Program

Join Pianist Gabriel Merrill-Steskal for an evening of Piano Miniatures by American composers, including a performance of several Preludes by Loyola's own William Horne.

Program:

Chick Corea: Children’s Songs nos. 2, 11, 15, 17, 18, and 20
Amy Beach: Improvisations op. 148
William Horne: Preludes nos. 1, 5, 10, and 12
Michael Kropf: Music for the Home
Samuel Barber: Excursions op. 20
William Bolcom: Graceful Ghost and The Poltergeist

Pianist Gabriel Merrill-Steskal is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Michigan, where he studies with Logan Skelton. As a performer, he has won awards in international competitions on both piano and fortepiano (including the Seattle International Piano Competition, Los Angeles International Liszt Competition, and SFZP International Fortepiano Competition) and recently was a fellow at the Gilmore piano festival and Pianofest in the Hamptons. He has also recorded for Blue Griffin Records as part of an upcoming album of new piano music by William Horne. Before turning to music full-time, he completed his undergraduate degree with a double major in music and chemistry, graduating summa cum laude from Whitman College, where he studied piano with David Hyun-Su Kim.

In addition to performance activities as a soloist and chamber musician, Gabriel is an active teacher and scholar. He has extensive experience playing fortepiano, which he studies with Matthew Bengtson, and he is interested in 18th and 19th century performance practice. A thoughtful pedagogue of piano and music theory, Gabriel is currently a Graduate Student Instructor at the University of Michigan, teaching class piano and private lessons to undergraduate students. His most recent research projects include studying prolongational aspects of folk-based pitch structures in Bartók’s music, and examining characteristics of embellished repeats in Mozart and Chopin. Aside from all things piano, he enjoys spending time outside running and rock climbing.

Please be aware that details are subject to change. Check back for up-to-date info, or sign up for our mailing list! This event is free and open to the public.

Simon Rhett, saxophone, presents their Junior Recital. Simon Rhett is from the studio of Jason Mingeldorff.

Music Education Lecture Series

The Loyola University Music Education Lecture Series was developed to enrich the intellectual and cultural life of students, faculty, and music teachers in the Greater New Orleans region, and the community at large by bringing distinguished individuals in the music education profession to campus for presentations on specialized subjects.  Since 2008, distinguished music educators, composers, conductors, and scholars have been brought to Loyola University New Orleans’ campus annually to make 1-day presentations in the Music Education Lecture Series.  In 2014, this program was expanded to the Music Education Scholar-in-Residence Series to engage notable music educators, scholars, and researchers in extended (i.e., 2-3 day) seminars with Loyola University New Orleans music education, music, and other CMM majors, faculty, and area school music teachers, in order to delve more deeply into specific subjects important to music teaching and learning and the overall music education profession.

On Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 5:30 pm in Roussel Hall, Dr. Robert Amchin will present a special workshop on “Orff Schulwerk Teaching Pedagogy”.  This workshop is free to the public.

BIO

Dr. Robert Amchin is a distinguished teaching professor of music education and serves as the liaison to the College of Education at the University of Louisville. He enjoys leading undergraduate and graduate classes in teacher education in the School of Music. Dr. Amchin mentors graduate projects and also supervises student teachers in the Kentuckiana area. His training includes studies at the Orff Institute (Salzburg), New England Conservatory of Music, Memphis State University, Hofstra University, Hamline University, and the University of Michigan. He was an elementary music specialist in Spring, Texas and still works with children as an artist-in-residence guest music teacher. He is a member of the Kentucky Orff Schulwerk Association (KOSA), Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA), The National Association for Music Education (NAfME), The American Recorder Society (ARS) and the American Orff Schulwerk Association (ARS). His publications include numerous collections of materials for the elementary general classroom. A sought after Orff pedagogue, Dr. Amchin has taught Orff teacher-training courses, master classes, and workshops at local, state, and national events throughout his career and is a regular presenter for KMEA. Internationally, he has taught in China, Russia, Austria, Israel, Poland, Turkey and Canada. His research interests include teacher education, elementary general music education, critical and creative thinking, world music, and Orff Schulwerk/Music and Movement Education. Dr. Amchin holds B.M. and M.M. degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music with specialized training in percussion and Orff Schulwerk, and a Ph.D. from The University of Michigan, where he investigated creative thinking skills in elementary age children.

Please be aware that details are subject to change. Check back for up-to-date info, or sign up for our mailing list!

This event is free and open to the public.