(PRINCETON, NJ) -- On Thursday, February 16 at 12:15pm, Westminster Conservatory at Nassau will present a recital of music for solo piano as performed by Westminster Conservatory faculty member Erik Allesee. The recital will take place in the Niles Chapel of Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau Street, Princeton, New Jersey. It is open to the public free of charge; masking is optional.
The program comprises two sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti; an arrangement of My Favorite Things by Stephen Hough; The Lark, a song by Balakirev transcribed for piano solo by Glinka; Franz Liszt's Concert Etude no. 2 Gnomenreigen; Chopin's Nocturne in D-flat, op. 27, no. 2; and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, opus 28 by Felix Mendelssohn.
Allesee began his musical career in Port Charlotte, Florida, starting piano lessons at the age of 9. He twice won the Southwest Florida Concerto Competition, which awarded him the opportunity of performing with the Fort Myers Symphony. Allesee was also a featured soloist with the Port Charlotte Symphony. During his study at Edison Community College in Fort Myers, where he completed his high school diploma, he was the accompanist for the college choir. Having completed 12 years of piano study, Allesee entered Oberlin Conservatory, where he studied with Sedmara Rutstein. He was awarded a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance in 1994. He continued his studies at Westminster Choir College of Rider University, studying with José Ramos-Santana. He completed his master's degree in 1997.
In 2004, he performed a benefit concert to help raise money for the Arts and Humanities Council in Florida. He is the former head of the piano department at Mercer County Community College, where he taught many of the school’s private and group piano lessons for 15 years. Allesee currently enjoys giving lecture recitals in central and southern New Jersey in addition to teaching piano lessons to all ages at the Westminster Conservatory of Music. At both Mercer County Community College and Westminster Conservatory, he has been instrumental in improving the piano curriculum.
Westminster Conservatory at Nassau recitals will continue on March 16 with a recital by Melissa Bohl, oboe; Craig Levesque, horn; and Phyllis Lehrer, piano. In a slight departure from the regular schedule, this recital will begin at noon and will take place in the sanctuary of Nassau Presbyterian Church.
This program is made possible in part by the Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission through funding from the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Established in 1970, Westminster Conservatory is the community music school of Rider University. Welcoming young musicians of all ages, skill levels, instrument preferences and economic backgrounds, Westminster Conservatory provides focused one-on-one lessons. In addition, the Conservatory offers a wide range of classes and performing ensembles to engage every student, from the beginner to young maestros, regardless of age. Westminster Conservatory of Music is a nationally recognized institution, maintaining active membership in the National Guild for Community Arts Education.
