The West Virginia University Piano Quartet will present its annual spring concert on Tuesday, March 18, at the Creative Arts Center with a program featuring works by Martinu and Dvorak.

The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Bloch Learning and Performance Hall (200A) and is free and open to the public.

Performers in the group include music faculty members James Miltenberger, pianist; Mikylah Myers-McTeer, violinist; Andrea Priester Houde, violist; and William Skidmore, cellist.

The program will include “First Piano Quartet” (1942) by Bohuslav Martinu (1890-1959) and “Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 87” by Anton Dvorak (1841-1904).

“Martinu’s first Piano Quartet very much represents his style of complicated rhythm, syncopation and yet in a rather traditional, tonal manner,” Skidmore said. “A somewhat neglected composer, his works nonetheless hold their own against the great masters, and they are very much worth being performed.

“Dvorak’s Piano Quartet in E-flat Major is his only such work. It is very much a mature work for him, and it has similar elements to his ‘From the New World’ Symphony and ‘American’ String Quartet. It is a strong and highly beautiful work with many Bohemian themes in a very neo-Classical framework.”

Miltenberger received his bachelor’s degree from Miami University of Ohio and a master’s degree from the Eastman School of Music. He has toured extensively as a soloist and performed at Carnegie Hall and with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Myers-McTeer received her bachelor’s degree in music from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. She followed that with doctoral and master’s degrees in violin performance from the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music.

Priester Houde received a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Memphis and continued her studies at the Peabody Institute of the John Hopkins University, where she earned her master’s in viola performance.

Skidmore previously taught at University of Maryland, where he was also a member of the Baltimore Symphony for four seasons. He holds degrees from the University of Illinois.

For more information contact the College of Creative Arts at 304-293-4359.

-WVU-

cl/3/12/14

CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu

Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.