The Unconservatory offers a very special holiday edition of Gala For Two Pianos, on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 8 to 10 p.m., at the United Methodist Church, 7900 Coral Way. This concert is open to the public and admission is by donation (suggested donation, $10-$25, sliding donation, children free).
The internationally renowned husband and wife duo concert pianists, Kirk Whipple and Marilyn Morales, will perform at one and two pianos. Adding to the evening’s show will be guest artist performances by tenor Carleton Cornish and baritone Craig Wheeler. Also performing will be outstanding young artists Jayme Podgorowiez, clarinet, and Jonathan Abbo, alto saxophone.
Look for Whipple and Morales to perform selections from their acclaimed holiday piano album, The White Season, their comic rendition from Tchaikovsky’s perennial favorite, The (Nutty!) Nutcracker and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Paul Dukas. Also on the program will be holiday favorites sung by Cornish and Wheeler, classical selections from the young artists and special surprises.
The quartet of friends recently collaborated on two major productions this past summer at Cranberry Coast Concerts in Massachusetts, an annual festival directed by Whipple and Morales. Cornish and Wheeler sang and acted in Spectacular Night, The Fabulous ‘70s and the full music and dialogue premier of Always Remember, an original musical by Morales about the Cuban American experience. Whipple and Morales are currently seeking local backing for a full-scale theatrical production of Always Remember.
Locally, Whipple and Morales are directors of The Unconservatory, an organization dedicated to creation, performance, recording and education in the musical arts. The husband and wife piano duo travel the world together, performing and organizing concerts and events in support of music education. The duo and their colleagues in France, Frédéric Chauvel and Mark Solé-Lerís, perform in America and Europe as “The United Nations Piano Quartet” or “UNPQ.” Recently, in Monaco and Massachusetts, the UNPQ gave the world and American premiers of Symphony in C Major, Paths to Redemption by David A. Randall, arranged for two pianos/eight hands by Whipple.
The two young guest artists, Podgorowiez and Abbo, are music students at Scheck Hillel Community Day School and recently distinguished themselves with superior ratings at the Florida Band Association Solo and Ensemble Festival.
To view a short performance by Whipple & Morales from their show, “This Week On Cranberry Coast Concerts,” visit
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ihnx164phDo. To hear excerpts from The White Season and to purchase your CD copy or download visit
www.cdbaby.com/cd/kwmmws.
