My new position at this university does not require me to play the piano daily. This has allowed me to finally seek treatment for my shoulder which has bothered me for years. The good news is that it only required physical therapy, rotator cuff tendinitis isn't fun but nothing too serious. After a few weeks of therapy, I really like how my shoulder is feeling and how that it is more stable for cross hand work at the piano.
I have not performed my classical repertoire here but did toy with some jazz chords during communion at chapel once. I took a chance to perform some of the pieces from my last recital. As usual the Gottschalk is the most challenging. I listened to the recording of my last recital and made some adjustments to it.
I sometimes feel like a fish out of water so I just have to keep practicing at home. I hope by my performance yesterday, my students have gained some understanding of why I keep telling them that there is so much more musical excellence to pursue. I played 4 pieces of different styles and technical requirements, from memory.
I continue to pursue my other hobbies like contra, English country and ballroom dancing. They provide a much needed diversion from work. All in all, I like my new job. It's stressful but it's a far cry from my last job. Recovery and rehab here in Bethany in many ways.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Suddenly September - Lana Vawser
"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18-19 ESV)
Oh My precious people, how beautiful you are. How much I love you and My heart’s desire is for you to know Me more and more each day. I shower My love upon you in moments throughout the day, through the sun that smiles on you, to the cool breeze on a hot summers day. My people, My heart for you is to see you prosper in ALL your ways, to see you grow into My likeness and be My hands and feet in the world.
So many of you have been walking the dark night, a night that seemed to last a lifetime, a night that held many tears, the agony of unfulfilled dreams, and promises that you felt lay at the wayside and breakthroughs that just never seemed to arrive, many of you had felt like I had forgotten. But I say unto you My peo ple, I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN. I have been deepening your trust in Me, moulding your character to be more like Me, and increasing your faith like you have never known before My people, even though you did not feel it, I was bringing strength to your hearts, and preparing you for what is about to come.
Many of you have been hearing Me speak to you about a greater heavenly alignment that was to come. An alignment that would see many of you released into greater positions of influence, greater areas of gifting, greater manifestations of My hand and greater encounters with My heart. Many of you have been feeling the great anticipation in the air, of great plans that I am bringing into your lives. The transitioning period has been happening for a while now My people, and now the shift is about to release.
September 1 will see this heavenly alignment begin to manifest in the natural. Many of you that have been waiting for the open doors, have been waiting for the breakth roughs, have been waiting for the release, have been waiting for the manifestation of My promises in your lives, and each time you prayed, you continued to hear Me say ‘declare for the time is now, the hour has come’ but nothing manifested in the natural.
SEPTEMBER is a new morning. September will usher forth the morning in many of your lives. What I have been speaking to many of you about for so many months, that was accomplished in the heavenlies and decreed in the heavenlies is now about to MANIFEST in September.
September will be a month of SUDDENLIES.
Sudden provision.
Sudden breakthroughs.
Sudden prophetic word fulfilments.
Sudden positioning.
Sudden release.
Sudden healing.
Sudden life change.
Sudden divine connections.
Sudden signs and wonders.
Sudden encounters with My heart.
Sudden glimpses of My Glory.
Sudden manifestations of the heavenly realm in your midsts.
September will be full of surpr ises for many of you My people. Those of you that have been holding on to My promises through the dark night that endured, NOW you shall be propelled into the September of surprises and suddenlies.
I am doing a new thing, behold, it will spring forth in many of your lives in September. This is the moment many of you have been waiting for. September will re-instill hope in many of you, September will see refreshment, restoration and renewal come to many of you. September will My Spirit do all of these things and more in your lives.
The heavenly alignment will be made manifest in the natural. The acceleration and what I have been planning behind the scenes in many of your lives will be made known. Testimonies will erupt all around the earth as My wonderous work is revealed in many of your lives.
The suddenlies that I am releasing in September, will see the world begin to take notice of My Glorious ways through many of your lives.
