The Marshall Philharmonic Orchestra will continue its “Power of the Piano Series” on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 2:30 pm in the Harold L. Lickey Auditorium of Bueker Middle School in Marshall.

The concert will feature Denise Robinson, active collaborative pianist for the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg. Mrs. Robinson taught secondary choral and general music in the Warrensburg, Knob Noster and Higginsville school districts for 27 years and continues to maintain a private piano and clarinet studio, which spans over four decades.

Robinson also serves as the pianist at Grover Park Baptist Church in Warrensburg and was honored in 2019 with the establishment of Knob Noster High School’s first annual Denise Robinson Legacy Award recognizing her 37 years of piano performance and service for their music department.

With the Philharmonic, she will be performing Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor and will then display her versatility as a jazz pianist with a novelty piano arrangement including excerpts from the keyboard classics, Kitten on the Keys, Dizzy Fingers and Bumble Boogie.

This season, the Marshall Philharmonic is exclusively featuring the piano as the solo instrument.  The orchestra, through the tireless leadership of Mr. Harold L. Lickey, purchased the Yamaha C7 Concert Grand, which debuted in 1981.

The piano has since been used for performances by the Marshall Philharmonic, the Marshall Community Chorus, the performing ensembles of Marshall Public Schools as well as by Marshall native and jazz legend, Bob James.

In describing this professional caliber instrument, the Yamaha Corporation writes: “Topping Yamaha’s Conservatory line of grand pianos, the C7 produces a rich and full sound, suitable for the largest rooms, studios or concert halls.  The tone and sensitivity of this instrument are truly world class.”

Additional repertoire on Sunday’s concert will include works by Gilbert and Sullivan, Aaron Copland and will conclude with a grand finale of Tchaikovsky’s “1812” Solemn Overture, Op. 49.

MPO Conductor Kevin Lines noted that “We, as an orchestra, are especially energized by what this concert and this entire season has to offer our patrons.  The exceptional talent, the challenging literature and the fluency of many styles of music all speak highly to the dedication that this group has to enrich the musical lives of our entire community for many years to come.”

Sunday’s concert is free, is suitable for all ages, and will begin at 2:30 p.m. in the Harold L. Lickey Auditorium of Bueker Middle School.  A meet-and-greet reception will be held immediately following the program.

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