for orchestra)
- Selections from “Eight Exotic Dances” by Françaix
In addition to the recital, Shimizu will conduct a master class for Drake voice students at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, in Sheslow Auditorium. The class is free and open to the public.
Uchida also gave a master class, as well as a lecture on Debussy, while at Delta State University.
Uchida and Shimizu will perform their recital again at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, at Simpson College. The performance will take place in Lekberg Hall in the Amy Robertson Music Center, at North Buxton Street and West Detroit Avenue in Indianola, Iowa.
Prior to joining Drake in 2005, Uchida taught at the University of Oregon for seven years and at the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio. She specializes in both performance and music theory of early 20th century works, especially those composed by Debussy.