Guest pianist to perform at Northwestern

Northwestern College will present a recital by pianist Dr. Richard Steinbach as part of its McGilvra Artist Piano Recital series on Saturday, April 18, at 7:30 p.m. in Christ Chapel. The event is free and open to the public.

Steinbach’s performance, entitled “FUSION: New Music for a New Age,” is part of an international recording project that features some of the most innovative compositions of the 21st century. The concert will include Jonathan Pieslak’s “American Atmospheres,” Gao Ping’s “Xiao Xiao” and Judd Greenstein’s “First Ballade,” among other works. The performance will serve as a preview of Steinbach’s June 12 concert at New York’s Carnegie Hall.

Serving as both a soloist and a collaborative artist, Steinbach has performed in venues throughout the United States, Canada, France, Great Britain, Honduras, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, New Zealand, South America and China. He was named the grand prize winner in the France Piano International Competition in 1995, and he performed his solo debut recital at the Salle Cortot in Paris in 1996. Steinbach has released seven recordings to date, including his latest album, “FUSION.”

Steinbach serves as a music professor at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City and teaches courses in applied piano, music theory, piano pedagogy and American music. He earned degrees in piano performance from the University of Colorado and the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., before earning a doctorate in musical arts from the University of Iowa.

McGilvra Artist Piano Recitals, presented annually, feature guest musicians with extensive performing and teaching experience. Each year, the guest performer also serves as judge for the McGilvra Keyboard Competition, a scholarship contest for music students. The recital series and scholarship competition are named after Harold McGilvra, a lifelong music instructor.