UWG
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Contact: University Communications & Marketing
Phone (678) 839-6464, FAX (678) 839-6645
ucm@westga.edu
Duo Piano Concert
January 28, 2004
CARROLLTON, GA - The University of West Georgia will present retired music faculty members Betty Sue Smith and George Mann in a rare Duo-Piano Concert in the Townsend Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday, Feb. 5, at 7:30 p.m.
In
what may be their last duo piano concert together, Smith and Mann will
perform a selection of music by French composers, including Petite Suite
by Debussy, L’Embarquement pour Cythère and Élègie
by Poulenc, Variations on a Theme by Beethoven Op.35 by Saint-Saëns,
Deux Valses by Tailleferre and Scaramouche by Milhaud.
The term “duo-piano concert” refers to two players performing on two pianos. Smith and Mann will perform on the Townsend Center’s two Bosendorfer 290 Imperial Grand pianos.
UWG is one of only a few universities in the world to own two 290 Imperial Grand pianos in one venue, and Smith and Mann were the first musicians to perform on the two pianos at the Townsend Center. Their program, played at the center’s grand opening in May 1989, was recorded and later broadcast on public radio’s WABE in Atlanta.
Smith is a Professor of Music Emerita who retired from the Music Department of West Georgia after 30 years of teaching. She holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in piano performance from the University of Georgia and has an extensive repertoire at her command, including music of the masters and sacred hymn arrangements. Smith remains active as a performer and is currently pianist at Tabernacle Baptist Church, where she has served for more than 29 years. She is a native Georgian who has lived in Carrollton since 1962.
Mann has performed widely as a solo recitalist, accompanist and chamber music participant, and he is listed in The Piano in Concert, a comprehensive work including pianists and their concert programs from the time of Liszt to the late 20th century. He was a professor of West Georgia until his retirement in spring 2002 after almost 28 years of teaching, and he is currently an adjunct faculty member at Berry College in Rome.
Mann has presented many piano workshops and master classes and is frequently asked to judge competitions throughout the South. In 1997, he was commissioned by Intersound Recording to make a four compact disc set of well-known piano pieces. He received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the College-Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati.
Smith and Mann have performed numerous duo-piano recitals together, beginning with a recital in 1977 that also featured Milhaud’s Scaramouche. They first performed together with the West Georgia College Choir in spring 1975 and have since performed numerous two-piano and one-piano (four hand) recitals for the University, University workshops and conferences, UWG Summer Music Camp and various civic clubs, such as Lit Mu. In 1992, they performed together for the Georgia Music Teachers Association State Conference.
Don’t miss this duo as they team up for what may be the last time. As a service to the community, the concert is being offered for free and is open to the public. For more information, contact the Townsend Center at 770-836-6694 or visit its web site at www.townsendcenter.org.
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