Dr. Grier Williams School of Music presents the UWF Symphonic Band

The University of West Florida Dr. Grier Williams School of Music will present the UWF Symphonic Band featuring pianist Susan Chou in their "Orchestral Fantasy" concert. The performance will be held on Monday, March 2, at 7:30 p.m. in the Mainstage Theatre at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts on the UWF Pensacola campus.

Under the direction of Dr. Sean Kelley, the Symphonic Band will perform a variety of pieces featuring guest pianist Susan Chou. The group will perform "Festive Overture" by Dmitri Shostakovich, "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" by Sergei Rachmaninoff, featuring Susan Chou, "Circuits" by Cindy McTee and "Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral" by Richard Wagner.

Susan Chou was born in Taipei, Taiwan. She immigrated to the United States at age 16 and earned a bachelor's degree in computer engineering from Northwestern University. During her studies at Northwestern, she was greatly inspired by her piano teacher, Professor Alan Chow, and decided to pursue her career in piano. After graduation, she was awarded a full scholarship to study with Menahem Pressler at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she completed her master's and doctorate degrees.

Dr. Chou has given numerous solo recitals and appeared as a soloist with the North Central College Symphony Orchestra, Good Samaritan Symphony Orchestra, IU Student Orchestra, IU University Orchestra, Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra, Symphony of the Mountains and Taipei Symphony Orchestra. In 2017, she and Mr. Pressler performed the Mozart Concerto for Two Pianos with the Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra. She enjoys playing collaborative recitals with partners including Robin Scott, violinist of the Ying Quartet; Andrew Ling, principal violist of Hong Kong Philharmonic; and Min Kyun Kim, concertmaster of the Korean Symphony Orchestra. Between 2010 and 2019, she traveled extensively as an American cultural ambassador to teach and perform with Trio Chicago and Friends, founded by Elliott Golub and Marlou Johnston.

She currently serves as assistant professor of music, department chair and coordinator of piano studies at North Central College and maintains a private piano studio for young students. Her students have been accepted to prestigious music programs such as Indiana University and Northwestern University, won prizes at the Walgreens Concerto Competition and the ISMTA piano competition, and participated in the Fischoff National Chamber Competition.

This event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. For tickets or more information, visit uwf.edu/cfpa or call the CFPA box office at 850.857.6285.