Renowned
Pianist William Westney to Give Koonts-Lampton
Keyboard Recital Nov. 1
Prize-winning pianist and noted educator William
Westney will visit Erskine College Nov. 1-2. He will
offer the Koonts-Lampton recital at 8 p.m. in
Memorial Hall on Nov. 1, and will conduct one of his
unique “Un-Master Class” performance
workshops in Memorial the following day, Nov. 2, from
9:30 a.m. to noon.
Westney is an honors graduate of Queens College in
New York and holds the master's degree as well as a
doctoral degree in performance from Yale University,
both with honors. He was awarded a Fulbright grant
for study in Italy, and while in Italy was the only
American winner in auditions held by Radiotelevisione
Italiana. He has appeared on European television
broadcasts and as soloist with such major orchestras
as l'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande and the Houston,
San Antonio and New Haven Symphonies.
He has given solo recitals on National Public
Radio's “Performance Today ” and at Lincoln
Center in New York City, the National Gallery and
Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., St. John's
Smith Square in London, and in Taiwan, Korea, and
Italy. He has recorded solo and chamber works for CRI
and Musical Heritage Society, receiving praise from
critics. His CRI recording of Ornstein's works was
listed as on of the “Ten Best American Music
Recordings” of the year by Newsweek
magazine.
In addition to keeping up a successful performance
career, Westney serves as the Browning
Artist-in-Residence at Texas Tech University, and has
been honored with several teaching awards, including
the Yale School of Music Alumni Association's
Certificate of Merit for his distinctive and
innovative contributions to the teaching of musical
performance. He was a guest professor at Tonghai
University in Taiwan, where he has been invited back
repeatedly to teach lessons and experimental classes.
Westney has developed a highly successful class on
stage fright, physical and emotional relaxation in
musical performance, and other performance-related
issues. He has conducted his “Un-Master
Class” workshops at the Aspen School, Peabody
Conservatory, Tanglewood, Cleveland Institute,
European Piano Teachers Association, and the
Juilliard School.
The Koonts-Lampton Keyboard series at Erskine
features performances by significant regional artists
on the piano, organ and harpsichord. Honoring the
contributions of two retired music faculty members,
Professors Cortlandt Koonts and Shirley Lampton, a
Koonts-Lampton performance is offered each semester.
Admission is free and the public is welcome to
attend.
