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Prominent pianist to conduct masterclass and perform at St. Olaf College

By David Gonnerman '90
May 9, 2003

Jacques Després
Després
NORTHFIELD, Minn. ? Acclaimed Canadian pianist Jacques Després will present a masterclass and recital on Monday, May 12, in Urness Recital Hall at St. Olaf College. The two-hour masterclass will begin at 11:50 a.m. The recital will begin at 8:15 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public.

The masterclass will feature up to four students playing and being critiqued by Després. ?He will help them further understand their pieces and provide techniques to improve their overall playing,? says St. Olaf Assistant Professor of Music Kent McWilliams. ?A masterclass is not just sitting and listening to someone play. It?s actively digging into the music.?

McWilliams calls Després a top-rated instructor who is accessible and generous with advice.

?Masterclasses are always delightful, since it gives one an opportunity to interact directly with students and the audience attending,? said Després. ?So much is shared, and it is always full of musical surprises.?

Després is known for his ability to interpret a broad range of composers. His evening recital will include ballades by Debussy, Brahms, Chopin and contemporary Canadian composer Jacques Hétu.

An established lecture-performance artist, Després has lectured at the Juilliard School of Music and at various North American music festivals. He was also musical director of Summer Serenades, a lecture-concert series at Stony Brook State University of New York. His programming for the series was notable for including such neglected composers as Clara Schumann, Alma Mahler-Werfel and Federico Garcia Lorca.

Després currently is on the faculty at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. He holds a doctorate from Stony Brook and a master?s from Juilliard.

St. Olaf College is a liberal arts institution that fosters the development of mind, body and spirit. It is a residential college in Northfield, Minn., and affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college provides personalized instruction and diverse learning environments, with nearly two-thirds of its students participating in international studies. For more information, see www.stolaf.edu.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.