UB Welcomes New Muse Piano Duo, April 13
March 27, 2015
Contact: University Relations
Phone: 410.837.5739
The University of Baltimore will host the New Muse Piano Duo for their upcoming April residency—their first ensemble-in-residency at UB. As a highlight of their work on campus, on Monday, April 13 at noon, the pair, consisting of pianists Jonathan Kuuskoski and Paola Saavidou, will perform a free program of modern pieces composed for two pianos, entitled "Time Seems to Pass." This "Art and Eat" event will include light fare, available after the performance. To complement the concert, the duo will teach students in a world music class.
Hailing from the "Show Me State" of Missouri, the New Muse Piano Duo is a resident ensemble at the University of Missouri School of Music. Specializing in compositions from the 20th and 21st centuries, the duo actively commissions new pieces to be written for two pianos. To further their goal of bringing new music to new audiences, they focus on the works of living composers. This touring season, the New Muse Piano Duo is premiering new music by Amy Williams, Haley Myers and UB's own Jeffrey Hoover, associate professor in the Klein Family School of Communication Design.
"Time Seems to Pass" is an original program that explores temporality through music written for four hands and two pianos by currently-living composers.
"We are thrilled to be making our Baltimore debut on the Spotlight UB series, and to finally perform Jeffrey Hoover's work Soul Dancing for a hometown crowd," says Saavidou. "It's always fulfilling to collaborate with living composers, but it's particularly special when you can play it for composers themselves. As soon as we first spoke with Jeffrey over Skype we knew this was a special opportunity. We can't wait."
Kuuskoski and Saavidou met while attending a music theory class as undergraduates at the University of North Carolina at Greensborough. Shortly afterward, they began playing music and performing together. In addition to touring the country as the New Muse (shortened from New Music Everywhere) Piano Duo, the two teach at the University of Missouri, where Kuuskoski is director of Entrepreneurship and Community Programs and an assistant professor, and Saavidou is an assistant professor of piano pedagogy.
The April 13 event is free for University of Baltimore students, faculty, alumni and staff.
Learn more about Spotlight UB.
The University of Baltimore is a member of the University System of Maryland and comprises the College of Public Affairs, the Merrick School of Business, the UB School of Law and the Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences.