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Local piano teacher focuses on composers in their lighter moments

Chris Graham

Ellen Schorsch, pianist, will present a recital entitled “Musical Humor” on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 3 p.m. at the Shenandoah Valley Art Center, 126 S. Wayne Ave. in Waynesboro.

“Musical Humor” is an international program of mostly classical pieces ranging from the 18th century through the present. Featured will be Schorsch’s arrangement of the First Movement of Mozart’s A Musical Joke, Leonid Hambro’s Happy Birthday, Dear Ludwig (with audience participation), Peter Nero’s transformation of Beethoven’s First Movement of the “Moonlight” Sonata and P. D. Q. Bach’s Corrate from The Notebook for Betty-Sue Bach.

Schorsch has given many programs, chiefly lecture-recitals, for the Art Center, and has taught piano for 36 years. She has also played for the Waynesboro and Staunton Libraries, First Night Waynesboro, the Staunton Thursday Morning Music Club, the Waynesboro Arts Club, Schola Cantorum benefits and various other venues. She has performed Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in G Minor and has also served as harpsichordist with the Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra.

Schorsch’s articles based on her lecture-recitals have appeared in Clavíer, a magazine for pianists and piano teachers.

A native of New York City, Schorsch hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from Brooklyn College and two Master of Music degrees: in music education from Boston University and in piano performance from James Madison University.

For further information, please call the Art Center at 540.949.7662.

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Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, TikTok, BlueSky, or subscribe to Substack or his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].