West Virginia University is hosting a guest artist concert at 6 p.m. Thursday (April 19) at the Creative Arts Center.

Scott Beard, associate professor of music and coordinator of keyboard studies at Shepherd University, will perform various works on piano in the Bloch Learning and Performance Hall (Room 200A).

In addition, Beard will present a piano master class Friday, April 20, from 8:30-10:30 a.m., also in Bloch Hall.

Both events are free and open to the public and are sponsored by the WVU Music Teachers National Association Student Chapter.

Beard holds degrees in piano performance from the Peabody Conservatory and the University of Maryland and has performed as a recital and orchestral soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States as well as in Canada, England and France.

He is a leading authority on the music of Polish-born composer and pedagogue Theodor Leschetizky (1830-1915). His doctoral dissertation and CD recording,Leschetizky: Piano Treasures,represent one of the first major research projects of this composer’s works.

A champion of French piano music, Beard was a participant for many years in the French Piano Internationale Festival and Competition held at the Schola Cantorum. At the 1994 Festival he received the Roussel Foundation Prize for the best performance of that composer’s works.

In 1998 and 2000, he was awarded the jury prize for the best performance of a work by a French composer, as well as the jury prize for baroque music.

A published author and recording artist, Beard has three CDs to his credit as well as journal articles published in the American Music Teacher, Leschetizky Association Magazine, Piano Rendezvous and an anthology of music for two pianos published by Alfred Publishing Company.

For more information, contact the College of Creative Arts at 304-293-4841, ext. 3108.