CONCERTS, BELLS and CHAMPAIGN 🎹🥂

Summer is here, and I love the gorgeous colors everywhere.

I just returned from the first tour of the summer season with a benefit concert for the foodbank of my hometown of Fürth in Bavaria. It is always so much fun to visit with friends and family.

Here are some photo souvenirs from the trip with the flight monitor on my outbound leg, the program for the evening, and my return celebration which fell on my birthday. What a fun tour!

Right before leaving for Germany I got to present another concert preview series for the Cleveland Orchestra featuring pianist Lang Lang and Berlioz Symphonie Fantastic.

The Berlioz symphony is a large orchestral work using bells, and I got to visit the backstage area to explore these gorgeous instruments. You can see me for a size comparison next to the larger of the two bells.

Many of you know that I am Professor of Piano at Youngstown State University. This year I was honored to be the Mace bearer for the graduation ceremony.

What a glorious day to celebrate this huge milestone with the students and their families.

Now it’s time to relax and enjoy the long days, to recharge, and to prepare for upcoming concerts, and I’ll share my favorite summer inspirations in this space soon.