The Shane Center hosts a free educational concert in partnership with Montana Chamber Music featuring Kenneth Christensen and Julia Slovarp. These concerts begin promptly at NOON and end at 1:00. Middle and Elementary school classes also join this program and are seated on the far end of the auditorium. Feel free to sit anywhere in the closest section of the hall.

THE PROGRAM

Introduction et Polonaise Brillante, op. 3 by Frèdèric Chopin (1810-1849) 

https://fugueforthought.de/2015/07/27/chopin-introduction-and-polonaise-brillante-in-c-major-op-3/ 

Sonata for Arpeggione and Piano in A Minor, D. 821  by Franz Schubert (1797-1828) Allegro Moderato Adagio Allegretto 

https://myclassicalnotes.com/2020/05/franz-schuberts-arpeggione-sonata/ 

Silent Woods 

by Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904) 

https://lincolnsymphony.com/superstar-strings-program-notes/ 

BIOS: 

Kenneth Christensen, Pianist/Collaborative Artist Kenneth Christensen, nationally certified teacher of music and pianist, has appeared as a soloist and collaborative artist throughout his home state of Montana as well as the United States, Europe and Asia. As a collaborative artist, Mr. Christensen has performed with internationally renowned singers, the late Jerome Hines and Pablo Elvira from New York’s Metropolitan Opera Company. His international performances include collaboration with composers and conductors John Rutter and Sir Richard Wilcox in performances at Kings College Chapel, Cambridge, England and London’s Royal Albert Hall. Other international appearances include performances at the First American Invitational Music Festival in China and the Philippines and the Montana State University 2012 Alumni Chorale Tour of Italy, Switzerland and France. His academic achievements include receiving the prestigious “Award in Excellence in Teaching” while serving on the faculty at the School of Music, at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. Mr. Christensen is currently the Immediate Past President of the Music Teachers National Association and currently continues to remain active as a performer and private teacher of piano where his students continue to win state and regional competitions. In 2014 Mr. Christensen was presented with the Montana State Music Teachers Association “Teacher of the Year” award. As a member of the Music Teachers National Association, Mr. Christensen travels the Pacific Northwest judging competitions as well as presenting workshops and master classes for students and teachers. In the fall of 1997, Mr. Christensen collaborated with pianist Liza Hella, to form their piano duo “2 Pianos 4 Hands.” Together they have been concertizing through out the United States and performed their New York recital debut in April of 2006 at Carnegie Hall. In early 2007, “2 Pianos 4 Hands appeared on the Emmy Award winning Montana PBS television program, “11th and Grant” with Eric Funk. Mr. Christensen earned a Bachelor of Music Degree from Montana State University, Bozeman and completed the Master of Music Degree in Piano Performance from the University of Montana where he studied with Dennis Alexander. He has performed in master classes with the late pianist Grant Jahannesen and internationally acclaimed piano pedagogues Maurice Hinson, Nelita True, Eastman School of Music, and Margaret Ott, Whitworth College. 

Julia Slovarp is the Cello and Bass Professor at Montana State University. An active musician, she frequently presents chamber programs and is a member of the Bozeman Symphony and Big Sky Classical Music Festival Orchestras. She has performed concert tours in Spain, Morocco, Ireland, the United States, and most recently, a piano trio tour of China with violinist Angella Ahn, pianist Julie Gosswiller, and conductor Dr. Tobin Stewart. In 2016, a Faculty Excellence Grant took her to France for research. Slovarp has been featured on the Emmy Award winning series 11th and Grant with Eric Funk, and has performed with contemporary groups such as Willie Nelson. She is the Artistic Director of Noon Notes at the Library, a program dedicated to bringing chamber music to children and new audiences, and is an active member of ASTA, NAfME, MTNA, and the Suzuki Association. Dr. Slovarp earned Bachelor and Masters degrees from Indiana University and a Doctor of Musical of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin, and has completed Suzuki and Mark O’Conner Teacher Training. She has studied with cellists including Emilio Colón, Joshua Gindele, Janos Starker, Bion Tsang, and Tsuyosi Tsutsumi.