Guest pianist Nicholas Phillips will perform “A Southern Prelude,” an original work for solo piano by UAB Associate Professor William Price, DMA, in a free concert at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014, in UAB’s Hulsey Recital Hall, 9501 13th St. South.
Phillips’ recital will feature several newly commissioned works for piano from his forthcoming “American Vernacular” CD project. The project includes works that comment on the American experience from several prominent composers, including David Maslanka, David Rakowsi, Mohammed Fairouz and Ethan Wickman.
Phillips has been described by The New York Times as an “able and persuasive advocate” of new music, and his playing has been praised for its “bejeweled accuracy” (Fanfare) and as “razor-sharp yet wonderfully spirited” (American Records Guide). He maintains an active schedule as a soloist and collaborative artist, and his current season includes solo recitals in New York, Chicago, Baltimore, Alabama, Ohio, Michigan, Montana, Texas and Wisconsin. Recent international appearances include a solo recital in Korea sponsored by the U.S. Embassy, and a solo recital in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
In 2011 he released two CDs on Albany Records: “Portals and Passages,” which features the piano music of American composer Ethan Wickman, and “Boris Papandopulo: Piano Music.” His most recent CD, “American Vernacular: New Music for Solo Piano,” will be released on New Focus Recordings in January 2014.
Phillips holds degrees from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, Indiana University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is associate professor of Music at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
For information, call 205-934-7376 or visit the department online at www.uab.edu/cas/music.