Pianist Randall Kidder will perform a solo piano recital, "Music from the Heart," Friday, Feb. 11 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church, located at the corner of Third and Putnam streets in Marietta. The program will include classical and contemporary selections played on the Steinway grand piano in the church sanctuary. Sponsored by the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Marietta, the recital is open to the public. Free will donations will be accepted.
Randall Kidder holds a bachelor's degree in piano performance from Heidelberg College. He began taking piano lessons when he was six. During grades six through eight he studied piano, music theory and history with Dr. Winter, head of the piano department at Wooster College. He continued lessons while in high school with Professor Linda Nager Brant at the Cleveland Institute of Music. In his senior year at Heidelberg he won first place in the Ohio Music Teacher's Association open collegiate piano competition held at Oberlin College. A few years after graduation he participated in several piano master classes led by Ruth Laredo at Akron University. Mr. Kidder has been pianist for the Unitarian Universalist congregation in Marietta since 2004, incorporating a variety of musical styles for worship services. His piano recitals have been well-received by the community in the church's music outreach program.
Mr. Kidder's recital is the first of several exciting musical programs planned by the church for 2011. The Celtic Fusion group, Mythica, has scheduled a return visit and performance at the church on Sunday, March 20, at 1:30 p.m. Mythica's performance is open to the community at no charge, although a free will donation will be accepted. On Tuesday, March 29, pianist Frank Horvat will perform an original composition entitled "Earth Hour." Part of Mr. Horvat's Green Keys tour, the 7 p.m. recital will be performed mostly in the dark, emphasizing his commitment to environmental causes. Sponsored in part by the UU church's Green Sanctuary Committee, "Earth Hour" is also open to the community; a free will donation will be accepted.
More information about the March performances will be announced as it becomes available.
