Where can you hear a world-class pianist perform on a world-class piano? On Jan. 4, you’ll be able to in Delmar, when Eugene Albulescu comes to Bethlehem Central High School.
Albulescu is the music director and chief conductor for the Lehigh Philharmonic Orchestra, of which BC alum Amy Forando is a member. The concert will raise funds to help pay for the group’s European tour in May.
Albulescu was named a Steinway International Artist in 2006, which for pianists is akin to entering the hall of fame. He has had a number of live recordings published and appears on the iTunes store.
His musical career stated at the age of 6 in Romania and then in New Zealand before completing his studies at Indiana University, and he has since played and composed around the world.
Lehigh’s philharmonic is different from ensembles at many other schools in that membership is open to anyone who can play, not just music majors.
We are a student orchestra, but it’s a different demographic than a music school, said Albulescu. `Our big niche is students who take music extremely seriously but who don’t want to pursue music as their career.`
Monday’s program will feature a performance of Beethoven’s Appassionata Sonata and other pieces. Albulescu will be performing on the Steinway piano the district purchased in 2006 after parents raised $64,000.
`I think it’s a great opportunity for us to have a ranking pianist in our school and also to showcase our Steinway piano,` said High School Music Supervisor David Norman, who added that he is interested to hear Albulescu’s opinion of the Steinway.
One of the perks of being a Steinway artist is the promise a piano will always be available from the local dealer, said Albulescu, but playing the district’s Steinway will eliminate transportation costs and hassles.
Albulescu extended an invitation to his players to come perform at their hometowns, within geographical reason, as a fundraiser. He’ll be making 15 such performances by March.
Forando is a junior at Lehigh studying computer engineering and plays first oboe in the philharmonic. She will also be performing at the recital, playing `Vivaldi Concerto for Oboe in A Minor.`
`I’m really excited, I think it’s one of the things that’s really great about our music program with Lehigh and in Bethlehem,` said Forando. `Having them be so supportive in letting Eugene come back to play has really meant a lot to me.`
The director said he was happy to make the journey to Bethlehem, NY from Bethlehem, PA, where Lehigh is located, to help out.
`We appreciate Amy’s work, and she’s really an extraordinary oboe player who could easily make a career in music had she wanted to,` he said.
Donations collected during the concert will help to send Forando on the European tour. Even with fundraising at Lehigh in full force, the cost to each member of the ensemble will run $3,350.
The payout, though, is the opportunity to perform in many of the birthplaces of the philharmonic: Prague, Budapest, Vienna and other venues.
The program will begin at 7 p.m. at the High School. Suggested donations are $20 for adults and $5 for students.
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