Two locally renowned pianists, Robert Lien and Ray Songayllo, will perform a dual piano recital at Drake University on Sunday, Jan. 31.
The performance, which is free and open to the public, will start at 2 p.m. on the Jordan Stage in Sheslow Auditorium in Old Main, 2507 University Ave.
Lien has taught piano for 42 years, 39 of which have been in the Drake University Community School of Music. He received his undergraduate education at Concordia College and North Dakota State University. He then taught piano for three years before enrolling at Drake for graduate studies in piano performance.
In addition to teaching, Lien is an active performer in several ensembles. He founded the Wild Rose Trio (violin, cello, piano) and plays in a clarinet-piano duo.
Songayllo, who completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Northwestern University, teaches piano at the Temple of the Performing Arts in the Des Moines Symphony Academy. As a pianist and arranger, he also is a member of the Midgard Ensemble, an international chamber group that performs in Minneapolis and England.
He has performed across the United States as well as internationally in Switzerland, France and Austria. Songayllo has also been featured as a performer at the Dartington Festival in Devon, England, and the College Music Society International Conference at the University of Limerick in Ireland.
A full list of upcoming musical performances can be found online at the Drake Fine Arts Calendar.