Christopher Staknys & Emi Ferguson Perform the Music of Bach on Piano and Flute

Name: Christopher Staknys & Emi Ferguson Perform the Music of Bach on Piano and Flute
Start: 2024-05-30T19:00:00-04:00
Location: The Hill Arts ME

Schedule

Thu May 30 2024 at 07:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

The Hill Arts ME | Portland, ME

Pianist and composer Christopher Staknys graduated from The Juilliard School with a degree in solo piano performance. Allan Kozinn, former music critic for the New York Times, praised his playing for its "dexterity and dramatic phrase shaping". He has performed internationally in cities such as New York, Boston, Paris, and Salzburg, in venues such as Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall. He has also appeared on NPR’s From The Top. Awards he has received include First Prize at the Steinway Society of Massachusetts and First Prize at the Rivers School Concerto Competition.
In addition to his work as soloist, Christopher has also performed extensively as a vocal accompanist. In 2021, he received a Marcus Institute Fellowship from the Vocal Arts Department at Juilliard, and he has been rehearsal pianist for the Chautauqua Opera Conservatory and OperaMaine. Christopher currently serves as music director for First Parish Unitarian Universalist church in Kennebunk, where he leads the choir and plays for services each week. His interests include reading about science and spending time with his cat.
English-American performer and composer Emi Ferguson stretches the boundaries of what is expected of modern-day musicians. Emi’s unique approach to the flute can be heard in performances that alternate between the Silver Flute, Historical Flutes, and Auxiliary Flutes, playing repertoire that stretches from the Renaissance to today.
Emi is very proud to be a 2023 recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant, and can be heard live in concerts and festivals around the world as a soloist and with groups including AMOC*, Ruckus, the New York New Music Ensemble, the Handel and Haydn Society, and the Manhattan Chamber Players. Emi has been named the new music director of Camerata Pacifica Baroque in Southern California, dreaming up programs of and inspired by Baroque music for Californian concert goers. Emi was a featured performer alongside Yo-Yo Ma, Paul Simon, and James Taylor at the 10th Anniversary Memorial Ceremony of 9/11 at Ground Zero, where her performance of Amazing Grace was televised worldwide. Her performance that day is now part of the permanent collection at the 911 Museum.