Piano at Butler: AN AMERICAN PORTRAIT: Scott Carrell, Guest Pianist
The panorama that is the music of the United States reflects the influences of many cultures and their artistic peculiarities, from the melodies of the early immigrants to the present-day incorporation of artistic ideas from around the world, as heard in the varied styles, moods and emotions of the music. This program presents a selection of piano music by well-known and lesser-known American composers: the romantic favorites of Edward MacDowell; the impressionist explorations of female composer Marion Bauer; the optimistic expansiveness of Norman Dello Joio’s Piano Sonata No. 3; the serious virtuosity of Leonard Bernstein; the popular excitement of Scott Joplin and George Gershwin; the neo-Romantic miniatures of Richard Cumming; and, an original work by the performer, based on a painting of an Arkansas artist. Join us on a journey through American music as we celebrate the richness of our diverse heritage! Described as being a “natural at the keyboard” and playing with “verve, spirit and zest,” pianist SCOTT CARRELL enjoys a multi-faceted career as a pianist, collaborator and composer, having performed in the U.S.A., Europe and Asia. His virtuosic flair, expressive playing, informative comments, and innovative programming have garnered enthusiastic responses from audiences and presenters alike. His varied interests have resulted in several programs of French music, ragtime, and lesser-known works of the repertoire, resulting in residencies at Texarkana College, Northwest Missouri State University, and Guongdong University of Foreign Studies in Guangzhou, China. Concerto performances feature works from Bach to Prokofiev and include appearances with the Austin Symphony Orchestra, the Pine Bluff Symphony Orchestra, the Southwestern University Orchestra, the Plainview Symphony Orchestra, the Fort Worth Civic Orchestra, the Little Rock Wind Symphony, the New York Classical Players, the Russian String Orchestra, and twice with the Harding University/Community Orchestra. He co-founded and performed in the Searcy Chamber Music Series as well as 242 Strings, a faculty piano quartet at Harding University. Other chamber music recitals have been performed with members of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, the Austin Symphony Orchestra. Carrell has performed with Crispian Steele-Perkins, Kiril Laskarov, James Houlik, Rose Taylor, John White, Colleen Mallette, and many other artists throughout the central USA. In addition to performing many choral works such as Mozart’s Requiem Mass and Orff’s Carmina Burana, he has also participated in musical orchestras for shows including Big Fish, The Addams Family, Shrek the Musical, Nunsense II, Grease, Scrooge, and Into the Woods. He created several interdisciplinary programs: music inspired by literature, music and art influencing each other, and improvisation involving music and other disciplines. He has four compact discs available: Crossings, which includes the world premiere recording of an original composition based on a painting by an Arkansas artist; Ragtime Memories, a collection of ragtime gems; Piano Works of Noël Gallon, world premiere recordings of works by a Paris conservatory professor; and Sonata and Variations, favorite pieces of the Classical era. Carrell’s work as a composer has resulted in premieres of Crossings (2001) for piano solo, Suite for Brass Quintet (2011), Dance for Oboe and Piano (2011), Conversation (2015) for double-reed trio, Tango (2019) for piano trio, and Nocturne (2024) for piano solo. Receiving degrees from Southwestern University, the University of Illinois, and the D.M.A. from the University of North Texas, Carrell studied with internationally-known artists Drusilla Huffmaster, Ian Hobson, and Vladimir Viardo and participated in masterclasses with Gail Delente, Roy Howat, Dominique Merlet, and Abbey Simon. The French Piano Institute awarded him a prize for the best performance of a work by Henri Dutilleux at the 1996 FPI Festival in Paris, France. He was twice honored with the Teacher Achievement Award from Harding University, for the 2003-2004 and 2012-2013 academic years. An active member of the Arkansas State Music Teachers Association, he has presented sessions at both regional and state conferences, serves as President of the Music Teachers Association of Central Arkansas, and was named the ASMTA 2022 Teacher of the Year. Currently teaching piano, piano related courses, and music theory at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, Carrell is in demand as a soloist, collaborative artist, teacher and adjudicator.