School Of Music Faculty Concert Scheduled For Sept. 18

by Richard Veit

Baylor University's School of Music piano faculty members, Dr. Michael Ard and Dr. James Williams, will present a concert at 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 18, in Roxy Grove Hall. This concert, titled "The Versatile Piano," also will feature soprano Kristen Sharpley and tenor Karim Sulayman.
Williams is professor of piano and director of keyboard studies. He joined the Baylor music faculty in 1973. He holds bachelor of music, masters of music and doctor of musical arts degrees from the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music.
Ard serves as professor of keyboard studies. A member of the Baylor music faculty since 1968, he holds a bachelor of music degree from Morningside College Conservatory of Music, a master of music degree from Indiana University and a doctor of musical arts degree from Arizona State University.
The program will open with a section called "The Solo Piano," as Ard performs two piano pieces (one Nocturne and one Polonaise) by Frédéric Chopin. Williams will join him for "The Duo Piano," the "Intermezzo and Allegro for Two Pianos" written by Ard's former teacher, Richard Faith.
"The Collaborative Piano" presents the keyboard instrument in an accompanying role. Ard will accompany the two vocalists in four arias and a duet from three of Faith's operas--"The Little Match Girl," "Beauty and the Beast" and "Sleeping Beauty." Each of these operas features a libretto by Ard. Closing the concert will be "The Piano Transcription" of George Gershwin's operatic music performed by Ard and Williams . This "Porgy and Bess Fantasy" is a transcription for two pianos by Percy Grainger.
The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Baylor School of Music at 710-3991.