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Acclaimed Classical Pianist Shares & Shines Onstage

6/2/2015

Classical pianist Lara Downes led an interactive music workshop with students in grades 3-8 yesterday, and performed an intimate solo concert to benefit our school last night.

Downes, who has has been acclaimed for the “drama and nuance” of her playing (Washington Post) and her “gift for telling stories in a highly compressed form” (New York Times), presented a program of music from her recording, Exiles’ Café. That album features works by composers whose music reflects the transformative passage of exile, the journey from what is left behind to what is discovered ahead, vanished worlds and altered lives, the fragility of destiny and the possibility of new beginnings.

She also played "Rhapsody in Blue" by George Gershwin, and some selections from her new album, A Billie Holiday Songbook. Click here to watch a YouTube video featuring clips of songs from the album, and an interview in which she explains why she, as a classical musician, decided re-imagine the late jazz singer's music.

WHY LARA AND LIPPMAN?

Ruth Downes, Lara's mother, grew up in Akron and her family was very close with Goldie and Jerry Lippman. Ruth eventually moved to San Francisco, and last saw Jerry when he lived in that area. Ruth learned about The Lippman School, the legacy that Jerry helped create, and the Lippman-Kanfer family continues to nurture. So, she suggested that her daughter might consider a benefit concert for the school.

After touring the school last year, Lara enthusiastically agreed to perform on the campus on June 1, 2015. Interestingly, many of the themes of Lara's music are also found embedded in curriculum and programmatic themes of The Lippman School.

Many thanks to Lara for a beautiful and memorable night of music, and for her kind and generous support.

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The Lippman School | 750 White Pond Drive | Akron, OH 44320 | Phone: 330.836.0419 | Fax: 330.869.2514