Stay deep in the se cret place My people, as I lead you up the mountain in this September moment, stay close to My heart, for it is knowing Me and My heart above all, following My promptings and listening to My voice that will keep you grounded in this season of release My people.
September My people, is the PLATFORM that will establish the foundation for the future. New things will GROW from the manifestations and suddenlies I will bring forth in September in many of your lives, and for many years to come will you My people and others speak of the suddenly September that I brought into many of your lives, that changed your lives and saw My Glory made manifest in My Church and people’s lives at a level that was never even dreamed of.
REJOICE!
Suddenly September has arrived.
Oh My precious people, how beautiful you are. How much I love you and My heart’s desire is for you to know Me more and more each day. I shower My love upon you in moments throughout the day, through the sun that smiles on you, to the cool breeze on a hot summers day. My people, My heart for you is to see you prosper in ALL your ways, to see you grow into My likeness and be My hands and feet in the world.
So many of you have been walking the dark night, a night that seemed to last a lifetime, a night that held many tears, the agony of unfulfilled dreams, and promises that you felt lay at the wayside and breakthroughs that just never seemed to arrive, many of you had felt like I had forgotten. But I say unto you My peo ple, I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN. I have been deepening your trust in Me, moulding your character to be more like Me, and increasing your faith like you have never known before My people, even though you did not feel it, I was bringing strength to your hearts, and preparing you for what is about to come.
Many of you have been hearing Me speak to you about a greater heavenly alignment that was to come. An alignment that would see many of you released into greater positions of influence, greater areas of gifting, greater manifestations of My hand and greater encounters with My heart. Many of you have been feeling the great anticipation in the air, of great plans that I am bringing into your lives. The transitioning period has been happening for a while now My people, and now the shift is about to release.
September 1 will see this heavenly alignment begin to manifest in the natural. Many of you that have been waiting for the open doors, have been waiting for the breakth roughs, have been waiting for the release, have been waiting for the manifestation of My promises in your lives, and each time you prayed, you continued to hear Me say ‘declare for the time is now, the hour has come’ but nothing manifested in the natural.
SEPTEMBER is a new morning. September will usher forth the morning in many of your lives. What I have been speaking to many of you about for so many months, that was accomplished in the heavenlies and decreed in the heavenlies is now about to MANIFEST in September.
September will be a month of SUDDENLIES.
Sudden provision.
Sudden breakthroughs.
Sudden prophetic word fulfilments.
Sudden positioning.
Sudden release.
Sudden healing.
Sudden life change.
Sudden divine connections.
Sudden signs and wonders.
Sudden encounters with My heart.
Sudden glimpses of My Glory.
Sudden manifestations of the heavenly realm in your midsts.
September will be full of surpr ises for many of you My people. Those of you that have been holding on to My promises through the dark night that endured, NOW you shall be propelled into the September of surprises and suddenlies.
I am doing a new thing, behold, it will spring forth in many of your lives in September. This is the moment many of you have been waiting for. September will re-instill hope in many of you, September will see refreshment, restoration and renewal come to many of you. September will My Spirit do all of these things and more in your lives.
The heavenly alignment will be made manifest in the natural. The acceleration and what I have been planning behind the scenes in many of your lives will be made known. Testimonies will erupt all around the earth as My wonderous work is revealed in many of your lives.
The suddenlies that I am releasing in September, will see the world begin to take notice of My Glorious ways through many of your lives.
Stay deep in the se cret place My people, as I lead you up the mountain in this September moment, stay close to My heart, for it is knowing Me and My heart above all, following My promptings and listening to My voice that will keep you grounded in this season of release My people.
September My people, is the PLATFORM that will establish the foundation for the future. New things will GROW from the manifestations and suddenlies I will bring forth in September in many of your lives, and for many years to come will you My people and others speak of the suddenly September that I brought into many of your lives, that changed your lives and saw My Glory made manifest in My Church and people’s lives at a level that was never even dreamed of.
