West Liberty University will present a duo piano concert, featuring two pianos, four hands and two talented artists, at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 24 in Elbin Auditorium, College Hall. The concert is free and open to the public.
Dr. Becky Billock, WLU adjunct professor of piano will perform with Dr. Tina Faigen, Pittsburgh concert pianist.
“Becky Billock and Tina Faigen are truly outstanding concert pianists, displaying consummate artistry and technical finesse. Their exciting and demanding program will feature masterworks by Sergei Rachmaninoff, Witold Lutoslawski and Robert Schultz. Please don’t miss this very special event,” said Gerald Lee, WLU associate professor of music.
Billock has been hailed as a “persuasive and capable” musician (BBC Music Magazine) and an “unforgettable listening experience” (The Whole Note). She is known for promoting the works of contemporary women.
Billock has appeared as soloist with regional orchestras in Oregon and California and has performed solo and chamber recitals in numerous locations throughout the U.S., including numerous tours of Northwest cities, and appearances on the Seattle radio station Classical KING FM 98.1, the Pittsburgh radio station WQED 98.3FM, and American Public Media’s Performance Today. Billock’s recent CD release musesnine: eight American composers plus one pianist has received extensive airplay throughout the U.S. and Canada, and garnered accolades from some of the top music publications.
Most recently, Billock presented a series of concerts in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, collaborating with San Antonio-based soprano Gail Wettstein and others. She has a bachelor’s degree from Walla Walla College, a master’s degree from University of Redlands and a doctoral degree from University of Washington, where she studied respectively with Leonard Richter, Louanne Long and Craig Sheppard.
Faigen is a recipient of many prizes and awards and has appeared on the distinguished Pittsburgh “Y” Recital Series, is a 1989 winner of the Pittsburgh Concert Society Majors, and has been engaged as guest pianist with numerous orchestras, including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at the age of 13. She has appeared in over 30 performances of Tchaikovsky’s 3rd Piano Concerto with Edward Villella’s Miami City Ballet and was awarded a debut tour of Italy as concerto soloist with the Orchestra Sinfonica Abruzzeze.
Faigen’s CD recordings of Robert Schultz’s works “Visions of Dunbar” and “Tina Faigen Plays Piano Transcriptions” have received rave reviews. Faigen is co-author of the acclaimed Accelerando Piano Technique Series, along with numerous other editions of educational piano music.
She earned her bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College and her master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Miami under the tutelage of renowned pianist Ivan Davis. Since 1992 she has been the principal editor for the Robert Schultz Piano Library. Faigen has maintained an active teaching studio since the age of 14, and is currently a senior piano faculty member of the Music Preparatory School at Carnegie Mellon University.
The Division of Music at West Liberty University offers undergraduate degrees in music education, music performance and music technology. Among its ensembles are University Chorus, Wind Ensemble, Chamber Choir, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble and The Hilltopper Marching Band. For more information, please contact the department at 304-336-8930 or via email, music@westliberty.edu.