This past Saturday, Will Gannon performed in the live Semi-Finals of the Rising Stars Concerto Competition of the LaCrosse Symphony Orchestra. Performing with our Collaborative Artist, Kerri LeJeune, he was chosen as one of three finalists. The significance of this goes much beyond the honor of reaching the finals. In this particular competition, the finalists are presented in concert with the orchestra in one of their subscription concerts! This is a unique opportunity for Will and places the competition as one of the most significant regional events we have available to us. He will be performing the first movement of Chopin's magnificent Concerto No. 1 in E minor. The concert will take place Saturday, March 5th, at the concert hall of Viterbo University in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Jo Anne and I will certainly be there!
In addition to this event, Will was chosen the previous week to perform in the Master Class of Vikingur Olafsson, suddenly one of the hottest and most sought after pianists in the world. The event was sponsored by the Schubert Club and held at Antonello Concert Hall of the MacPhail Center for Music in downtown Minneapolis. Will performed Chopin's gorgeous and profound Barcarolle in F-sharp Major, Opus 60. He played beautifully and worked wonderfully with Olafsson. Olafsson clearly loved Will's playing which was heartily and warmly received by the audience.
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