REJOICE!
Suddenly September has arrived.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
My Bethany - New Job at Southwestern Christian University
This is sooo good, I can't refuse the offer. I haven't signed my contract but I'm officially working for them. I am finally getting giddy, can't sleep excited over this job.
1. My house situation:
The university president, Dr. Ed Huckeby, heard of my predicament in finding a house that would take both my piano and my cat. Dr. Huckeby is a well-published band composer, conductor and musician himself. He didn't want me to have to part with my piano. He said to the Vice-Pres to offer me the house. It's referred to as the "Animal House" because 4 guys lived there last semester. My VP told me about the house immediately when I got there just to follow orders. He said that the house is in terrible condition, stinks and is probably trashed. I insisted on seeing it for myself and how bad it is. I said that it is better to have a tenant than to leave the house vacant.
So 5 of us went over there - Pres, two VPs, maintenance and I. The house is across from the music house where my office is located. It's a house with 2 bedrooms, dining, living, laundry, kitchen and a small yard, with no appliances. PERFECT! Yes, it's a little trashed but it will be cleaned and painted. They offered to put in new carpet and I said to just steam clean it. They jokingly said the rental would be $2000 with a 50% discount. I said, then I'll sign over my paycheck and hold a sign $5 for parking each basketball game. :)
The 4 guys who lived in it were still on campus .. and they got a surprise visit from the VP. It was pretty funny. So the cleaning begins this Friday. When we discussed the rental with the finance office, the rent came to less than what I'm renting my house for in Ark City!
- Wake up 20 mins before work. No wasting time commuting.
- Walk to work. No gas! (Post office, grocery store, restaurants, shops, fire dept - within walking distance too!)
- Free lunches.
- An-An becomes the unofficial mascot. Everyone is waiting to see cat on a leash. I will be able to see her from my office window and take her to the park to continue training.
- If I'm sick, people to look in on me. They'd probably lay hands and pray, "In the name of Jesus be healed! Get up and go to work." :)
- A park behind the university.
- The lake is 2 mins drive away.
- Wireless internet (pretty weak signal but it's there)
- Access to the grand pianos anytime and can practice late into the night as I used to.
- Get to live "on campus" again.
- BECAUSE OF THIS, I will be spending way less than I had to in Ark City!!
2. My visa
They are processing my H1-B visa transfer. Once that is approved, we will proceed with the green card application
3. My contract and pay
I haven't started work yet and yes, they raised my pay by $3000. I will be signing a 12-month contract so that I am always in status for my visa. Because of that, they decided to throw in more money, cos I will only have a month's leave in the summer (dates flexible). All campus ministry expenses or anything I spend on my students is on the budget. This means I am free to support other ministries in my giving as I have wanted to. Benefits: health & dental insurance, retirement and life policy. Faculty benefits: a laptop and iPad.
4. My job duties
(1) Creative Arts
I will be taking care of the outreach teams (2) and the chapel worship team. My role is to bring leadership and to spearhead the program, eventually increasing the outreach to 6 teams. I will be arranging local, out-of-state and international tours for the teams as well. The teams will have to travel through the academic year. Each summer there will be an international tour - they already told me the order of countries. Singapore/Malaysia, you're up first. As far as the week-to-week rehearsals, the students are in charge of that, but the rest is my responsibility. The university and I are in agreement of how it is to be handled for the students not to pit "daddy" against "mommy." LOL We will be sitting down and meeting soon to draw up the contracts for the students. My initial proposal for the Singapore/Malaysia visit has been given the approval by the President, so the paper proposal will follow. This took my department chair by surprise!
