Andreas Klein.
On Thursday, Nov. 5, Covenant’s music department welcomes its second guest performer of the semester. The department is excited to bring in German pianist Andreas Klein, who graduated from Juilliard School and received a Doctorate of Musical Arts from Rice University. He has performed everywhere from New York’s Carnegie Hall to Berlin’s Philharmonic Hall, and has released four critically acclaimed albums.
The New York Times described him as a “pianist who makes silence sound like music,” and The Washington Post said, “Klein resembled a sketch artist bringing a scene to life with quick virtuoso strokes and shading.”
Klein is the second artist to perform in the John Hamm Performing Arts Series, which brings world-renowned musicians to our campus. Coordinated by David Tahere, assistant professor of music, the series offers concerts and master classes to Covenant students and the surrounding community. Every concert is free and open to the public, thanks to generous donors.
Earlier this year, baritone singer Todd Thomas gave a joint recital with pianist Paul Jones. Next semester, bluegrass band The Dismembered Tennesseans will be performing, as well as chamber group The Marinus Ensemble. Each of these concerts gives music students an exciting opportunity to interact with musicians who have “made it” in the professional music world.
As a pianist myself, I can vouch for just how encouraging it is to encounter such talented performers. Assistant professor of music Lok Kim, when speaking on the benefits of bringing in outside artists, said, “Covenant College is a liberal arts school, not a conservatory, so we have fewer chances to invite in great musicians from around the world. In this opportunity, our students have a chance to gain a broader understanding of the spectrum of music, outside of their own teacher’s perspective.” He explained that when we are limited to a single teacher, however great they might be, our view of music can become narrow, and inviting artists such as Klein allows us to break free of that.
Klein’s performance includes several favorites of varied style, including Beethoven’s “Pathetique” Sonata, Chopin’s Ballade in F minor, and pieces by Debussy and Liszt. For those to whom these names might as well be Greek, Klein’s selections are anything but boring. Klein will also be giving a master class Friday, Nov. 6, at 2:00 p.m., to critique several students in front of the class.