UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications

UT Tyler to Hold Guest Piano Recital Sept. 23

September 19, 2013

Media Contact:  Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)

September 19, 2013

UPDATE: 10:22 a.m. Sept. 19, 2013: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED.

The University of Texas at Tyler School of Performing Arts will present a guest recital at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23 in the UT Tyler Braithwaite Recital Hall, Dr. Michael Thrasher, school director, announced.

The public recital will feature pianist J. Bradley Baker of Henderson, who will perform contemporary works by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Scriabin.

Brad Baker is an outstanding young pianist. He’s originally from right here in East Texas, but has studied at important music schools throughout the country. This should be a fine program of some important and diverse piano works,” Thrasher said.

Studying piano since age 15, Baker has presented solo and collaborative recitals throughout the United States and Canada. An avid fan of contemporary music, he recently presented the world premiere of Amir Zaheri’s “Prelude to the Holy Dark,” a solo piano work that was commissioned of the composer. He will record this work for international distribution on the PARMA label in October.

Baker also is working in collaboration with renowned composer C.P. First and members of the Chicago Contemporary Ensemble to produce a premiere recording of First’s “Objects at Rest in Motion” for violin, flute, cello and piano.

He holds bachelor and master degrees from North Dakota State University and Cleveland Institute of Music, respectively. Baker currently is enrolled in the musical arts doctoral program at the University of Alabama, where he serves as a teaching assistant in the theory department.

For more information, contact Thrasher, 903.566.7450 or mthrasher@uttyler.edu.

One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler offers excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of more than 7,500 high-ability students at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine.