POAC concert showcases renowned pianist Tien Hsieh

The Pend Oreille Arts Council is welcoming renowned classical pianist Tien Hsieh for a Friday concert at the Panida Theater.

An internationally acclaimed Steinway artist, Tien is a Sandpoint favorite having played twice as a soloist with the Spokane Symphony at The Festival at Sandpoint (Beethoven’s "Choral Fantasy" and Grieg’s "Piano Concerto"), and also at the Panida Theater as a previous POAC guest artist. 

The concert is the perfect Mother's Day gift, POAC officials said.

“POAC is honored to bring back such a high caliber performer who has captured the hearts of Sandpoint residents over the years,” POAC executive director Tone Stolz said. “Tien is excited to return and connect with her local fans here with a program highlighting some of the romantic compositions of her favorite classical composers. We hope to see lots of moms and families enjoying this Mother’s Day weekend event.” 

Born in Taiwan, Tien Hsieh (pronounced Tee-EN SHAY) began early musical training with her mother, Sylvia. Currently residing in Folsom, Calif., she has enjoyed a far-ranging career with recitals in Hungary, Germany, Italy, France, Canada, China, England, and throughout the U.S. Performance highlights include Salle Cortot at The École Normale de Musique de Paris, St. Martin in the Fields, Carnegie Hall, all-Liszt program tours and, most recently, Levitt Pavilion Denver. 

As a concerto soloist, she has played with Roswell, Redlands, Folsom Lake, Spokane Symphonies, Oregon Mozart Players, Manhattan Philharmonia and Houston Civic Orchestra. Her many honors include recipient of the Roy M. Rubinstein award, grants from Bettingen Corporation, Li-Ching Cultural & Educational Foundation and scholarships from Manhattan School of Music, University of Houston and California Arts Council. 

Tien’s recording of "Bach & Beethoven: Mostly Transcriptions 2" received praises from the press, reaching No. 1 twice on Amazon.com, and remained a best seller for two consecutive months in 2015. 

“Serious, composed, tiny and full of music, Tien Hsieh lets her artistry on the piano express a warmth and freshness of ideas that surely none but a poet could explain,” a reviewer from the San Francisco Bay Area recently noted.

Another reviewer noted that Tien “delivered electrifying performances of music of monumentally heroic difficulty. Works by Messiaen, Beethoven and finally Liszt's Rhapsodie Espagnole were breathtaking in their technical quality and interpretive maturity."

Friday's program includes selections from Beethoven, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Listz, Robert Schumann and Clara Schumann. The program will also feature some more recent selections, accompanied by a visual presentation with Tien’s inimitable presentation of the history and stories surrounding her favorite composers’ lives and their compositions.

Fulfilling POAC’s educational mission, Tien will conduct a master class with students at the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint on Thursday, May 9. 

Tickets, $40 for adults and $10 for youth, are available online at artinsandpoint.org or by phone at 208-263-6139. Doors open at 6 p.m.; the show starts at 7 p.m.

Information: artinsandpoint.org