New Concert Series Comes to Purcellville, VA - June 5

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Marc Apter, 301-904-3690

New Concert Series Comes to Purcellville- June 5

“Sunday Concerts at St. Andrew: Music with a Cause”

Co-founded by New Local Resident –Classical Pianist Brian Ganz

Offering An All-Chopin Recital

Purcellville (May 18)- On Sunday, June 5 at 4:00 pm, internationally recognized pianist Brian Ganz will present an all-Chopin recital at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 711 W. Main Street in Purcellville. The recital will feature several of Frédéric Chopin’s studies for solo piano, including the renowned "Revolutionary" Etude, among other works by the Romantic master. Ganz, who recently moved to Purcellville from Annapolis, is considered one of the finest pianists of his generation. The June 5 recital will kick off a new monthly musical series in Purcellville, “Sunday Concerts at St. Andrew: Music with a Cause.” In addition to providing an excellent eclectic variety of music, these concerts, with Ganz as their artistic director, will benefit local charitable organizations. Tickets are $15 at the door or online here. For more information, visit www.standrew-pres.org or call 540-338-4332 during business hours. 

Proceeds from this first concert will benefit Heart Marks Art Therapy. In 2014, Heart Marks gathered a group of artists and therapists in Western Loudoun to offer assistance through artistic expression to those experiencing grief and trauma. The Reverend David Milam of St. Andrew said: “Heart Marks has quietly made a difference in the lives of numbers of people in our community. They have brought emotional healing to children who have suffered loss, friendship to alienated teens in our community, and have given grieving adults a safe and non-judgmental place to process their painful struggles. Through artistic expression from the simple to the profound Heart Marks has built community and helped those whose stories needed voicing… or drawing.”  For more information about Heart Marks, see their website at: www.heartmarksarttherapy.org. 

Washington Post critic Joan Reinthaler has written of Ganz: “One comes away from a recital by pianist Brian Ganz not only exhilarated by the power of the performance but also moved by his search for artistic truth.”  Mr. Ganz has appeared as soloist with the St. Louis Symphony, the Baltimore Symphony, the National Symphony, the National Philharmonic and the City of London Sinfonia, among others. In 1989 he was co-winner of the 1989 Marguerite Long Jacques Thibaud International Piano Competition in Paris. In 1991 he was a silver medalist with third prize in the Queen Elisabeth of Belgium International Piano Competition.  After his performance in the Brussels competition, the critic for La Libre Belgique wrote:  “We don't have the words to speak of this fabulous musician who lives music with a generous urgency and brings his public into a state of intense joy.”

This noted “generous urgency” and “intense joy” come to their fullest expression when Mr. Ganz plays Chopin. Brian is engaged in a current project to play all of Chopin’s music at the Strathmore Music Center in North Bethesda. After six recitals there, several of them sellouts, he is well on his way. "Chopin was taking piano music in new directions," Mr. Ganz said recently. "So he knew he had to take piano technique in new directions as well. Hisetudes now stand as the finest studies ever composed for the piano, fantastic pieces for building piano technique but, above all, works of astounding beauty, brilliance and originality. They'll be the centerpiece of the program on June 5." Through his powerful performances and soft-spoken but compelling tutorials about Chopin’s works, Ganz leads his audiences into a deeper understanding and appreciation of the works of Chopin, who has been such an inspiration to the artist.  

For additional information “like” the “Music with a Cause” Facebook page or visit St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. A Sunday Six-Pack of tickets for use at future concerts in the series ($12 per concert) can be obtained at the door for $72, a savings of $18. Two works of art will be auctioned off at the concert, and the proceeds of that auction will go entirely to Heart Marks.

The next concert of the new series will take place Sunday, August 28th.  Visit the Facebook page or contact St. Andrew Presbyterian Church for more information.