(2) Music Classes
No piano! No accompanying! They already have someone for that. I will be teaching music theory, aural skills and music appreciation. Students are at similar level of my Cowley students, so no surprises there. Best news is, music appreciation has no textbook!! YAY! I am expected to get students involved in professional organizations (MENC or MTNA) and take them to conferences. First one coming up, Ok City OMEA in-service. I will also be helping with working towards accrediting a music ed degree with NASM. Looks like when I leave higher ed for good, there will be a willing library to take my books. There is no music building yet, so I will pretend I'm at Camp Allegro full-time all-year. The students will be practicing outside my office which is a bedroom of a 2-bedroom house.
(3) Piano
I am free to do whatever I so please. Dr. Huckeby said that his contacts all over the state are at my disposal. I have already agreed to perform a piece at their alumni banquet this fall. A recital will be in the works as soon as I move and settle in. Will likely be the same program I performed earlier this year at Cowley.
5. Other things:
- Yes, my yard will be forked, toilet papered and my car will be painted.
- I get to help landscape the campus. Right now the President's wife helps pick out plants, so I get to help.
- Will help plan other activities on campus. Thanks Cowley for great ideas!
- As expected, to take care of the international students as well.
- I asked the President for a car sticker!
1. My house situation:
The university president, Dr. Ed Huckeby, heard of my predicament in finding a house that would take both my piano and my cat. Dr. Huckeby is a well-published band composer, conductor and musician himself. He didn't want me to have to part with my piano. He said to the Vice-Pres to offer me the house. It's referred to as the "Animal House" because 4 guys lived there last semester. My VP told me about the house immediately when I got there just to follow orders. He said that the house is in terrible condition, stinks and is probably trashed. I insisted on seeing it for myself and how bad it is. I said that it is better to have a tenant than to leave the house vacant.
So 5 of us went over there - Pres, two VPs, maintenance and I. The house is across from the music house where my office is located. It's a house with 2 bedrooms, dining, living, laundry, kitchen and a small yard, with no appliances. PERFECT! Yes, it's a little trashed but it will be cleaned and painted. They offered to put in new carpet and I said to just steam clean it. They jokingly said the rental would be $2000 with a 50% discount. I said, then I'll sign over my paycheck and hold a sign $5 for parking each basketball game. :)
The 4 guys who lived in it were still on campus .. and they got a surprise visit from the VP. It was pretty funny. So the cleaning begins this Friday. When we discussed the rental with the finance office, the rent came to less than what I'm renting my house for in Ark City!
- Wake up 20 mins before work. No wasting time commuting.
- Walk to work. No gas! (Post office, grocery store, restaurants, shops, fire dept - within walking distance too!)
- Free lunches.
- An-An becomes the unofficial mascot. Everyone is waiting to see cat on a leash. I will be able to see her from my office window and take her to the park to continue training.
- If I'm sick, people to look in on me. They'd probably lay hands and pray, "In the name of Jesus be healed! Get up and go to work." :)
- A park behind the university.
- The lake is 2 mins drive away.
- Wireless internet (pretty weak signal but it's there)
- Access to the grand pianos anytime and can practice late into the night as I used to.
- Get to live "on campus" again.
- BECAUSE OF THIS, I will be spending way less than I had to in Ark City!!
2. My visa
They are processing my H1-B visa transfer. Once that is approved, we will proceed with the green card application
3. My contract and pay
I haven't started work yet and yes, they raised my pay by $3000. I will be signing a 12-month contract so that I am always in status for my visa. Because of that, they decided to throw in more money, cos I will only have a month's leave in the summer (dates flexible). All campus ministry expenses or anything I spend on my students is on the budget. This means I am free to support other ministries in my giving as I have wanted to. Benefits: health & dental insurance, retirement and life policy. Faculty benefits: a laptop and iPad.
