Browsing: piano

In the room secluded from the quiet of the rest of the floor, Victorian Christmas hymns were played on a century-and-a-half-old Chickering piano and students created Christmas cards on an 1880 clamshell printing press. Toward the end of the event, Eric Ames, director of Advancement, Exhibits and Community Engagement donned traditional Victorian dress and recited the classic tale of “The Night Before Christmas” accompanied by cheerful Christmas music on the piano. Even the baked goods offered for attendees to eat were made from Victorian recipes.

Waco-born R&B, soul and jazz fusion group “Smooth Nature” resonates with authenticity and sonic passion throughout their songs and live performances. The trio is composed of two brothers and one of their longtime friends, making it obvious when listening to their music that their connection runs much deeper to one another than just their craft.

“There’s a lot of creativity that goes into football and how you approach things,” Mastrodicasa said. “A lot of the work ethic is very similar to piano. There’s almost like a hyperfixation when you’re trying to learn a song. I think the same can be said when you’re trying to master a football technique or when you’re trying to get in the zone for a game. It’s very similar to just sitting at the piano for hours, just losing yourself in the music.”

In Vienna, Blackwood played in a concert hall in a castle in Innsbruck, one of which halls composer Johannes Brahms once played. During her performance there, Blackwood said she could feel the history of the music she was playing, making it her favorite performance of her life so far.

On Saturday some of the best high school piano talent will perform on campus.

The Baylor/Waco Piano Competition will be held from 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. in the Glennis McCrary Music Building and Waco Hall. This year’s event will be the 34th annual competition, and it is sponsored by the School of Music.