Steinway Series Piano Concert Set For Nov. 17

Limestone College will present its first Steinway series concert of the academic year on Tuesday, Nov. 17, as pianist John Kenneth Adams takes the stage at Fullerton Auditorium for a 7:30 p.m. performance.

The public is cordially invited, and there is no admission fee.

During his concert, Adams will perform on Limestone's 1969 Steinway piano that was refurbished in 2013. As a Steinway Artist, Adams is a member of a roster of artists who have been endorsed by Steinway & Sons and perform exclusively on Steinway pianos.

The Steinway piano series is Limestone's way of showcasing its fully restored Steinway "D" piano. Located in Fullerton Auditorium, Limestone's Steinway was literally dismantled into pieces at the Steinway & Sons facility on Long Island, NY, during its restoration two years ago.  The intensive process lasted nine months and cost over $50,000.

Adams has traveled the globe presenting his “Piano Portraits” recitals, and teaching master classes, to audiences in 22 countries. He has successfully blended a wide choice of repertoire with his unique ability to speak about music in terms that bring audiences closer to the music. Long known for his powerful performances of French repertoire, including the complete piano music of Claude Debussy, Adams has also made a strong reputation as an exponent of major works of Schubert, Schumann, and Brahms.

He began his studies in Alabama, later attending the University of Missouri at Kansas City and Yale School of Music. A Fulbright Award enabled him to attend the Royal Academy of Music in London, and later studies took him to Milan and Paris. He drew critics’ attention with a series of recitals in Washington, D.C., including the National Gallery of Art, the Phillips Collection, and the Maryland Piano Festival.

Adams’ long association with the United States Information Service took him five times to South America, and also to Spain, Italy, and South Korea.

A former teacher at the University of Texas, Adams later taught for over 40 years at the University of South Carolina School of Music, where he is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus. He was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the State of South Carolina by Gov. Nikki Haley in 2012.

He has received the Award of Merit from Yale University, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the South Carolina Music Teachers Association, an Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and the Mungo Award for Distinguished Teaching from the University of South Carolina.