4. My job duties
(1) Creative Arts
I will be taking care of the outreach teams (2) and the chapel worship team. My role is to bring leadership and to spearhead the program, eventually increasing the outreach to 6 teams. I will be arranging local, out-of-state and international tours for the teams as well. The teams will have to travel through the academic year. Each summer there will be an international tour - they already told me the order of countries. Singapore/Malaysia, you're up first. As far as the week-to-week rehearsals, the students are in charge of that, but the rest is my responsibility. The university and I are in agreement of how it is to be handled for the students not to pit "daddy" against "mommy." LOL We will be sitting down and meeting soon to draw up the contracts for the students. My initial proposal for the Singapore/Malaysia visit has been given the approval by the President, so the paper proposal will follow. This took my department chair by surprise!
(2) Music Classes
No piano! No accompanying! They already have someone for that. I will be teaching music theory, aural skills and music appreciation. Students are at similar level of my Cowley students, so no surprises there. Best news is, music appreciation has no textbook!! YAY! I am expected to get students involved in professional organizations (MENC or MTNA) and take them to conferences. First one coming up, Ok City OMEA in-service. I will also be helping with working towards accrediting a music ed degree with NASM. Looks like when I leave higher ed for good, there will be a willing library to take my books. There is no music building yet, so I will pretend I'm at Camp Allegro full-time all-year. The students will be practicing outside my office which is a bedroom of a 2-bedroom house.
(3) Piano
I am free to do whatever I so please. Dr. Huckeby said that his contacts all over the state are at my disposal. I have already agreed to perform a piece at their alumni banquet this fall. A recital will be in the works as soon as I move and settle in. Will likely be the same program I performed earlier this year at Cowley.
5. Other things:
- Yes, my yard will be forked, toilet papered and my car will be painted.
- I get to help landscape the campus. Right now the President's wife helps pick out plants, so I get to help.
- Will help plan other activities on campus. Thanks Cowley for great ideas!
- As expected, to take care of the international students as well.
- I asked the President for a car sticker!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Another Older Press Release for the Piano Studio
March 10, 2011
Piano students gaining valuable insight
Piano instructor, Dr. Gloria Tham, and students in the piano studio observed four piano majors perform at the master class, followed by their coaching session with Mr. Parker.
“We all gained valuable insight in practice and performance techniques of pieces by Beethoven and Chopin,” Dr. Tham said.
The students of the piano studio will now turn their focus to the Walnut Valley Music Teachers’ Association Spring Festival, where the students will get to work individually with another adjudicator.
“This festival will let them gain experience in playing for a different audience and learn some different ideas on the pieces they are working on,” Dr. Tham.
Dr. Tham and several of the students also have plans to attend Melody Bober’s workshop this weekend and also Leon Fleisher’s solo piano recital at Wichita State University’s Wiedemann Hall, next Thursday.
Next month, there will be two performance events featuring Dr. Gloria Tham, in a faculty recital on April 5 at 7 p.m. and Cowley Piano Studio Recital on April 17 at 2:30 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public. Current students and scholarship recipients for 2011/2012 will perform during the studio recital. The recital will showcase the repertoire the students have been practicing throughout the semester.
“This is a great opportunity for the students to play in a formal recital setting in a concert hall and share the fruits of their hard work with family and friends,” Dr. Tham said.
Students of the piano studio are: Will Austin, Anne Bloyer, Aaron Brooks, Melisa Coberley, Tosha Coberley, Hannah Dillard, Valerie Monteith, Asa Muntz and Kelley Reynolds.
Along with Dr. Tham’s performances on April 5 and April 17, three more performances will follow. The performances are:
- April 10 - First United Methodist Church, Ponca City, OK.
- April 21 - Master Class and Recital at Central Christian College, McPherson, KS.
- April 29 - College Avenue United Methodist Church, Manhattan, KS.
Cowley Piano Studio Recital - Press Release..
I should have posted this earlier and I should have a digital record of this event on my personal blog. They played so well and it was such a nice afternoon.
-------
Students shine during Piano Studio Recital, Art Majors Show
Having worked hard in preparation of the Piano Studio Recital held Sunday in the Robert Brown Theatre, eight Cowley College students played with clear musical intent and managed to convey the character of the pieces they performed.
