FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, January 17, 2020
STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Dr. Leslie Spotz, professor of piano at Tarleton State University, is doing her part to celebrate the upcoming 250th birthday of composer Ludwig van Beethoven with a public recital of his works.
The free recital takes place at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27, in the Clyde H. Wells Fine Arts Center Theater and features an All-Beethoven program, including two of the most beloved piano Sonatas, Op. 53 “Waldstein” and Op. 57 “Appassionata.”
Spotz recently performed all-Beethoven in Timóteo, Brazil, at the Third Encontro Internacional de Pianistas de Vale do Aco 2020 and will present this program at the Dallas Public Library on Sunday, Feb. 2, for the Mu Phi epsilon Dallas Concert Series.
She is recipient of the 2017 Texas Music Teachers Association “Outstanding Collegiate Teaching Achievement” Award and the 2017 Tarleton College of Liberal and Fine Arts Faculty Excellence in Research and Creative Activities Award.
She enjoys an international performing career that spans four continents and four decades, and has included solo performances at Tchaikovsky Hall of Moscow University, South Bank Center of London, Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the famed Academy of Music in Philadelphia, tours of Germany, concerts in Italy at the Lorenzo de’Medici Institute, solo recitals in Taiwan and Brazil, and her performance at the inaugural opening of Philadelphia’s performance venue, the Kimmel Center.
Recent seasons have included solo recitals throughout Texas, Rio de Janeiro and Il Encontro Internacional de Pianistas de Brazil and performances at the Music by Women Festival at Mississippi University for Women.
In December 2010 she performed a solo recital at the Heilig–Kreuz–Kirche in Berlin. Hailed by the prestigious Süddeutsche Zeitung of Munich, Spotz’ Beethoven was described as: “Stripped of veneer, revealing all the edges and corners, Spotz earnestly confronted Beethoven’s tempi and dynamic indications, leaving mediocrity and shallow beauty behind and bringing out truth. In all, a concert of the highest critical standard, further proof of the high carat quality of this series.”
Tarleton, founding member of The Texas A&M University System, provides a student-focused, value-driven education marked by academic innovation and a dedication to transform today’s scholars into tomorrow’s leaders. It offers degree programs to more than 13,000 students at Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Midlothian, RELLIS Academic Alliance in Bryan, and online, emphasizing real-world learning experiences that address societal needs while maintaining its core values of tradition, integrity, civility, excellence, leadership and service.
Contact: Phil Riddle
817-484-4415
priddle@tarleton.edu
