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OBU—Oklahoma Baptist University

Music Faculty to Present Recital Nov. 13 Featuring Eight-Hands on Piano

November 6, 2014

Current and retired piano faculty at OBU will present the annual Keyboard Academy Recital Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. in Raley Chapel's Yarborough Auditorium. The community is invited to attend the free recital.

Performers include Dr. Ron Lewis, professor emeritus of music; Jo Lewis, piano instructor in OBU's Music Preparatory Department; Dr. Carol Bell, professor emerita of music; Dr. Michael Dean, associate professor of music; Dr. Mary Chung, assistant professor of piano; and Dr. Keith Whitmore, assistant professor of music / staff accompanist.

The recital will be unique and exciting, featuring a variety of music for four-hands and eight-hands works by Smetana, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, and Bizet, arranged by Wilberg.

"There aren't many opportunities to see eight-hands works performed in person," Chung said. "Anyone who loves piano will be excited to hear these pieces at the recital."

The recital is part of the annual Warren M. Angell College of Fine Arts Keyboard Academy held Nov. 13-14. The academy is for high school students, who have the opportunity to stay the night on the OBU campus while experiencing in-depth piano study for two days. They meet instructors, attend the recital, stay overnight with a music major, spend time in private lessons, visit a class, spend a session sight-reading, and spend time in a master class with a guest artist.

The master class is also free and open to the public. It will take place Friday, Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. in Raley Chapel's Yarborough Auditorium.

This year's guest artist is Dr. Ron Lewis, professor emeritus of music. He served as keyboard chairman for 36 years before his retirement in 2006. He earned degrees from Ouachita Baptist University, University of North Texas and the University of Oklahoma, where he studied with Dr. Digby Bell. Lewis presently serves as university organist at OBU as well as organist for First Baptist Church in Shawnee. He his wife, Jo, have two sons, and one granddaughter.