Music Department Events

Pianist Akiko Konishi, faculty member at Washington and Lee University, will present a piano program inspired by mythical narratives. The recital includes works by Rachmaninoff, Granados, Liszt, Prokofiev, and Brahms, highlighting fantastical depictions of gnomes, witches, and gothic angels. The folkloric Brahms Ballades are featured, along with Liszt's brilliant etude Gnomenreigen, and Prokofiev's explosive third sonata.

Dr. Konishi completed her undergraduate studies at Rice University as a double major in music and English. She continued her graduate studies at Yale University and the University of Houston, under the guidance of renowned pianists Peter Frankl and Abbey Simon.

She has appeared as soloist with the Shepherd School Symphony (Rice University), Oakland Symphony, Rio Hondo Symphony (California), Symphony North Houston, D'Angelo Young Artist Competition Orchestra, and the Chicago Federation of Musicians Orchestra, and performs extensively in guest artist venues across the United States.

As an active chamber musician, she has performed with members of the Houston Symphony in the Channing Chamber Series, and recently toured Italy and Bulgaria as a winner of the Mercadante International Chamber Music Competition. Her performances have been broadcast on Houston Public Radio's "The Front Row," and Italian National TV (RAI).

Additional honors include finalist prizes in the Ima Hogg Houston Symphony Concerto Competition and the F. Awerbuch International Piano Competition (New York), as well as grand prizes in the Entergy Young Texas Artist Competition and the Rio Hondo Symphony Concerto Competition (Los Angeles). She received the Jury Discretionary Award at the Texas Steinway Society's Career Development Award Competition, which resulted in performances at both Steinway Halls in Fort Worth and New York City.

During the past seasons, she has appeared in a guest artist recital at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and in repeat performances with the Chicago Federation of Musicians Orchestra (Rachmaninoff 2nd, Grieg, and Schumann Concertos). Other recent engagements include guest artist recitals in St. Benedict's Cathedral (Chicago), a collaboration at the jazz venue Hey Nonny Live, and a concert performance of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue with the Triton Jazz Ensemble.

This event is free and open to the public. No ticket or reservation is needed to attend.