Free concert by pianist Sawada to include local youth musicians
DOVER-FOXCROFT – Boston-based concert pianist Miki Sawada will be joined by two local musicians for a free concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29 at the Center Theatre. Sawada will be performing in Dover-Foxcroft as part of her Gather Hear Tour (https://www.gatherhear.com/). Britton Greene and Aubrey Reier, students of North Country Strings Music Studio, will perform alongside Sawada in what promises to be a unique celebration of music and community.
Sawada’s Gather Hear Tour seeks to inspire human connection through music by performing in all 50 states, focusing on areas that don’t typically host classical music performances. Since its inception in 2017, the tour has visited rural towns, community centers, and even youth detention centers, making classical music accessible in a warm, personal way. Sawada’s Maine tour, which includes 10 free events across the state, is part of her ongoing mission to bridge divides across the political and socioeconomic landscape through music.
For the concert at Center Theatre, Sawada will perform a program titled “Maine the ‘Beautiful,” featuring music inspired by Maine’s natural beauty, including works by Amy Beach, Frederic Chopin, Alexander Scriabin, Jean Sibelius, and Huang Ruo. The program also highlights Maine-based composer Conrad Winslow.
“We are honored to have Miki Sawada share her incredible talent with our community,” said Patrick Myers, executive director of the Center Theatre. “And we are especially excited to showcase the talents of Britton Greene and Aubrey Reier, two remarkable young musicians from North Country Strings Music Studio. This event not only brings world-class music to Dover-Foxcroft but also highlights the incredible potential of our local youth.”
Sawada’s Gather Hear Maine tour, running from Sept. 26 to Oct. 5, features performances in locations throughout the state, including rural theaters and other non-traditional venues. The Center Theatre concert is free and open to the public, with all ages encouraged to attend and experience the transformative power of live classical music.
This event is made possible through partnerships with Portland Ovations, Aroostook Mental Health Clinic, and Bates College. The Center Theatre is a 501(c)3 non-profit with a mission to engage and inspire by making arts, education and entertainment accessible for our rural communities. For more information on this event contact the Center Theatre at 207-564-8943, info@centertheatre.org, www.cenertheatre.org or by visiting the theatre at 20 East Main Street in Dover-Foxcroft between noon and 7 p.m. daily.
Sawada is an international concert pianist based in Boston who has performed in North America, Europe and Asia at venues and occasions such as: Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Roulette Brooklyn, Helsinki Music Centre, The Arctic Philharmonic (Norway), Oneppo Chamber Music Series at Yale, Toronto Summer Music Festival, Music on Main (Vancouver), and the Banff Centre. In the summers, she serves as a faculty member of the Heifetz Institute. Sawada holds degrees in piano from Yale School of Music, Eastman School of Music, and Northwestern University.
Maine tour itinerary:
Sept. 26 Long Creek Youth Center, Portland, presented by Portland Ovations
Sept. 27 Elena’s Way, Portland, presented by Portland Ovations
Sept. 28 Congress Square Park, Portland, presented by Portland Ovations
Sept. 29 Center Theatre, Dover-Foxcroft
Oct. 1 Presque Isle High School, Presque Isle, presented by Aroostook Mental Health Clinic (AMHC)
Oct. 2 Washington County Community College, Calais, presented by AMHC
Oct. 3 SPACE on the River, Skowhegan, presented by Main Street Skowhegan
Oct. 4 Looking Ahead Clubhouse, Lewiston
Oct. 5 Maine Immigrant and Refugee Services, Lewiston.