Posted by Mary Wimberley on 2009-01-26

Acclaimed American pianist Jon Nakamatsu will perform as part of this year's Samford University School of the Arts Davis Architects Guest Artist series Friday, Feb. 13.

Nakamatsu, winner of the 10th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, will perform at 7:30 p.m. in Brock Recital Hall. He will also serve as judge, clinician and master class teacher for Samford's Morris Piano Competition Feb. 12-14.

A California native, Nakamatsu came to international attention in 1997 when he won the prestigious Cliburn competition. Since then, his musicianship and eclectic repertoire has made him a clear favorite on the international concert circuit. He has seized audiences with the polish, musicality and technical brilliance of his playing-the result of many years of private piano study starting at the age of six.

His Samford concert will include Haydn's "Sonata in C Minor," Schumann's "Papillons," Chopin's "Andante spianato et Grande Polonaise brillante in E-Flat Major," L. Tjeknavorian's "Five Dances from Dances Fantastiques," and three works by Liszt: "Impromptu (Nocturne) for Princess Gortschakoff," "Valse impromptu in A-flat Major," and Apres une lecture de Dante ("Fantasia quasi Sonata") from "Annees de Pelerinage-Deuxieme Annee: Italie."

Admission is $20 adult, $15 senior adult (55-plus) and $10 student/child. For reservations, go to www.samfordartstickets.com or call (205) 726-2853.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.