KSC’s Redfern Arts Center welcomed acclaimed pianist Stephen Drury to the Alumni Recital Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 6 for an evening of piano sonatas composed by the late Charles Ives.
Drury, who has performed globally at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall in London and the Cité de la Musique in Paris, performed three of Ives’ sonatas on KSC’s new Steinway Spirio piano.
Ives lived from 1874 to 1954 and composed a diverse musical catalog spanning from piano to full orchestral pieces. Ives’ “First Sonata,” “Three Page Sonata” and “Sonata #2, Concord, Mass. 1840-1860” were performed by Drury.
Ives’ work was not widely appreciated during his lifetime, according to Drury, who said he enjoys playing music people may lack opportunities to hear.
“Ives is largely underrepresented in the musical scene,” said Drury.
“I like to play music that I think is worth playing, and it’s encouraging to play stuff that isn’t being offered a lot because you’re giving people a chance to hear music and composers they may have never heard before, as opposed to something well-known like Beethoven,” said Drury.
“It’s nice to know that I can be useful in that sense and expose people to music like Ives that they may not have otherwise heard,” added Drury.
Associate Professor of Music and Coordinator of Keyboard Studies Christina Wright-Ivanova said Drury’s performance is part of the KSC Music Department’s commitment to providing access to a quality music education experience.
“We have this hidden, unofficial conservatory here at Keene State, with excellent faculty and world-class performers that we’re able to invite. To me, the key word is access, and how we’re able to provide that access to high quality instruments, education and performances that we can share with the community,” said Wright-Ivanova.
According to Wright-Ivanova, the Steinway piano Drury played is available for student use. Wright-Ivanova encouraged students to take advantage of the opportunity.
“We want music to be accessible here, and that means offering not only high quality performances, but also high quality instruments and equipment,” said Wright-Ivanova.
“We’re very grateful and lucky to be able to provide these kinds of instruments that are often gatekept in large conservatory settings, and we want people to access them and make music,” added Wright-Ivanova.
Drury’s performance was sponsored by a $3000 grant issued by the Keene Endowment Association. Director of Development Marilyn Shriver said the grant helps to support activities on campus.
“The grant was given with the trust that the music department would use the funds as they see fit,” said Shriver.
“The Keene Endowment Association oversees a portfolio of funds that are invested to support the college, including events like this which bring support for campus activities,” added Shriver.
Echoing Drury’s comments on exposure to underrepresented composers such as Ives, first-year Ash Nester said the concert was a new experience.
“I’ve heard classical music before, but mostly in accompaniment to woodwind instruments, and never classical piano performances like this,” said Nester.
“I’m actually a music major myself, and I heard about the grant that brought a talented pianist to our school, and I felt like I had to see it for myself. I was blown away,” added Nester.
Ryan Pacheco can be contacted at
rpacheco@kscequinox.com
