HILLSBORO, Kan. – Tabor College music major Zach Neumann will be performing his junior piano recital at 7 p.m. on Tues., March 17 at the Tabor College Chapel located in the H.W. Lohrenz building on campus.
Neumann, son of Billy and Shelley Neumann from Osborne, Kan., will be performing a variety of musical selections for the recital including: “10 Variations on Unser dummer Pöbel meint” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; “Partita No. 5 in G Major” by Johann Sebastian Bach; “Prelude in B flat Minor,” “Prelude in E Minor,” “Prelude in B flat Major,” “Prelude in E flat Major” by Sergei Rachmaninoff and “Prelude in E” by Franz Liszt.
The Liszt selection is one Neumann has enjoyed practicing and learning the most.
“This is one of my favorite pieces of music that I have ever played,” Neumann said. “It is the longest piece on the program and also the most profound. The depth and variety Liszt achieves in this piece are astonishing. He creates the entire work from three basic themes, and yet by his treatment of them, he is able to extract a fantastic palette of ideas and emotions. It sounds like a shout of victory.”
Professor of Music Sheila Litke is excited to see the fruits of his labor and the long hours in the practice room pay off.
“Zach has taken on a challenging recital program and he is doing a wonderful job,” Litke said. “His dedication to classical music and his strong work-ethic have given him the opportunity to tackle such a wonderful program. It represents many hours in the practice room. From the Bach to Mozart to Rachmininoff to Liszt, there will be something that everyone will enjoy.”
Neumann says he is blessed to have Litke as his professor.
“Since coming to Tabor, Dr. Litke has helped me expand my repertoire and became a more sensitive, musically-minded pianist, as well as advancing my technique,” he said. “Additionally, working with vocalists and singing in choir have helped me learn how to better work in a group with other musicians, as well as developing a greater sense of community with the students around me.”
Neumann is working on a degree in music. After he graduates next May, he plans on attending graduate school and studying piano performance.