For a few of the students, this was their first piano recital.
“I have one word for all of the performers – Bravo,” Dr. Gloria Tham, piano instructor said. “I am very proud of them.”
Dr. Tham said the students benefited from having several piano lessons on the Steinway concert grand, learning to listen critically to the sounds they were producing and adjusting to the acoustics in the theater. They also had practice performances to overcome stage fright and to learn coping strategies for performing to go along with their performance at Southwestern College for the music faculty and music majors on April 8.
“Their hard work, diligence and patience paid off at the recital,” Dr. Tham said.
The recital featured different composers ranging from Bach, Beethoven to Bartok, spanning the different periods in music history. Cowley students were joined by Danielle Anderson of Wellington High School, the recipient for the Piano Activity Scholarship for 2011-2012.
The recital featured performances by the following Cowley College students: Will Austin, Anne Bloyer, Aaron Brooks, Melisa Coberley, Hanah Dillard, Valerie Monteith, Asa Muntz, and Kelley Reynolds.
Along with the Piano Studio Recital, the Art Majors Show held an opening reception Sunday afternoon inside the Earle N. Wright Community Room.
This year’s Art Majors Show is an exhibit of artwork created by this year’s graduating sophomores during their time at Cowley. On display are various art media created in drawing, painting, design ceramics and sculpture classes.
A reception was held in the Earle N. Wright Community Room following the Piano Studio Recital.
“It was such a nice afternoon to enjoy two art forms and a reception where people could mingle,” Dr. Tham said.
Work done as part of the Art Majors Show will be displayed through May 9. The following sophomores have works displayed in the show: Michael Bowling, Maribel Ramirez, Jessica Vega, Caitlin Bowman, Talia Bowman-Bekemeyer, and Zane May.
-------
April 18, 2011
Students shine during Piano Studio Recital, Art Majors Show
Having worked hard in preparation of the Piano Studio Recital held Sunday in the Robert Brown Theatre, eight Cowley College students played with clear musical intent and managed to convey the character of the pieces they performed.
For a few of the students, this was their first piano recital.
“I have one word for all of the performers – Bravo,” Dr. Gloria Tham, piano instructor said. “I am very proud of them.”
Dr. Tham said the students benefited from having several piano lessons on the Steinway concert grand, learning to listen critically to the sounds they were producing and adjusting to the acoustics in the theater. They also had practice performances to overcome stage fright and to learn coping strategies for performing to go along with their performance at Southwestern College for the music faculty and music majors on April 8.
“Their hard work, diligence and patience paid off at the recital,” Dr. Tham said.
The recital featured different composers ranging from Bach, Beethoven to Bartok, spanning the different periods in music history. Cowley students were joined by Danielle Anderson of Wellington High School, the recipient for the Piano Activity Scholarship for 2011-2012.
The recital featured performances by the following Cowley College students: Will Austin, Anne Bloyer, Aaron Brooks, Melisa Coberley, Hanah Dillard, Valerie Monteith, Asa Muntz, and Kelley Reynolds.
Along with the Piano Studio Recital, the Art Majors Show held an opening reception Sunday afternoon inside the Earle N. Wright Community Room.
This year’s Art Majors Show is an exhibit of artwork created by this year’s graduating sophomores during their time at Cowley. On display are various art media created in drawing, painting, design ceramics and sculpture classes.
A reception was held in the Earle N. Wright Community Room following the Piano Studio Recital.
“It was such a nice afternoon to enjoy two art forms and a reception where people could mingle,” Dr. Tham said.
Work done as part of the Art Majors Show will be displayed through May 9. The following sophomores have works displayed in the show: Michael Bowling, Maribel Ramirez, Jessica Vega, Caitlin Bowman, Talia Bowman-Bekemeyer, and Zane May.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Cowley Recital Press Review - April 5, 2011
Dr. Tham Performs Powerful Recital 
Featuring music by Beethoven, Gottschalk and Tcherepnin, Cowley College piano instructor, Dr. Gloria Tham, gave an impressive performance during her piano recital Tuesday night in the Robert Brown Theatre.
