Clayton Piano Festival preps for 2019 season

CLAYTON — Once again, artistic director and founder of the Clayton Piano Festival, Jonathan Levin, has created a program of depth and variety to bring classical music to Johnston County and the Triangle area.

As the eighth season kicks off with a Halloween Gala at Broadslab Distillery and ends with the Town of Clayton's 150th Anniversary event celebrating the arts in Clayton, visitors and locals alike will find one or more concerts to enjoy.

“It’s almost like having a live concert in your own living room,” Levin said. “There’s no need to know anything about the music before coming or to worry about uptight concert etiquette. People will have fun and enjoy amazing music, guided through the experience by performers who are as communicative with their performances as they are presenting the music to new audiences.

“The idea is for those who aren’t classical enthusiasts to be able to discover something incredible they weren’t sure they would enjoy, and for those who are, to be able to listen with a fresh perspective.”

This year's schedule includes:

Halloween Gala: Oct. 31, 6:30 p.m., Broadslab Distillery, Benson — Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. with a concert by pianist David Brooks to follow. Brooks, a versatile pianist, violinist/violist and composer will present a special evening of music with spooky or fantasy themes, including his own compositions and arrangements.

There will also be a costume contest for audience members, the winner of which will win a pair of free tickets to the Nov. 4 event at Portofino. Ticket packages for both events, or just the concert, are available.

Classical Masterworks - Zsolt Bognár: November 4, 7 p.m., Piazza at Portofino, Clayton — Known to many around the globe in musical and cultural circles, Zsolt Bognár is host of the award-winning film series “Living the Classical Life.” As concert pianist, he frequently gives inspiring performances and lectures in North America, Europe and Asia.

In this performance, he will take concertgoers on a journey through some of the world's greatest classical piano music in his inimitable and candid style of presentation and performance. A reception will follow.

Living in the Moment - Joey Chang: November 6, 7:30 p.m., Cary Arts Center — Classically trained prodigy pianist, composer and multi-genre improviser, Joey Chang, is a unique rising star on the musical scene in New York City since graduating from Julliard in 2017.

His chameleon-like skills allow him to collaborate with another instrumentalist. He will create his own program for CPF, including collaborations with another instrumentalist and a dancer, film and audio/visual projections and audience requests.

Clayton at 150 Gala: November 9, 7:30 p.m., The Clayton Center — Clayton Piano Festival’s eighth season concludes with this celebration of Clayton's 150th year. Narrated by special guest performer, 2019 Miss America Nia Imani Franklin, the program will include multiple performers and genres on piano, voice and strings, interspersed with poetry and short documentary film clips capturing various people and influences in the area. The program will follow a narrative which presents many of the themes of life in Clayton and Johnston County from years past to the present day.

For information on concert performers click www.claytonpianofestival.org/artists and to buy tickets, visit https://www. claytonpianofestival.org/2019season.