CCM Piano Xtravaganza Event a Stunning Success

The Concord Conservatory of Music (CCM) held its first Piano Xtravaganza, dubbed Piano X, on Saturday, March 2 at M. Steinert & Sons in Boston. The concert featured 34 CCM students and was the first event of this kind for the school.

Keith Kirchoff, Piano Department Chair at CCM, was the creator of Piano X. Kirchoff said he was inspired by a similar event in which he had participated as a young student in Minnesota.

M. Steinert & Sons, the second oldest Steinway piano dealer in the country, hosted Piano X. They rearranged their Boston showroom to create a V-formation with seven grand pianos. Each piano had two students performing at a time. And, one of the many highlights of the concert was when 14 students played C.S. Theme and Variations (arr. Randall Compton). simultaneously.

“We planned Piano X to give our piano students the opportunity to perform in a highly collaborative setting,” said Kirchoff, “The event provided an opportunity for our young artists to learn, follow musical direction and work as a team.” Participating students ranged in age from six to 17.

CCM piano instructors, Lorna Henderson, and Kitty Cheung-Evans conducted the students. The selected music was comprised of pieces composed for both four hands and eight hands—and included music across four skill levels. Students were assigned individual musical parts and paired with a partner. Eight pieces of music were performed in all.

Some of the music performed included Bluebird on My Shoulder (arr. Nancy Farber), Beauty and the Beast (comp. Alan Menken, arr. Tom Gerou), William Tell (comp. Rossini, arr. Franz Mittler), and YMCA, which included full audience participation.

Piano X also included a solo competition won by Benjamin Hitzrot, who performed Aaron Copland’s Mood for Piano No. 3, Jazzy.

“The Piano X program took a great deal of planning and close collaboration on the part of Keith Kirchoff and the entire CCM piano faculty,” said Kate Yoder, Executive Director and Founder, CCM. “I’d like to congratulate each of the students on their performances, and thank families and friends for attending,” added Kate Yoder.

To learn more about CCM programs and events visit https://concordconservatory.org.