Piano Festival highlighted by Grammy-winning pianist Angelin Chang

The classical sounds of Grammy Award-winning artist Angelin Chang resonated throughout Eastfield's performance hall on July 2.

Chang's performance was part of the five-day Piano Festival put on by the Music Department. The event was devoted to teaching anyone interested in the instrument the fundamentals of piano. Pierrette Mouledous, head of the Piano Department, led the festival's classes with help from faculty members from the Music Department. Mouledous organized the event in partnership with the continuing education program in order to showcase the quality of Eastfield's Music Department.

    "The Music Department has been putting this on for seven years now," Mouledous said. "The goal of the festival is to attract piano players from every level and encourage them to perform and continue with their piano practice."

    The program started June 28 with a beginner's class that welcomed elementary students. The next three days featured classes that progressed in difficulty, leading up to the festival's finale performance by Chang.

    The renowned pianist has performed all over the world including Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. She has recorded and performed with artists such as Joseph de Pasquale, Olivier Messiaen and Dmitri Shostakovich. Chang is also a piano professor and head of keyboard studies at Cleveland State University. The professor was one of the pianists chosen to lead the festival's advanced classes.

    "Professor Chang was a great teacher in the master classes we held," Mouledous said. "She was very helpful with the students and instructing the class."

    Chang's performance consisted of four pieces of music by various classical composers. Her set began with Franz Liszt's transcription of Johann Sebastian Bach's Prelude and Fugue in A minor BWV 543/S. 462, followed by Frederic Chopin's Barcarolle, Op. 60. Chang finished the program with Robert Schumann's Papillons, Op. 2 and another piece by Chopin entitled Adante Spianato and Grande Polonaise Brillante, Op. 22.

    Throughout the entire performance, Chang's presence onstage was both elegant and entertaining. She swayed with grace as she played her music, throwing her arms in the air as the intensity of the music grew, and even played parts of the songs one-handed.
    Germie Harville, a Musical Arts major who attended Chang's concert, was amazed by the pianist's skills and performance.

    "It blew my mind how much music she could remember," Harville said. "I play piano myself, so I know how much memory that takes. She was incredible."

    At an early age, Chang found her love for the piano and stuck with it, just as she encourages others to do. Although practicing is a big key to mastering any instrument, Chang reminds aspiring pianists that they must have a passion for music.

    "Its good to practice, but a lot of the time we think that it's all about practicing and technique," she said. "Yes, that's part of it, but remember what the real goal is in the end. It about the music; it's not about how fast you can play. The reason we do it is to express the human spirit. Don't ever forget that."

    With the piano festival over and the next one on its way, piano enthusiasts can be sure to expect a warm welcome from Mouledous and the rest of the music department next summer. As for Chang, you can see her perform live on the Star Wars: In Concert tour, traveling throughout North America this year.