(October 13, 2015)

Pianist and composer Steven Termini to perform at Centenary

SHREVEPORT, LA — Pianist, composer, and improvisatory artist Steven Termini will visit Centenary College of Louisiana on Tuesday, October 27, 2015. He will perform a concert of improvisatory piano music in the Anderson Auditorium at 7:30 PM. The concert is free and open to the public. Prior to the concert, Dr. Termini will conduct a workshop with Centenary's new improvisatory student ensemble, Genesis Jam, at 6:00 PM.

"Being able to improvise well is a rare skill, but there is an increasing need for that skill in today's musical world," said Dr. Gale Odom, Dean of the Hurley School of Music. "We are looking forward enthusiastically to Dr. Termini's work with our new student ensemble of improvisers. I hope his performance Tuesday night inspires more students to appreciate and learn this art."

Steven Termini is a former Rotary Foundation International Ambassadorial Scholar to London, England, where he studied under Tatiane Sarkissova at the Royal Academy of Music. He has performed internationally in the United States, Germany, England, Norway, Australia, and Russia. Termini's completely improvised concert in Flekkefjord, Norway elicited a standing ovation, while his appearance in the Continuum Ensemble's inaugural Competition of Improvisers in London earned him Second Prize and a prize by audience vote. Termini's Halling Variations for Violin Soloist and Orchestra: Requiem for Edvard Grieg was given its world premiere in St. Petersburg, Russia by violinist Sun Roh and the State Academic Capella Orchestra under the baton of British conductor Rudi Eastwood. Other unique collaborations have included projects with animator Chaki Tanaka, dancer Jem Darski, jazz double-bassist Josh Jones, and London Underground featured visual artist Fari Shams.

Dr. Termini earned his Ph.D. in Performance Practice from the Royal Academy of Music in London; he also holds a Masters in Fine Arts (Jazz) from California Institute of the Arts and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

You can see some of Dr. Termini's work online in this excerpt from a documentary about his philosophy of improvisation, with samples of his playing.