A pair of accomplished pianists will perform a concert of Frédéric Chopin’s complete ballades and scherzos on Friday, Sept. 11, at 7:30 p.m. in Northwestern College’s Christ Chapel. The event is free and open to the public.
The concert will feature solo performances by concert pianists Dr. Woori Kim Smith, associate professor of music at Liberty University, and her husband, Dr. Curtis Smith, an adjunct professor at Liberty. The combined collection of ballades and scherzos is rarely performed in one concert due to their delicate musical and technical rigor, representing the highest masterpieces in the composer’s output. Among the works is Chopin’s Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23, a piece known for its central role in the 2002 Academy Award-winning film “The Pianist.”
Kim Smith studied piano at Seoul National University in South Korea, as well as the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. She has performed throughout Europe, Asia and North America, and is a frequent adjudicator at both state and national competitions.
Smith studied at Indiana University’s Jacobs School and at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He is an active chamber musician, collaborative pianist and concerto soloist.
For more information about the performers, visit woorikim.com and curtisryansmith.com.