Dr. Tham also played several transcriptions, namely Bach’s Chorale “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme” by Wilhelm Kempff, and two Chinese pieces by Chen Peixun and Chu Wanghua.
The pieces selected were to display both a variety of techniques and range of emotion.
“Of all the pieces, the Beethoven “Pathetique” Sonata was the most emotionally challenging to be able to express and convey the “pathos” he intended,” Dr. Tham said. “The middle movement of that sonata has such a longing and ends with great resolve. There’s only one word to describe it – sublime.”
Dr. Tham considered Gottschalk’s Souvenir de Porto Rico to be technically the most difficult because she has to hold her maximum hand span and play loudly for an extended period of time.
The recital was filled with intensity and excitement.
“Last night was a special evening for me in my performance experience and I’m so glad to be able to share that with many of my piano students,” Dr. Tham said.
Dr. Tham will have three other performances in April. On Sunday, she will perform at First United Methodist Church in Ponca City, OK at 2 p.m. Dr. Tham will be joined by Rebecca Tast, cellist, to perform a movement from Schumann’s Fantasy Pieces, op. 73. A graduate of the University of Kansas, Tast is the orchestra director for the Arkansas City School District. She has held the position for three years and was recently named the Young Teacher of the Year by the Kansas American String Teachers Association.
On April 21, she will perform a Master Class and Recital at Central Christian College in McPherson at 7:30 p.m. Her final performance in April will take place April 29 at College Avenue United Methodist Church in Manhattan, KS at 7 p.m.
All performances are free and open to the public.
Featuring music by Beethoven, Gottschalk and Tcherepnin, Cowley College piano instructor, Dr. Gloria Tham, gave an impressive performance during her piano recital Tuesday night in the Robert Brown Theatre.
Dr. Tham also played several transcriptions, namely Bach’s Chorale “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme” by Wilhelm Kempff, and two Chinese pieces by Chen Peixun and Chu Wanghua.
The pieces selected were to display both a variety of techniques and range of emotion.
“Of all the pieces, the Beethoven “Pathetique” Sonata was the most emotionally challenging to be able to express and convey the “pathos” he intended,” Dr. Tham said. “The middle movement of that sonata has such a longing and ends with great resolve. There’s only one word to describe it – sublime.”
Dr. Tham considered Gottschalk’s Souvenir de Porto Rico to be technically the most difficult because she has to hold her maximum hand span and play loudly for an extended period of time.
The recital was filled with intensity and excitement.
“Last night was a special evening for me in my performance experience and I’m so glad to be able to share that with many of my piano students,” Dr. Tham said.
Dr. Tham will have three other performances in April. On Sunday, she will perform at First United Methodist Church in Ponca City, OK at 2 p.m. Dr. Tham will be joined by Rebecca Tast, cellist, to perform a movement from Schumann’s Fantasy Pieces, op. 73. A graduate of the University of Kansas, Tast is the orchestra director for the Arkansas City School District. She has held the position for three years and was recently named the Young Teacher of the Year by the Kansas American String Teachers Association.
On April 21, she will perform a Master Class and Recital at Central Christian College in McPherson at 7:30 p.m. Her final performance in April will take place April 29 at College Avenue United Methodist Church in Manhattan, KS at 7 p.m.
All performances are free and open to the public.
Recital Series Spring 2011
April 5 7:00 pm Cowley College
April 10 2:00 pm FUMC, Ponca City, OK
April 21 7:30 pm Central Christian College, McPherson
April 29 7:00 pm College Ave UMC, Manhattan
April 10 2:00 pm FUMC, Ponca City, OK
April 21 7:30 pm Central Christian College, McPherson
April 29 7:00 pm College Ave UMC, Manhattan
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