[272] Violin/piano duo bring talents to MTSU’s School of Music for free Feb. 6 concert

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — An Arkansas music duo will bring their classical talents to MTSU’s School of Music Monday, Feb. 6, for a free public concert featuring works by Ludwig van Beethoven and Johannes Brahms.

Violinist Meredith Maddox Hicks and pianist Naoki Hakutani, both faculty members at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, will perform at 8 p.m. Feb. 6 in Hinton Hall inside the Wright Music Building, presenting Beethoven’s “Sonata No. 8 in G major,” Brahms’ “Sonata No. 2 in A major” and movements from “Histoire du Tango” by Ástor Piazzolla.

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Violinist Hicks is a graduate of Belmont University and has a master’s in music from Florida State University. She won the 2016 Belmont Encore Award for outstanding alumni in classical music and is a member of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.

Originally from Kent, Ohio, pianist Hakutani holds degrees in piano performance from Northwestern University, Indiana University at Bloomington and the University of Texas at Austin. He’s a member of UALR’s Albani Piano Trio and makes frequent joint appearances with his wife, pianist Jaeyeon Park, and with Collage Piano, which performs frequently throughout Asia.

Adam Clark, a professor of piano at MTSU, described what audiences can expect to hear at the pair’s program.

"The Beethoven sonata is known for its lively figuration and astonishing inventiveness,” Clark said. “Attesting to its appeal, the work was once recorded by the great Fritz Kreisler with none other than Sergei Rachmaninoff at the piano.

"’Histoire du Tango’ is one of Piazzolla's most famous compositions, originally written for flute and guitar. Like many of his works, it has been transcribed for other instruments to play — in this case, of course, for violin and piano.

"Brahms' second violin sonata showcases some of the composer's most beautiful and soulful melodies,” Clark continued. “It is quintessential Brahms, containing everything audiences have come to know and love about the composer. It will be a wonderful piece to end the recital.”

For details on more MTSU School of Music concerts, call 615-898-2493 or visit the MTSU School of Music Concert Calendar at http://www.mtsu.edu/music/calendar.php.