The UTC Department of Music welcomes guest artist and pianist Dr. Catherine Godes on Tuesday, January 20, to the Roland Hayes Concert Hall, UTC Fine Arts Center at the corner of Palmetto and Vine Streets. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and is open to the public free of charge.
The recital will feature music of Galuppi, Chopin, Schubert, and Debussy. Galuppi is a Venetian composer from late Baroque best known for his opera buffas, but who also wrote over 90 charming piano keyboard sonatas. Chopin will be represented by his 1832 Nocturne in F# Major, (Op. 15, no. 2) and his C# minor Mazurka, (Op. 50, no. 3). Schubert’s Sonata in B-flat Major (D. 960) is described by Godes as “a transcendental work with unique individuality.” Debussy’s Estampes are among his most popular works and reflect the influence of Oriental Art which he encountered in the Paris Expedition of 1889; Dr. Godes will play the popular “Pagodas” and “Garden in the Rain” movements.
Catherine Godes began her piano studies at the age of four with Dutch pianist Mehta Barber. She studied with and later married renowned Latvian pianist Herman Godes, artist in residence at West Virginia University, from which she received undergraduate and graduate degrees. She later went to the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music where, as a recipient of a doctoral fellowship, she studied with Israeli pianist David Bar-Ilan. In 1987, she received the Doctorate in Piano Performance. She established the Herman and Catherine Godes Young Artist Concert Competition and has toured and recorded in the US and Europe. She has been head of the piano program at Tennessee Tech University since 1994 and is currently active with the Tennessee Music Teachers Association and Music Teachers National Association. She has appeared several times as soloist with the Bryan Symphony Orchestra, and is the lecturer for the ensemble; her popular pre-concert lecture series draws listeners throughout the region. She has taught at the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts, and is on the faculty of the Southeast Chamber Institute at TTU; a summer music camp for high school students. In October, 2008, Catherine hosted the first annual TTU Young Artist Piano Competition for high school students in honor of her husband Herman Godes.
For further information contact the UTC Music Dept. Office, 423-425-4601.
