The MMF marks Rachmaninoff’s 150th birthday with an afternoon of concerts spotlighting three young pianists. Serene plays works by Russian composer/pianist Scriabin with her computer-generated projections based on Scriabin’s color system. Derek Wang offers transcriptions from pianist-composers paying tribute to their idols and forebearers. And Claire Huangci finishes with Rachmaninoff Preludes from her acclaimed recording.

On-site food trucks provide access to refreshments, snacks and dinner between concerts.

4:00 PM
Spotlight on Scriabin
Artist: Serene
This program celebrates Scriabin, examining the intersection of performance and composition, the influence of audio-visual synesthesia, and uncovering the generator functions behind these disciplines in the context of being a concert pianist without formal training while having another career as a technologist.

6:00 PM
Tricks of the Transcription
Artists: Derek Wang with Michael Barrett, Claire Huangci and Serene
This program celebrates the piano as the chameleon of instruments, which, under skilled hands, can trick us into hearing a singer, an organ, or even a whole orchestra. The first half explores the legacy of J.S. Bach, himself a great transcriber, through musical homages of Mendelssohn and Busoni; the second half presents a series of musical postcards from Vienna, with iconic works of Schubert, Mozart, and Johann Strauss II creatively rearranged for piano.

8:00 PM
Celebrating Rachmaninoff’s 150th
Artists: Claire Huangci with Derek Wang and Serene
For pianists in particular, Rachmaninoff composed some of the best evergreen repertoire of all time; music that transcends the classical boundaries and enters the pop and film industries. In this program, Claire chose works that span from Rachmaninoff’s university times to his final years in his chosen home, the US.

About the venue: Located in downtown Moab, historic Star Hall was built in 1906. The recently renovated Richardsonian Romanesque style stone building seats 300 people. The intimate size, excellent acoustics and architectural charm make Star Hall an ideal setting for chamber music. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1993.