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The Westhuizen Piano Duo will conclude The First Presbyterian Church, 33rd Artist Series season. The performance is at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 28, in the sanctuary at the First Presbyterian Church, 2330 South Main St., Findlay. The concert is free and open to the public; a free-will offering will be received.
Internationally-acclaimed South African pianists, Pierre van der Westhuizen and Sophié van der Westhuizen, will present a program of music for two pianos to include: Fantasy in F minor, op. 103, by Franz Schubert; Sonata for Two Pianos by Francis Poulenc; Porgy and Bess Fantasy for Two Pianos by George Gershwin, Dubose and Dorothy Heyward and Ira Gershwin, arranged for two pianos by Percy Grainger; and Le Grand Tango by Astor Piazzolla.
The Westhuizen Piano Duo has appeared in major festivals and venues throughout the United States and performed in all the major concert halls of South Africa. They both completed their studies at the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati where they studied with renowned professor Frank Weinstock, as well as the legendary piano duo Eugene and Elizabeth Pridonoff.
They were the first piano duo to be accepted into the prestigious PianoTexas International Academy and Festival (formerly known as the TCU/Cliburn Institute) where they received master classes from Harold Martina, John Owings, Jan Jiraceck and the legendary Janos Starker.
In Summer 2007, they were the first duo to be featured as Shouse Artists at the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival in Michigan.
They have appeared at major festivals in South Africa, including the Volksblad National Arts Festival in Bloemfontein, the UNISA Music Foundation Concert Series, and the Standard Bank National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.
Their performances have been heard on ClassicFm, Radio Sonder Grense, WCLV, WGTE, WYSU, and WFMT. Their performance at the famous Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series in Chicago was broadcast live on NPR and PBS television. Their interest in new music has led to premiere performances of works written for the Duo by young composers and they enjoy taking part in new music festivals.
The Westhuizen Duo currently resides in the Cleveland area, where Pierre has recently been appointed as the Executive Director of the Cleveland International Piano Competition. Sophié has joined the faculty of Youngstown State University and also teaches piano at The Cleveland Music Settlement and Cuyahoga Community College.
They both previously served on the faculty of Heidelberg University as Assistant Professors of Piano and Co-coordinators of the Keyboard Division. Pierre and Sophié enjoy teaching master classes wherever they perform, and have served as guest artists/faculty at the Cleveland Institute of Music’s Summer Sonata Festival. The Duo’s latest CD release features the complete works for two pianos by Francis Poulenc.
For additional information regarding The First Presbyterian Church Artist Series, contact the Church at [email protected].
