SUNY Brockport Department of Theatre and Music Studies faculty member Tamara Wilcox is giving a recital, “Women and Keyboards,” on Monday, February 27, at 7:30 p.m. The concert will take place at the Tower Fine Arts Center, 180 Holley Street, Brockport. Tickets are $5 at the door.
Wilcox will be playing five different types of keyboards, a few of which have been donated to the department by key benefactors of the University. The keyboards include piano, pianoforte, harpsichord, spinet, and even a toy piano. The fortepiano and harpsichord were made by John O’Connor and his father, longtime piano technicians who serviced the many keyboard instruments located throughout the Brockport campus. Both were in the collection of Dr. Ian Henderson, professor emeritus. The English bentside spinet was made by a student in one of the keyboard construction classes that used to be offered as part of the curriculum. During her contemporary fortepiano piece, Wilcox will be joined by former Brockport faculty member, Dr. Nancy Washer, who will accompany her on the Tenor Viol.
Several centuries of music written by female composers will be covered by Wilcox, including many works rarely heard. In addition, she has developed relationships with an international array of contemporary women composers from whom she has solicited music, some of which are world or North American premieres. There are also a few familiar names on the program including Florence Price, the first Black woman to have her music played by a major American orchestra, and Meredith Monk, a multi-hyphenate artist who has been awarded the National Medal of Arts, the highest honor in the United States specifically given for achievement in the arts. Each instrument will be heard in both historic and contemporary pieces, except for the toy piano, which will feature two living composers.
Now, what do pieces of music specifically composed for the toy piano sound like? Maybe a little bit like a calliope organ. But also a little bit like the ice cream truck coming down the street. All are invited to come hear them for themselves and then decide.
Wilcox has been a full-time Music Studies faculty member in the Department of Theatre and Music Studies since 2016. Her current research interests include collaborative piano performance, piano pedagogy, therapeutic applications of music, the Jaques-Dalcroze approach to music education, and Jin Shin Jyutsu for the performing artist.
Wilcox maintains a private piano studio, teaching students both locally and remotely. She is also a Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner and offers Jin Shin Jyutsu Self-Help classes for students and the greater Brockport community.
Provided information
