What: The University of North Texas Fine Art Series presents 2013 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition Crystal Award Winner Sean Chen in concert
When: 8 p.m. Oct. 17 (Thursday)
Where: Murchison Performing Arts Center, 2100 N. I-35E, Denton
Tickets: $10 for general public; $5 for UNT faculty, staff and Alumni Association members; free for UNT students with valid ID. UNT student tickets must be picked up in person at the Murchison Box Office. Purchase tickets online at www.theMPAC.com/tickets or by calling the Murchison Box Office at 940-369-7802.
More information: Find out more about the Fine Arts Series on Facebook at Facebook.com/untfineartsseries or by following the group on Twitter @untfinearts.
DENTON (UNT), Texas – Van Cliburn International Piano Competition Crystal Award Winner Sean Chen will perform at the University of North Texas on Oct. 17 (Thursday).
Sponsored by the Fine Arts Series, the concert will take place at the Murchison Performing Arts Center, 2100 N. I-35E, Denton.
Chen’s performance comes at the end of a banner year for the pianist. He won the 2012-13 American Pianists Association’s DeHaan Classical Fellowship, one of the most lucrative and significant prizes available to an American pianist. His third place Crystal Award win at the Van Cliburn competition marked the first time an American had reached the finals since 1997. Chen also received third prize at the 2013 Morocco Philharmony International Piano Competition.
The Oct. 17 program will include Valse in A-flat Major, Op. 38 by Alexander Scriabin; Impromptu No. 1 in A-flat Major, Op. 29, Impromptu No. 2 in F-sharp Major, Op. 36, Impromptu No. 3 in G-flat Major, Op. 51 and Fantaisie-impromptu No. 4 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 66 by Frédéric Chopin; La Valse by Maurice Ravel, arranged by Sean Chen; and Sonata No. 8 in B-flat Major, Op. 84 by Sergei Prokofiev.
Chen’s appearance is the first Fine Arts Series event of the 2013-14 season. Other events this season include:
- Nov. 14 (Thursday), 6 p.m. – West of Memphis screening with panel discussion with Amy Berg, Damien Echols and Lorri Davism, in Room 180 of the Business Leadership Building, 1307 W. Highland St., Denton
- Feb. 4 (Tuesday), 8 p.m. – Vocal Majority Chorus performance at the Murchison Performing Arts Center, 2100 N. I-35E, Denton
- Feb. 25 (Tuesday) through March 29 (Saturday) – Marking a Course exhibition with works by artists David Bailin, Matt Duffin and Michael O’Keefe; opening reception is from 5 to 7 p.m. Feb 27 with the artists’ talk at 6 p.m., at UNT Art Gallery in the Art Building, 1201 W. Mulberry St., Denton
- Feb. 28 (Friday) through March 8 (Saturday) – Brandit-Popart exhibition by Ron English at UNT on the Square, 109 N. Elm St., Denton
- April 10 (Thursday), 8 p.m. – John Bohannon and Black Label Movement present A Modest Proposal at UNT’s Main Auditorium, 1401 W. Hickory St., Denton
- April 24 (Thursday) – 13th Annual Songwriters Competition location and time TBA
Find out more about the Fine Arts Series on Facebook at Facebook.com/untfineartsseries or by following the group on Twitter @untfinearts.
About Sean Chen
An advocate of new music, Chen has performed the music of contemporary composers, including Michael Williams, Nicco Athens, Michael Glibertson and Reinaldo Moya. Chen also has performed with several orchestras, including the Fort Worth Symphony, Indianapolis Chamber, Indianapolis Symphony, New West Symphony and Suwon Philharmonic, where he worked with conductors Leonard Slatkin, Gerard Schawartz and Boris Brott. Chen has received numerous awards for his achievements in music, including a 2010 Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship, Los Angeles Music Center’s Spotlight award and NFAA Artsweek award. Chen is currently pursuing his artist diploma at the Yale School of Music under Hung-Kuan Chen.
About the UNT Fine Arts Series
The Fine Arts Series began as the Lyceum Series in 1903 when UNT was North Texas Normal College. The series has grown over the past century while never losing sight of its purpose to enrich UNT students' lives and provide a higher quality of life at the university. As the Fine Arts Series enters its 109th season, it continues to entertain and educate the campus community by presenting an exciting series of performing, visual and literary arts events. All UNT Fine Arts Series performances are presented free of charge to UNT students.