Exploring Contemporary Piano

What: Dinner and Music – Michael Sheppard, Solo
When: Sunday 9 September 2018 at 5pm
Where: the home of Paul Cassedy in Baltimore Maryland.
Who: Michael Sheppard (Pianist and Composer)
Cost: $20 each

Many of you will already know that Michael Sheppard is an incredible collaborator, solo pianist, and accomplished composer in his own right; he has performed in these roles many times at my house.  But you may not know that he is also deeply committed to new music; he has worked closely with composers Nicholas Maw, Michael Hersch, Robert Sirota and John Corigliano, particularly for piano.  After discussing it for a long time, Michael has agreed to lead us through a program featuring music by current and contemporary composers.
 
It should be an especially interesting evening.  We are in for quite a treat!
 
Menu: Braised lamb stew, and assorted vegan treats
As usual, we will conclude the evening with a simple dinner. Although the menu is still being prepared, and will be heavily driven by what looks good in that morning’s Farmer’s market, I am planning to serve a lovely braised lamb stew, with home-made lamb dumplings.  Of course, as usual, there will also be an assortment of late summer vegetables from that morning’s Baltimore Farmer’s Market, salad, and assorted other items. As always, there will be plenty of alternatives for vegans.
 
Timing: Disciplined
We will make a point of starting the recital promptly at 5:20pm. The goal is to end the evening, both the recital and the dinner, in plenty of time for the DC folk to travel home and be snug in bed by about 9:30pm on a "school night."
 
RSVPs: by 4 September
Please let me know if you can join me for this wonderful evening of dinner and music by 4 September as that is when I will begin making final preparations for our menu and seating; If you need directions and parking suggestions, please let me know in your response. Significant others (or just others you think might be interested) are always warmly welcome.  Just let me know if you are bringing someone with you so that I can keep track of our numbers.
 
Artist's Bio:
Already a rising star of his generation of artists, Michael Sheppard is a pianist of dazzling virtuosity and penetrating musicianship. Trained at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, he studied with the great Leon Fleisher and Ann Schein. As one of two  2003 Classical Fellows of the American Pianists Association he toured Southern Asia and the Middle East in collaboration with the Cultural Programs Division of the United States Department of State. Upon his return he made his Kennedy Center debut.

Since then he has made his debuts with orchestras in the Midwest, Southeast, Southwest and Pacific Northwest in addition to solo recitals, radio-broadcasts, and master-classes throughout the nation and Europe, including several Weill (Carnegie) Hall recitals.  Sheppard has received critical acclaim as a grand interpreter of transcriptions of operatic tunes as well as American musical theatre in addition to the traditional piano repertory.

Deeply committed to new music, he has worked closely with composers Nicholas Maw, Michael Hersch, Robert Sirota and John Corigliano. Sheppard is a composer in his own right and often programs his original compositions. In addition to being a Classical Fellow of the American Pianists Association, Sheppard has also been a Fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center and the La Gesse Foundation and a prizewinner in the National Federation of Music Clubs National Competition.  His recently-released album of contemporary American music for the Harmonia Mundi label has been garnering rave reviews.  A native of Philadelphia, he resides in Baltimore.

What's the music?

Michael Sheppard

Attendees

Dara B.

Anne P.