BEMIDJI, Minn. — Solo pianist Richard Dowling, hailed by audiences for his elegant and exciting style of playing, will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 8, in the Thompson Recital Hall of the Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex on the Bemidji State University campus.

The concert, which is presented through the Piatigorsky Foundation, is offered to the public free of charge in an effort to make classical music accessible to everyone.

An artist of rising international stature, Dowling appears regularly across the United States, in the Far East, Australia, Africa and Europe. His career highlights include a sold-out New York orchestral debut at Lincoln Center and a solo recital at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall. In 2001, Dowling released “Sweet and Low-Down,” a CD containing virtually all of the piano works by Gershwin. He also has recorded two classical CDs of Chopin, three CDs of cello and piano works with cellist Evan Drachman and a three-CD set of pop songs called “A Perfect Moment.” Klavier Records recently released another of his favorite ragtime and early jazz pieces, “Rhapsody in Ragtime.”

Dowling has long felt an affinity for French music, art and culture. He studied at the Conservatoire in Nice, received the Grand Prix from the French Piano Institute, and made his formal recital debut in Paris. His repertoire includes the complete piano works of the renowned French composer Maurice Ravel. In recognition of his dedication to French musical art, Dowling was inducted as a Chevalier of the Company of Musketeers of Armagnac, an honor society founded in the 17th century by D’Artagnan. He is one of only a few Americans granted that distinction.

In the United States, Dowling has received nationwide attention for recitals seen on the PBS television program “Debut,” and heard on the NPR radio program “Performance Today.” While studying at Yale University, Dowling was honored with the Lockwood Award for performing the best recital and the Simonds Award for outstanding solo and ensemble playing. He holds a doctor of musical arts degree from the University of Texas and is a Steinway Artist and a Piatigorsky Foundation artist. He makes his home in New York.

Evan Drachman established The Piatigorsky Foundation in 1990 in honor of his grandfather Gregor Piatigorsky. Piatigorsky deeply believed in the healing and inspiration power of classical music. He once said, “Music makes life better. Music is a necessity. It is rich. It is imaginative. It is magnificent. And it is for everyone.” The Piatigorsky Foundation is committed to carrying on Piatigorsky’s mission by evoking cultural curiosity through educational and accessible live performances.

The Bemidji concert is made possible through the generous sponsorship of Mr. Simon D. Yates.

For more information, please call the Department of Music at (218) 755-2915.

FOR YOUR CALENDAR
Oct. 8 – 7:30 p.m. – Pianist Richard Dowling in a Piatigorsky Foundation recital presented by Bemidji State University. Location: Thompson Recital Hall of the Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex, BSU campus. Admission: free of charge.