Distinguished Artists Series features renown flutist and pianist

by Adam Torgerson,

Two highly regarded musicians and teachers – flutist Jim Walker and pianist Bryan Pezzone – will perform as part of Willamette University’s Distinguished Artists Series on April 7, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. in Rogers Music Center. A pre-concert talk begins at 6:45 p.m.

Principal Flutist in the Los Angeles Philharmonic for eight years, Walker also had the opportunity to tour South America as Principal Flute for the New York Philharmonic before delving into jazz, studio recording and teaching. He’s now a professor at The Colburn Conservatory of Music and USC’s Thornton School of Music.

Bryan Pezzone is a top freelance pianist in the Los Angeles area. Known for his work on television and film soundtracks, including nearly all of the Warner Brothers cartoons of the 1990s and early 2000s, Pezzone’s exceptional adaptability allows him to crossover among classical, contemporary, jazz and experimental genres. Former Principal Pianist in the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Pezzone also founded and led the keyboard department at the California Institute of the Arts from 1987-2000.


In addition to their solo work and other collaborations, Walker and Pezzone are members of the jazz quartet Free Flight.

“Walker and Pezzone are astoundingly versatile musicians,” said Jean-David Coen, artist-in-residence and co-director of the Grace Goudy Distinguished Artists Series. “Walker is a perfect fit for our students, multifaceted and defying categorization; Pezzone’s diverse career reflects his musical flexibility, exacting precision and incredible improvisational skills,” said Coen. “Walker and Pezzone are emblematic of the type of musicians we want to develop at Willamette.”

General admission tickets are $23, with discounts available for members of the Willamette community, students, children, and Oregon Trail cardholders. Tickets are available through boxofficetickets.com and at the door, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Also in Rogers Music Center's Hudson Hall on April 7, the public is welcome to observe master classes for Willamette University students from 1–4 p.m. Admission to the master classes is free.

For more information about the series, artists or master classes, visit https://willamette.edu/arts/goudyartistseries/ or call the music department at 503-370-6255.

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