Shenandoah University Center for the Arts Groundbreaking Armstrong Concert Hall Acclaimed pianist Sara Davis Buechner returns to the Shenandoah stage for an afternoon of extraordinary artistry, technical brilliance and interpretive insight. Praised by The New York Times for her “intelligence, integrity and all-encompassing technical prowess” and celebrated internationally for her virtuosity and expressive depth, Buechner has earned top prizes at many of the world’s most prestigious piano competitions, including the Queen Elisabeth, Leeds, Salzburg, Sydney and Vienna competitions. She was awarded the gold medal at the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition and a bronze medal at the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow. A sought-after soloist with a repertoire encompassing more than 125 piano concertos, Buechner has performed with leading orchestras around the world and is renowned for the breadth of her musical interests, from the standard concert repertoire to acclaimed performances and recordings of silent film scores. Her distinguished career has established her as one of today’s most versatile and compelling pianists. In addition to her international performing career, Buechner serves as piano chair of Greenwich House Music School, professor of piano at Temple University and adjunct professor at New York University. A dedicated educator, advocate and longtime Yamaha Artist, she continues to inspire audiences around the globe through performances of remarkable artistry and imagination. The afternoon’s program highlights Buechner’s exceptional range as an interpreter, opening with Mozart’s dramatic Fantasy and Sonata in C Minor, K. 475/457 and continuing with Weber’s expansive and virtuosic Sonata in C Major, op. 24. Ravel’s elegant Valses nobles et sentimentales and Poulenc’s colorful, imaginative Les Soirées de Nazelles complete a recital rich in character, sophistication and expressive depth.  This performance is made possible by Marjorie and John Lewis in honor of John O’Conor. Program Wolfgang Amadeus MozartFantasy and Sonata in C Minor KV 475/457Carl Maria von WeberSonata in C Major, op. 24Maurice RavelValses Nobles et SentimentalesFrancis PoulencLes Soirées de Nazelles Pre-concert Talk Sunday, October 25 at 1:30PM | Armstrong Concert Hall Join us on the Sunday of each World of the Piano performance at 1:30PM in Armstrong Concert Hall for a Pre-Concert Talk! Learn about the artist’s program from Shenandoah Conservatory faculty and special guests. Piano Masterclass Monday, October 26 at 10AM | Armstrong Concert Hall Observe the guest artists as they work with Shenandoah Conservatory piano students. Masterclasses are typically held on the Monday following each World of the Piano performance from 10AM to noon in Armstrong Concert Hall. Limited seating is open to the public for quiet observation. Please arrive by 9:45AM. Join the Piano Society Join Friends of the Conservatory at the Ally level or above and designate your gift to World of the Piano to become a member of our Piano Society! In addition to being listed in each World of the Piano program, members receive all Ally benefits plus access to exclusive Piano Society events. Join the Piano Society

Shenandoah University Center for the Arts Groundbreaking Armstrong Concert Hall Timothy J. Robblee, Artistic Director & Conductor Shifting Shadows Experience an evening of bold contemporary music as the Wind Ensemble explores works that push the boundaries of sound, color and imagination. The program opens with Paul Dooley’s Masks and Machines, a dynamic work that contrasts human expression with mechanical energy, before featuring guitarist Colin Davin as soloist in Jim Bonney’s electrifying DARKlightNESS, a concerto for electric guitar and wind ensemble that navigates striking contrasts of intensity, texture and atmosphere. The performance concludes with Sinfonia by Zhou Tian, a vibrant and compelling work by one of today’s leading composers. Together, these pieces showcase the innovative spirit of contemporary wind ensemble music through powerful rhythms, vivid orchestration and adventurous sonic landscapes.

The Symphony Orchestra performs Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 4 in E-flat Major.

Shenandoah University Center for the Arts Groundbreaking Armstrong Concert Hall Emanuele Andrizzi, Artistic Director & Conductor Bruckner 4 Join the Symphony Orchestra for a monumental performance of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4 in E-flat Major, the beloved “Romantic” Symphony. Inspired by images of medieval castles, hunts, forests and sweeping landscapes, this expansive masterpiece transports audiences through a richly imagined world of grandeur, mystery and triumph. Widely regarded as one of Bruckner’s most accessible and enduring works, his fourth symphony showcases the composer’s signature blend of soaring melodies, majestic brass writing and monumental architectural design. From its noble horn calls to its exhilarating finale, the work unfolds on an epic scale, revealing the emotional depth and spiritual power that have made Bruckner one of the great symphonic voices of the nineteenth century. Experience an unforgettable evening as the Symphony Orchestra brings this towering masterpiece to life, inviting audiences on a journey through one of the most compelling and evocative works in the orchestral repertoire. Program Anton BrucknerSymphony No. 4 in E-flat Major, WAB 104