Pianist Stephen Hough Leads A Master Class  

Oklahoma City--On Friday, November 13, 2009, from 3:00pm to 5:00pm in Sharp Concert Hall inside the Catlett Music Center on the University of Oklahoma Campus pianist Stephen Hough will lead a Master Class for piano. Hough will be the guest soloist with the OKC Philharmonic for their Transformations concert on Saturday, November 14, 2009, at 8:00pm, at the Civic Center Music Hall.

Both exciting and informative for attendees and musicians, the Master Class consists of students from various Oklahoma universities coming together for a mini-recital and critique from Hough, himself. From the University of Oklahoma, Angela Triandafillou performs Liszt's Sonetta 104 del Petrarca; from the University of Central Oklahoma, Casey Cross performs Brahms' Rhapsody in B Minor, Op. 79, No.1; from Oklahoma City University, Marcyn Parys performs Liszt's Sonata in B Minor; and from Oklahoma State University, Sarah Walters performs Chopin's Grand Valse Brillante in Ab Major, Op. 34, No. 1.

Admission is free and the public is welcome to attend. For further information, contact Katie Kucharski at the Oklahoma City Philharmonic offices at (405) 842-5387 or katie@okcphilharmonic.org. The Master Class series is made possible by the Oklahoma City Orchestra League.

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Stephen Hough

Stephen Hough is widely regarded as one of the most important and distinctive pianists of his generation. In recognition of his achievements, he was awarded a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship in 2001, joining prominent scientists, writers and others who have made unique contributions to contemporary life. He is also the 2008 winner of Northwestern University School of Music’s Jean Gimbel Lane prize in Piano Performance.

Mr. Hough has appeared with most of the major American and European orchestras and plays recitals regularly in the major halls and concert series around the world. He is also a guest at festivals such as Salzburg, Mostly Mozart, Aspen, Ravinia, Tanglewood, Blossom, Hollywood Bowl, Edinburgh, Aldeburgh and the BBC Proms, where he has made over a dozen concerto appearances. Recent engagements include performances with the New York, Los Angeles and London Philharmonics, Cleveland and Philadelphia Orchestras, London Symphony, the Berlin Philharmonic in a worldwide televised performance with Sir Simon Rattle, and a US tour with the Russian National Orchestra led by Vladimir Jurowski.

An exclusive Hyperion recording artist, many of Mr. Hough’s catalogue of over 40 CDs have garnered international prizes, including the Deutsche Schallplattenpreis, Diapason d’or, Monde de la musique, multiple awards from Gramophone Magazine (seven Awards including 'Record of the Year' in 1996 and 2003) and several Grammy nominations. His 2005 live recording of the Rachmaninoff Piano Concertos with the Dallas Symphony and Andrew Litton became the fastest selling recording in Hyperion's history, while his 1987 recording of Hummel concertos is Chandos' best-selling disc to date. At the Classic FM Gramophone Awards in September 2008, his recording of the complete works for piano and orchestra by Saint-Saens received the Golden Disc award for being voted the most popular recording of the past thirty years. His most recent release is A Mozart Album, with works by Mozart, Johann Baptist Cramer, Ignaz Friedman, Liszt/Busoni and Hough.

Stephen Hough is also an avid writer and composer. In addition to scholarly and critically-acclaimed CD liner notes and published musical articles, his interest in theology has led to a book, The Bible as Prayer, which was published in the US and Canada by Paulist Press in September 2007. Earlier that same year his cello concerto was premiered by Steven Isserlis and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and two choral works - Mass of Innocence and Experience and Missa Mirabilis - were performed at London’s Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral respectively. Mr. Hough has also published numerous compositions with Josef Weinberger Ltd.

A resident of London, Stephen Hough is a visiting professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London and holds the International Chair of Piano Studies at his alma mater, the Royal Northern College in Manchester.

The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. For accommodations on the basis of disability, please call the Box Office at (405) 325-4101.
Students Learn Through Lessons from Legendary Opera Singer   
- Private lessons and masterclasses with opera great, Marilyn Horne -

(Norman, Okla)—“Ms. Horne’s masterclasses here at OU are always well attended,” says Tyrone Chambers, an alumni of the OU School of Music. “Not only by music students, but by their friends, other OU faculty members who are friends with Ms. Horne, the members of the OU Musical Theatre and Opera Guild are always there and others. It is usually a packed house.”

The University of Oklahoma School of Music welcomes back legendary opera mezzo soprano, Marilyn Horne, widely considered to be one of opera’s greatest singers. Horne will serve as a visiting faculty member within the OU School of Music, holding private lessons and masterclasses for OU’s voice students on Nov. 16-20. The masterclasses scheduled for 7 p.m. on both Tuesday, Nov. 17 and Friday, Nov. 20, in Pitman Recital Hall are free and open to the public, granting opera fans and music lovers a rare opportunity to see the outstanding singer up close, working with students in a small, intimate environment.

“I would suggest bringing paper and a pencil. Ms. Horne is always throwing out names and performances that anyone can find on YouTube or somewhere online. If anyone is interested in opera, it is a good idea to watch and listen to other singers perform,” says Chambers.

President David Boren asked Horne to become a visiting faculty member after her visit to OU to inaugurate the Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall during the dedication of the second phase of the University’s Catlett Music Center. He realized the impact someone of her stature could have on OU’s voice and opera students. Horne first began working with OU students in 1998.

“I have known and worked with Ms. Horne at the University of Oklahoma for quite a few years. She is such an asset to our education here,” says Célia Zambon, soprano, doctorial student in voice at OU School of Music. “She visits once a semester for a week to give us private lessons and masterclasses.”

“Ms. Horne cares a lot for her students, and I know I can always call her on the phone or send her an email if I need anything; she’s happy to help. She is a wonderful lady, who is on a mission to share her wealth of knowledge and experience with the next generation of classical musicians. Her coming to OU is a great gift and privilege,” says Zambon.

These masterclasses are free and open to the public and located in Pitman Recital Hall inside the Catlett Music Center at 500 W. Boyd Street, in the OU Arts District. Due to the intimate setting for the class, seating is limited.

For more information about Horne’s upcoming visit to OU, the masterclass, or for accommodations on the basis of disability, please contact the OU School of Music at (405) 325-2081. Please visit http://music.ou.edu/calendar.html for a full calendar of events and performances at the OU School of Music.