A Solo Piano Performance by Bob Schneeweis
5550 Morgan Rd
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
USA
A Solo Piano Performance by Bob Schneeweis | Saturday, April 7 | 7pm
at the Bahá’í Center of Washtenaw County
Highlights of the program include Beethoven’s powerful Pathetique Sonata, Kapustin’s virtuosic exploration of the jazz style in a classical form: Variations Op. 41, Chopin’s exciting and transcendent Scherzo in C# minor, and selections from Debussy’s revolutionary Preludes. The program will conclude with the newly composed Sonata for Ridvan, an original work by Bob Schneeweis.
The Sonata for Ridván (c. 2018) explores the relationship between darkness and the light born within it; between crisis and victory; between oppression and the strength of the human spirit; as witnessed in the life of Bahá’u’lláh. The moment of spiritual transcendence, in the midst of great sorrow, which Bahá’ís now celebrate as the Festival of Ridván, is the true philosophical and spiritual inspiration for this three-movement piece, composed via an interpretation of the traditional form of the piano Sonata.
Refreshments will be served after the performance.
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Bob Schneeweis, originally from the Twin Cities, MN, has been an active pianist, composer/arranger, and teacher for the past two decades. Prior to moving to Detroit in 2009, Bob worked foremost as pianist, composer/arranger, and music director for the popular Minneapolis-based Latin orchestra Salsabrosa, as well as writing for and performing with the much-lauded Atlantis Quartet (then Quintet).
In the Detroit area, Bob is active as a jazz pianist. He has also recently developed and performed several collaborations of original music and choreography with the Moore Dances dance ensemble and has performed in a series of concerts showcasing his original piano work in the classical genre.
From 2017-2018, Bob contributed to the Soul Food series of concerts aimed at celebrating the true purpose of music as a means to empower and unite people. At these concerts – as well as at the Bicentenary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh – he performed original compositions and arrangements of his with a powerful all-star group including such great local players as Gayelynn McKinney, Marion Hayden, Pat Prouty, Miles Brown, Mark Stone, Matt Dufresene, and Quincy Stewart.
In 2017, Bob was a winner of the 2017 Oakland Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, performing the first movement of Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G. He is currently working toward a Master’s degree in piano performance at Oakland University and maintains his own private piano studio, teaching both jazz and classical piano performance, as well as composition, improvisation, and theory.
For more information about Bob Schneeweis, please visit bobschneeweis.com
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