The Oct. 25 recital in Whitley Auditorium features John and Richard Contiguglia assisted by guest percussionists John Beck and Wiley Sykes.
Tuesday, October 25
The Adams Foundation Piano Series sponsored by the Times-News and Elon University
Whitley Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $15 (reserved seating). Tickets available October 4.
The Adams Foundation Piano Recital Series sponsored by the Times-News returns for its 11th season in Whitley Auditorium on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 7:30 p.m. Elon’s favorite identical twin virtuoso Steinway concert artists, John and Richard Contiguglia, will display their extraordinary musicianship in a tribute to Percy Grainger, the Australian pianist and composer who had a profound impact on their early careers.
The Contiguglias were 12 when they were invited to play during an intermission for Grainger, who was in their hometown of Auburn, N.Y., for a recital in 1950. After this meeting, Grainger took the boys under his wing. He shared compositions with them that could be played on two pianos and advised them on other pieces to play. The artists focused a considerable amount of their career studying Grainger’s music and performing his duo-piano compositions for audiences around the world.
The first half of their Elon program includes four folk songs chosen in Grainger’s honor. One of the pieces is drawn from the music of Porgy & Bess, which was originally composed by George Gershwin in the 1930s.
The second half will include the Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion written by Béla Bartók. Considered one of the most difficult pieces in modern musical composition, this is certain to be a highlight for the audience. In addition to two pianos, the piece is performed with a battery of additional instruments including tympani, side drums, bass drum, xylophone, triangle, cymbals and tam-tam.
About the Artists
After their 1962 London debut, the Contiguglias garnered worldwide acclaim performing with major symphonies and creating their record label, Gemini CD Classics. In 2001, they established the Adams Foundation Series with the support of college friend Steven Adams of Santa Barbara, Calif. The mission of the series is to bring the finest classical piano artists to select communities throughout the United States. Burlington has been the North Carolina home for the Contiguglias and the Elon community benefits from the exceptional recital performances in Whitley Auditorium.
John Beck has been a member of the artist-faculty at The University of North Carolina School of the Arts since 1998. He is a percussionist with the Winston-Salem and Greensboro symphony orchestras, Brass Band of Battle Creek, and the Philidor Percussion Group. A former member of the United States Marine Band, Beck performed regularly with the National and Baltimore symphonies, Washington and Baltimore operas, and the Theater Chamber Players of the Kennedy Center. He has toured the United States as a xylophone soloist with the Marine Band, Jack Daniel’s Silver Cornet Band, Brass Band of Battle Creek, and the New Sousa Band.
Wiley A. Sykes III is the principal percussionist with Greensboro Symphony Orchestra. He is versed in the drumming traditions of India and West Africa, American jazz and Western classical music. He performs on tabla, mridangam, jembe, drum-set, mallet instruments and symphonic percussion in both traditional settings and his own transcultural creations. As founding member of the Philidor Percussion Group, Sykes has presented chamber ensemble concerts, workshops and educational programs throughout the United States.