Lights on in Little Carnegie

Mark your calendars for several upcoming musical events guaranteed to entertain and delight. 

On January 26, the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint’s piano department will host pianist Fabio Menchetti, an assistant professor of piano at Washington State University. In addition to teaching, Menchetti performs in various concert venues throughout the United States. 

Menchetti began his musical career in his native country of Italy. He received his Bachelor of Music from Boccherini Conservatory in Lucca, Italy and his Master of Music and Music Education from Puccini Conservatory in La Spezia. He has performed throughout many cities in his native Italy, Poland, France, and Germany. 

After moving to the United States, Dr. Menchetti received his Master of Arts from Houghton College and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from College-Conservatory Music, University of Cincinnati.

Passionate about the performing arts, Dr. Menchetti is a musician dedicated to sharing the beauty of music with his students and audiences. 

The Jan. 26 performance will occur at the Sandpoint Music Conservatory in Little Carnegie. Dr. Menchetti will perform Beethoven, Louie, Chopin, and Kenyon's music. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students. There will also be a no-host wine bar to enjoy.

In addition to the performance, there will be an opportunity to join a workshop led by Menchetti on Saturday, Jan. 27, at 2 p.m. The workshop is appropriate for piano students, players, and enthusiasts.

Another opportunity to enjoy captivating musical talent will occur on February 14 at the Panida Theater. The Pend Oreille Arts Council will host a solo recital by Tien Hseih, who immigrated to the United States with her family from Taiwan when she was nine. One review of her talent shows what one can expect at the February 14 performance. The review reads, "Serious, composed, tiny, and full of music, Tien Hseih lets her artistry on the piano express a warmth and freshness of ideas that surely no one but a poet can explain.”

Hseih will also hold a master class on February 13 at 6 p.m. in Little Carnegie. Both the master class and performance are hosted by the Pend Oreille Arts Council.

Two days later, on February 16, the Music Conservatory will host pianist Peggy Reich. Reich is a pianist, composer, and conductor who received her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana. Currently living in New York, Reich has traveled the world competing and has performed as a soloist and in trios and duets.

"A Festival, The Beautiful Mind of Robert Schumann", will feature the music of the German composer and pianist and is the finale of the mid-winter piano revelries. Matt Goodrich and Melody Puller will perform in two unique programs, one on March 22 and the second on March 23.

Goodrich is on the faculty at the Sandpoint Music Conservatory and Southern Oregon University. A native of Syracuse, New York, Goodrich holds a DMA from the University of Washington and was a national finalist in the Young Artists division of the Music Teachers National Association and Young Keyboard Artist Association competitions. 

Puller earned her Master of Music degree in Piano Pedagogy and Performance from the University of Idaho. She resided in Vermont for 13 years, where she taught piano to all levels and abilities and performed often for the Cathedral Arts Series in Burlington, Vermont. She returned home to North Idaho in 2015 and is the department head for piano at the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint.

Except for the performance by Tien Hseih, which will take place at the Panida Theater, all performances will be at the Music Conservatory in Sandpoint in the Little Carnegie.

For more information on Hseih’s performance and master class, contact the Pend Oreille Arts Council. For all other performances and to purchase tickets, visit SandpointConservatory.org/events. There are also options to bundle tickets so you can take in all these wonderful performances.