Free piano, flute, and organ concert at Grace Presbyterian Church

Celebrated local pianist Dwight Stone will present a concert at Grace Presbyterian Church on Sunday September 7 at 3 pm. The free concert will feature Stone playing all original compositions for piano solo, as well as piano and flute duet with Nika Rejto, flutist. They will be joined by Steve Cram on the organ. Grace Presbyterian Church is located at 2100 Tice Valley Blvd. in Walnut Creek.

Stone is a diverse musician: singer, composer, conductor, orchestrator, music publisher, pianist, organist, and guitarist. After degrees in voice and composition, Stone attended the USC Film Scoring program, launching him on a 20-year career as a freelance musician in Los Angeles. From 2007 to 2010 he lived in Austria, composing and recording CDs, performing in concerts and salons, as well as in castles Hartberg, Murau, and Kirchberg am Walde.

Stone’s music offers a fresh and original sound. His harmonies and textures are colorful and surprising, sometimes evoking modern dissonance with an aesthetic appeal. His sense of motion, sometimes subtle yet at times challenging, takes the listener on a meaningful journey. He says, “The essence of what I write is to connect with the listener. It’s tonal, with dissonances used purposefully. I like to create a meaningful emotional journey for the listener.”

This year, two of Stone’s piano compositions, “Going Home” and “Whither Thou Goest,” were awarded as winners in the Music Teachers’ Association of California (MTAC) State Composition Competition. Stone appeared in four concerts at the MTAC Convention in Los Angeles, and subsequently in Pacific Palisades for a very well-received concert.

Stone currently lives in Walnut Creek where he is President of the Contra Costa Performing Arts Society and Director of Music Ministry at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

Nika Rejto is a professional flutist, teacher, and performer in Lafayette. She appears currently on six CDs Her CD “Little Wizdoms” features her own compositions for flute. She performs jazz, popular, and classical repertoire.

The concert will also include selections of classical music played at the organ by Steve Cram, the Music Director of Grace Presbyterian Church. Cram grew up in Hawaii and began playing the organ at age 5. He furthered his organ and conducting skills at University of Redlands in Southern California (under the direction of Leslie Spelman) and at Northwestern University in Chicago. In addition, Steve studied privately with the late Karl Richer and Heinz Werner Zimmerman. He worked with the Berlin Philharmonic and has played concerts in Europe as well as in the United States.

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