The opening concert of this 2018-2019 season presents American concert pianist, Joseph Kingma. Kingma’s program will begin with works by Jean-Philippe Rameau and Franz Liszt followed by the expressive and impassioned works of the French master, Claude Debussy. The centerpiece of the concert will be Debussy’s three movement Estampes, L. 100 (Prints). Within the three movements, the composer offers his impressions of eastern Asia, a night in Grenada, Spain and a Normandy region garden in a rainstorm. Other Debussy compositions to be performed will be the well-known Clair de Lune (Moonlight), La Cathédrale Engloutie (The Submerged Cathedral) and L’Isle Joyeuse (The Joyful Island). The Debussy works will truly show that the impressionistic period ideal permeated not only the visual arts but the musical arts as well.

A former Louisiana College faculty member, Dr. Kingma was recently appointed Assistant Professor of Piano at Palm Beach Atlantic University. In 2017, Joseph graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with his Doctor of Musical Arts degree, where he studied with Anton Nel. Previously, he earned his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music Degrees at Rice University under the tutelage of Robert Roux. Joseph’s sound has been described by conductors as “rich and encompassing, yet delicate and refined” and “flawless and expressive”. He maintains an active career as both a prolific performing artist and committed pedagogue. He has won awards in numerous international competitions, including, most recently, first prize in both the American Liszt Society’s 2017 Franz Liszt International Piano Competition and the Monroe Symphony League’s 2018 Marjorie Stricken Emerging Artist Competition.

The presentation will begin at 7:00pm on Tuesday, October 2nd in St. James Episcopal Church. Located at 1620 Murray Street and Bolton Avenue in Alexandria, the concert is free and open to the public. Immediately following the conclusion of the concert, there will be a reception in the adjacent St. James Parish Hall where audience members may greet the pianist and enjoy light refreshments. For more information, please telephone the Church office at (318) 445-9845.