2008 Woodie Awards
Conservatory's Signature Series brings musical talent to campus
Rose Bittner
Issue date: 1/9/06 Section: Culture
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A century-old tradition continues as yet another world-renowned performer will grace the University of Missouri-Kansas City's White Recital Hall.
The UMKC Conservatory of Music continues its acclaimed Signature Series next Saturday with a performance by pianist Peter Serkin at 7:30 p.m.
Serkin joins the ranks of several prestigious musicians who have performed at UMKC over the past 20 years.
"Six artists are chosen for these special performances each year based on the following criteria: the artist must be acclaimed, must reflect one of the quality programs available at UMKC, and it is preferred they have had no previous performances in the Kansas City area," said Al Urban, director of Administrative Affairs in the Conservatory.
He said the Conservatory's high standards are attributed to one of its most highly regarded founders-Walter A. Fritschy.
In 1907, shortly after the opening of UMKC's original Conservatory of Music and Art, Fritschy, founder of the Conservatory guitar department, began looking for ways to expose UMKC students to the best and brightest performing artists the world had to offer. His dream became reality when The London Symphony performed in the Kansas City Convention Hall in 1912 and attracted a crowd of over 6,000 people. This concert had larger audiences than those in New York, Philadelphia or Washington, D.C.
The enthusiastic reception can be somewhat attributed to the reasonable prices Fritschy insisted upon.
Founded in 1980, the Conservatory's Tuesday Piano Series followed the precedent for excellence set by Fritschy.
The series was directed by John Mclntyre and showcased the Conservatory's piano faculty and other talented pianists over a 15-year period. Every spring, four piano recitals were presented over a four-week time period.
The list of guest pianists performing during the series included David Owen Norris, Russell Sherman and James Cook. The series ended in 1995.
According to Urban, the Tuesday Piano Series morphed into the White Hall Artist Series and in 1994 was renamed the Signature Series.
The UMKC Conservatory of Music continues its acclaimed Signature Series next Saturday with a performance by pianist Peter Serkin at 7:30 p.m.
Serkin joins the ranks of several prestigious musicians who have performed at UMKC over the past 20 years.
"Six artists are chosen for these special performances each year based on the following criteria: the artist must be acclaimed, must reflect one of the quality programs available at UMKC, and it is preferred they have had no previous performances in the Kansas City area," said Al Urban, director of Administrative Affairs in the Conservatory.
He said the Conservatory's high standards are attributed to one of its most highly regarded founders-Walter A. Fritschy.
In 1907, shortly after the opening of UMKC's original Conservatory of Music and Art, Fritschy, founder of the Conservatory guitar department, began looking for ways to expose UMKC students to the best and brightest performing artists the world had to offer. His dream became reality when The London Symphony performed in the Kansas City Convention Hall in 1912 and attracted a crowd of over 6,000 people. This concert had larger audiences than those in New York, Philadelphia or Washington, D.C.
The enthusiastic reception can be somewhat attributed to the reasonable prices Fritschy insisted upon.
Founded in 1980, the Conservatory's Tuesday Piano Series followed the precedent for excellence set by Fritschy.
The series was directed by John Mclntyre and showcased the Conservatory's piano faculty and other talented pianists over a 15-year period. Every spring, four piano recitals were presented over a four-week time period.
The list of guest pianists performing during the series included David Owen Norris, Russell Sherman and James Cook. The series ended in 1995.
According to Urban, the Tuesday Piano Series morphed into the White Hall Artist Series and in 1994 was renamed the Signature Series.
