Teachers chalk up another concert

A favorite visiting performer will be returning to tickle the keys when the Lincoln County Oregon Music Teachers Association presents a piano concert with Dr. Daniel Immel this Friday, April 17.

This will be the fifth performance in Lincoln County by Immel, a professor of music at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and known for bringing a program with variety, virtuosity and engaging presentation style.

“Immel is a fantastic performer and always has extremely interesting and varied programs,” said Jessica Treon, association president. “His piano skills are phenomenal, and his easy and personable demeanor onstage makes any recital an enjoyable experience. You will never be bored and you will surely hear some music you have never heard before.”

The program opens with Francis Poulenc’s “Quinze improvisations pour piano,” a collection written between 1932 and 1958 that blends charm, humor and lyrical beauty. It will be followed by Franz Liszt’s transcription of Schubert’s “Ave Maria,” showcasing both composers’ expressive and technical brilliance.

After intermission, Immel will perform three transcriptions by Earl Wilde of works by Sergei Rachmaninoff, along with Kenneth Leighton’s “Six Studies,” offering a range of styles and musical perspectives. The program also includes special dedications and a surprise piece to close the evening.

Immel’s international career includes performances across the United States, Europe, Canada and Russia, with appearances at venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. He has degrees from Boise State University, Indiana University and the University of Texas at Austin and studied at the American Conservatory in Fontainebleau, France.

Friday’s concert begins at 7 pm at the Pacific Maritime Heritage Center, located at 333 SE Bay Blvd. in Newport. Admission is free, with donations to support the association welcomed. For more information, go to omta-lincolncounty.org or call 541-961-0959.