"Aspirations" An All-American Concert at Hylton Performing Arts Center

"Aspirations" An All-American Program Featuring Alexander Bernstein, Pianist

Internationally acclaimed pianist Alexander Bernstein, professor of piano at Shenandoah Conservatory, headlines a program of American composers with Edward MacDowell’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in A Major. Known for its virtuosic piano writing and lush Romantic melodies, MacDowell's concerto promises to be a highlight of the evening.

The concert opens with Bernstein's "Overture to Candide," a lively and energetic work that captures the spirit of the comic operetta and concludes with William Grant Still's "Symphony No. 1," a groundbreaking work that blends classical European forms with African-American musical idioms. Written in 1930, it was the first symphony written by a Black composer to be performed by a major American orchestra. The symphony has since become a beloved staple of the orchestral repertoire.

Adult tickets are $25, student and children's tickets are free.