The Michigan State University College of Music will close its 2024-25 season with an awe-inspiring display of pianistic power and imagination. Part of the MSU Federal Credit Union Showcase Series, “Piano Monster” takes place 3 p.m. Sunday, May 4, in Fairchild Theatre, featuring a one-of-a-kind program that draws on the grandeur of iconic space-themed music, brought to life by the full sonic force of four grand pianos on stage.
This family-friendly event brings together artist-faculty pianists from the Keyboard Area of the MSU College of Music — Young Hyun Cho, Stanislav Khristenko, Tamar Mikeladze, Deborah Moriarty, Derek Polischuk, Zhihua Tang and Eric Zuber — for a concert that showcases the bold, beautiful resonance only four grand pianos, played by masterful artists, can deliver.
This year’s theme pays homage to the beauty and majesty of space as portrayed in beloved film scores and celestial-themed compositions. The program includes iconic cinematic works such as Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 by Richard Strauss and The Blue Danube Waltz by Johann Strauss II — both famously featured in 2001: A Space Odyssey — along with a Star Wars medley by John Williams. Additional selections, such as Jupiter from The Planets by Gustav Holst, The Garden of Eden by William Bolcom, and The Stars and Stripes Forever by John Philip Sousa, match the scale and energy of this unique piano ensemble, creating a dynamic experience that spans both the cinematic and classical worlds.
“This concert really highlights the thrill of large-scale piano performance,” says Deborah Moriarty, professor of piano and chair of the keyboard area. “It’s a chance to hear how a piano ensemble can be both powerfully expressive and surprisingly elegant, especially when paired with the collaborative energy and creativity our artists bring to the stage.”
This performance is generously sponsored by Alena Fabian, M.D., and Andrea L. Wulf, as part of the Showcase Series, underwritten by the MSU Federal Credit Union.
To purchase tickets visit the College of Music website.