Dr. Leonidas Lagrimas and Cody Killian
By Marilyn Williamson
Guest Writer
The opening concert of the Brasstown Concert Association’s 51st season features Dr. Leonidas Lagrimas at the piano presenting “Musical Storytellers,” a recital exploring the visual, narrative and emotional possibilities found in classical music. This performance will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29 at the John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown.
Lagrimas will draw upon his experience as a presenter/public speaker to engage the audience and provide helpful background information on each of the selections. The program will feature a wide range of classical works for solo and piano duet, including works by J.S. Bach, Mozart, Debussy, Ravel and more. Whether you are new to classical music or a lifelong fan, this program has something for everyone to enjoy.
Fans of piano duet music will also have plenty to enjoy, as Brasstown Concert Association’s own Cody Killian joins Lagrimas at the keyboard for some four-hand piano masterworks, including Mozart’s delightful “Sonata in D Major” for duet, and Maurice Ravel’s iconic “Mother Goose Suite.”
Lagrimas is a piano and piano pedagogy faculty member at Western Carolina University. He holds professional certification as Nationally Certified Teacher of Music and he holds a Ph.D. in music education and piano pedagogy from Florida State University. His scholarly interests are wide and his performance experience includes both solo and collaborative guest artist recitals throughout the southeast and appearances as accompanist in many venues up and down the East Coast.
Cody Killian, recently appointed Artistic Director of the Brasstown Concert Association, is active on the regional music scene. He serves as director of music at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church of Hayesville, where he directs the choirs, oversees the music ministry and serves as principal organist/pianist. He frequently serves as accompanist for various regional choral groups and solo instrumentalists and pianists at Hayesville First United Methodist Church.
This opening performance of the 2024-2025 season is not to be missed, as BCA welcomes these two fine pianists to the stage in the Community Room of Keith House at the John C. Campbell Folk School.
Individual tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students of any age registered at any educational venue and may be purchased at the door; no reservations required. Season and half-season tickets are full - $90/$45 and half - $40/$25, respectively may be purchased at the door or by mailing BCA at P.O. Box 105, Brasstown, N.C. 28902.
For details call a BCA Board member at (828) 389-4210, (828) 835-6470, or email: brasstownconcertnews@gmail.com.