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Pianist
Del Parkinson of Boise will
present a free concert Friday, Sept. 19, at 7:30
p.m. in the Barrus Concert Hall of
the Snow Center
for the Performing Arts at Brigham Young University-Idaho.
The
concert, called “An Evening at the Ballet,” will feature a
variety of twentieth century pieces including Prokofiev’s “Romeo
and Juliet,” Copland’s “El Salon Mexico,”
Ravel’s “Valses
nobles et sentimentales” and de Falla’s “Ritual Fire Dance.”
Parkinson
says the pieces are similar in that they present a ballet-type feel, but
are different in the types of emotions they express.
“The
program contains a myriad variety of moods,” he says. “It
portrays drop-dead gorgeous emotions and produces breathtakingly exciting
moments. Audiences really seem to enjoy the contrast.”
Parkinson
says he tries to be more personal in this type of concert, giving the
audience an overview and telling the story behind each piece before he
performs it.
A
former faculty member of Ricks College
from 1977-85, Parkinson has returned every year since then to perform in
Rexburg. He has also taught and played several times during Education Week
held on the BYU-Idaho campus.
“I
loved teaching there; it’s a great school with wonderful students and
faculty members,” he said. “The whole campus and community just
seem to enjoy music. It’s nice to perform at a university where it’s
really appreciated.”
Parkinson
is a native of Blackfoot and began his study of the piano at age 5. He
served as coordinator of piano instruction at Ricks
College for several years and
is presently a professor of piano at Boise
State University.
He
holds a doctor of music degree from Indiana
University and a postgraduate
diploma from the Juilliard School
and has performed in Europe, Asia,
Mexico
and throughout the United States.
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