Tag: Pianist

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LISA LANZA, Pianist

Pianist Lisa Lanza has been performing as a solo artist and collaborator for over 20 years on the Olympic Peninsula and in the greater Seattle Area. She has studied with internationally renowned pianists Maria João Pires and Paul Roberts at The Guildhall School of Theater and Arts in London. She holds a Masters of Music in Piano Performance and Accompanying from The University of Redlands.

As a guest artist she has performed on the Music at St. Leonard’s concert series, Hythe, England; Young Concert Artists Competition, at Weill Hall, New York; the Olympic Music Festival, Quilcene, Wash.; Sierra Opera Institute’s chamber music series, Mammoth, Calif.; and the Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Island, Wash.

As an opera and musical theater accompanist, she has worked with companies from Orange County, Calif., to the Seattle Opera, from Issaquah’s Village Theater to Key City Players in Port Townsend.

She holds 1st and 2nd prize medals from the Greater Spokane Music & Allied Arts Festival for her interpretations of Beethoven and Chopin. As a performing member of the Ladies Musical Club in Seattle, she performs regularly at the Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Public Library and the Frye Museum.

Ms. Lanza has soloed with the Port Townsend Orchestra in October 2010 and May 2003.

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PAUL CREECH, Pianist

Paul Creech

Paul Creech was born and grew up on a farm in Missouri. Introduced to the piano at the age of nine, he discovered he could play in any key. He studied related theory and composition at Kansas State University and performed his own concertos with conductor W. Eric Stein and the Salina Symphony.

Early in his career, Paul became a sought after technician and tuner for various colleges and universities throughout Texas, Kansas, Missouri and Washington. As he continued to perform for live audiences, Paul began offering music classes to private students and opened a successful piano tuning business, allowing him the rare opportunity to become acquainted with virtuosos Van Cliburn, Victor Borge and Stecher & Horowitz. As his musical career progressed, composing and arranging became a passion.

“For me, composing is a natural extension of my training and devotion to music. Any person who has the ability to write music and perform is truly fortunate. I take great pleasure in teaching others the process of musical arrangement – blending the melody with the harmony and perfecting the art of transposing for a variety of instruments. Indeed writing for artists who appreciate original music is most satisfying and, of course, the audience response is thrilling. Writing music for solo and two pianos, or for full orchestras is a genuine treat because the music seems to flow effortlessly, inspiring the performers as well as the audience.” – Paul Creech

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RENT LACOUR, Pianist

Trent LaCour (photo from the Sequim Gazette)

Trent LaCour’s passion for piano began when he was eleven years old. Within a year of structured piano lessons, his technical virtuosity and interpretive abilities became evident and he was encouraged to advance his musical education under the direction of Paul Creech.

A devoted and motivated pupil, Trent has studied with Paul since 2009 and the two have performed together in a variety of musical venues including a benefit concert for the Sequim Community Church and a special performance at the Music Teachers’ Association in Port Angeles.

Trent was the youngest featured soloist at the 2014 North Olympic Land Trust Dinner. He continues to practice his craft by entertaining delighted audiences at retirement homes throughout Clallam county.

“I personally feel very honored to have been asked to play with Paul for this performance. This gives me a huge opportunity to also work with the Port Townsend Orchestra and to play with such fine musicians under the direction of Maestro Dewey Ehling.” – Trent LaCour
(February 2015)

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ANSON KA LIK SIN, Pianist

Anson Ka Lik Sin

Anson Ka Lik Sin is nineteen years old. A native of Hong Kong, he began studying piano at age six and violin at age twelve. At the Royal School of Music in England he passed the grade eight piano with distinction and the grade eight violin with merit. When he returned to Hong Kong, Anson was a piano accompanist and academic advisor. In 2011, he was taught in the piano master class by the great pianist Alexander Tutunov, who is widely recognized as one of the most outstanding virtuosos of the former Soviet Union. Last year he won third place in piano in the Young Artist Competition at the 61st Hong Kong Schools Music Festival.

While attending Peninsula College in Port Angeles, 2011 to 2013, he studied with Professor Kristin Quigley Brye, music director and conductor of Port Angeles Light Opera Company, and Heather Marie Ray, concertmaster in the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra. During the 2012-2013 concert season, he played in the first violin section of the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra and the Port Townsend Community Orchestra.

Currently, he is studying in the honors program at Hong Kong Baptist University for a Bachelor of Arts in music. He is also studying the piano with Mr. Cui Shi-Guang, among the greatest composers and teachers in China. (October 2013)