The College of Southern Maryland welcomes pianists Hando Nahkur, May 6 and Thomas Pandolfi, May 13 to perform at the Ward Virts Concert Series at 3 p.m., at the Prince Frederick Campus, Room 119. These performances are the last two of six in the concert series, which is held at CSMs Prince Frederick Campus, 115 J.W. Williams Road, Prince Frederick.
Nahkur holds a bachelors degree in music from the New England Conservatory of Music, a certificate in performance and masters degree in music from Yale University School of Music and an artist diploma from Texas Christian University School of Music. He is currently continuing his studies at Southern Methodist University Meadows School of the Arts.
At age 16 Nahkur made his debut with the Estonian National Symphony. Since then he has appeared with the Orchestra of the Estonian National Opera, Tallinn Music High School Symphony Orchestra, Tallinn Music High School String Orchestra, the Bergslagen Symfoniker, Cartago Symphony Orchestra, the St. Andrews Festival Orchestra and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.
Nahkur has garnered top prizes in national and international piano competitions in Estonia, Italy, Greece, Russia, the United States and Canada. He was awarded a Golden Medal of Merit from Canada, joining prominent musicians who have made unique contributions to Estonian musical life in Toronto. Nahkur recently received first prize in the 2012 Algur H. Meadows International Concerto Competition in Dallas, Texas.
In 2010, his CD DeusExClavier was named Record of the Year Die Platten des Jahres by ZEIT-ONLINE in Germany. Nahkur has arranged many classic pop tunes for solo keyboard, including songs of David Foster, Elton John, Frank Sinatra, Freddie Mercury, Mike Moran and others. His latest CD O Holy Night, features solo piano arrangements of many Christmas classics and is a full presentation of his skills as a music arranger.
For information about Nahkur visit www.HandoNahkur.com.
Pandolfis previously scheduled concert of April 1 had to be rescheduled to May 13. Pandolfi is a graduate of the Juilliard School where he earned his bachelor and master degrees as a scholarship student. He previously performed in the 2009-10 Ward Virts series season. His orchestral appearances often feature Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Liszt, Paderewski, Rubinstein and Moszkowski as well as works in the pop genre. Pandolfi is considered a leading interpreter of the works of George Gershwin.
Pandolfi has performed in Canada, Germany and China, and he was guest soloist in the world premiere of British composer Simon Proctors James Bond Piano Concerto in London, England. He has made guest soloist appearances with The National Philharmonic of Moldova, The Oltenia Philharmonic (Craiova), The Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra (Pennsylvania), and the La Porte Symphony (Indiana).
The Ward Virts Concert Series is presented by Edward and Patricia Mehosky, St. Clair and Mary Tweedie, Gerry Van De Velde and Rene Cunningham, and CSM. The centerpiece of the concert series is a world-class Boesendorfer Grand Piano, which was gifted to CSM by the Ward Virts Piano Project (WVPP) for the enjoyment the Southern Maryland community.
The WVPP was formed by friends and classmates of pianist Ward Virts, whose sudden death in 1993 inspired them to purchase this hand-made piano and dedicate the piano in Virts memory. Inspired by Virts life and spirit, his friends and classmates conceived the project in order to bring the love of life, beauty and music that Virts embodied to a new generation of Southern Maryland students, performers and appreciative audiences.
Admission is free and seating is open but limited. Contact 443-550-6011, rfleming@csmd.edu or www.csmd.edu/Arts.
Calendar
CSM Ward Virts Concert Series: Hando Nahkur. 3 p.m., May 6, College of Southern Maryland, Prince Frederick Campus, Room 119, 115 J.W. Williams Road, Prince Frederick. Pianist Hando Nahkur will perform as part of the Ward Virts Concert Series, presented by Edward and Patricia Mehosky, St. Clair and Mary Tweedie, Gerry Van De Velde and Rene Cunningham and CSM. Open seating. Free. 443-550-6011, rfleming@csmd.edu, or http://www.csmd.edu/Arts.
CSM Ward Virts Concert Series: Thomas Pandolfi. 3 p.m., May 13, College of Southern Maryland, Prince Frederick Campus, Room 119, 115 J.W. Williams Road, Prince Frederick. Pianist Thomas Pandolfi will perform as part of the Ward Virts Concert Series, presented by Edward and Patricia Mehosky, St. Clair and Mary Tweedie, Gerry Van De Velde and Rene Cunningham and CSM. Open seating. Free. 443-550-6011, rfleming@csmd.edu, or http://www.csmd.edu/Arts.