Harris Center Pianist Richard Glazier Debuts New CD

He's performed at Carnegie Hall four times, as well as the United Nations and the Smithsonian Institute, and pianist Richard Glazier is no stranger to the Harris Center stage. He returns to Folsom in March to perform two special concerts celebrating the release of his new recording, Pure Imagination - Great Songs from the Stage and Screen, which was recorded at the Harris Center in summer 2018. Featuring popular songs from the Great American Songbook, such as "People," "Stardust," "Send in the Clowns," "I've Got a Crush on You," the recording features soprano Robin Fisher, who will join Mr. Glazier on stage. "Relaxed, tender and carefully voiced" (New York Times), "Richard Glazier's thoughtful performance captures his intimate charm with suppleness and sensitivity" (Fanfare). The Harris Center is proud to welcome Richard Glazier back to Folsom.

Pure Imagination-Great Songs from the Stage and Screen with vocalist Robin will performRichard Glazier Fisher on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, March 17 at 2 pm. Tickets are $39; Children and students with ID $15.50. Tickets are available online at www.harriscenter.net or from Harris Center Ticket Office at 916-608-6888 from 12 noon to 6 pm, Monday through Saturday, and two hours before show time. Parking is included in the price of the ticket. Harris Center is located on the west side of Folsom Lake College campus in Folsom, CA, facing East Bidwell Street.

An epiphany happened for the classically-trained pianist at age nine, when Richard Glazier saw the film "Girl Crazy," with its score by George and Ira Gershwin. Excited by the music he heard, he wrote a fan letter to lyricist Ira Gershwin. They corresponded for three years, and Mr. Gershwin invited his young friend, then 12, to meet him in Beverly Hills. There, Mr. Gershwin asked Mr. Glazier to play a Gershwin tune on the piano that once belonged to his brother, legendary composer George Gershwin.

Fueled by Ira's encouragement and interest, Richard dedicated himself to the Gershwin repertoire (two Gershwin compositions are included on the new CD), and the American Popular Songbook, eventually becoming one of the genre's leading authorities. Over the years he has also developed a keen interest in contemporary music standards from the Broadway stage and the Hollywood screen.

The winner of several major international piano competitions, Richard earned his Bachelor and Master degrees in Piano Performance from Indiana University School of Music and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the Cleveland Institute of Music. He won CIM's prestigious Alumni Achievement Award in 2007.

PBS NewsHis passion for the Great American Popular Song and more contemporary standards has led Richard to create special programs celebrating both eras. With six recordings to his credit, Richard has been featured on the Hour, and has been the subject of three nationally broadcast television specials on PBS. For these, he has won numerous awards, including four Telly Awards for Outstanding Achievement. Richard is also committed to performing for those less fortunate. Through the auspices of the Pro Musicis organization, he has done community service concerts in a wide array of locations, including prisons, homeless shelters, retirement homes and elementary schools. Richard Glazier is a Steinway Artist.

Soprano Robin Fisher has performed to critical acclaim around the world, hailed for her "amazingly precise coloratura, melting diminuendi, splendid high notes and delightful musicality" (Opernwelt) and her "mature timbre and total self-assurance.... an extremely exciting singer-actress" (Westdeutsche Zeitung). A professor of voice in the Sacramento State School of Music, her work has been broadcast on National Public Radio and Swiss Radio.

Austrian Radio recorded her world premiere performance of several avant-garde works from the Styrian Fall Festival.

Tickets are available online at www.HarrisCenter.net or from Harris Center Ticket Office at 916-608-6888 from noon to 6 pm, Monday through Saturday, and two hours before show time.