A weekend of piano – Graduate students Hector Landa and William Spannagel will each be performing a recital at the University of Oklahoma in Norman during the weekend of Apr. 22-23. Both are accomplished pianists and the best part is that you can hear their fine playing for free! Read more about their recitals below:

Hector Landa in Recital

About the pianist: Hector Landa is a candidate for the PhD degree in Music Education with an emphasis in Piano Pedagogy from OU. Originally from Puebla, Mexico, he has previous degrees from Puebla State Conservatory in Mexico and the North Carolina School of the Arts. A recipient of several creative projects and travel grants, Mr. Landa has recorded two studio compact discs as a collaborative pianist. He has been laureate in two major competitions in his home country, allowing him to perform extensively throughout Mexico. Having already toured Germany, Iceland, and Spain in 2006, Hector is planning a concert tour of Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium with a cellist for summer 2011.

Recital Program: This will be a chamber music recital, so Landa will be collaborating with other musicians. He will be playing Shostakovich’s Sonata for Cello and Piano Op. 40, Schumann’s Fantasiestücke Op. 73 and Piazzolla’s Le Grand Tango.

When and Where: Friday April 22, 2011 at 8:00 P.M., in the Morris R. Pitman Recital Hall* 

William Spannagel in Recital

About the pianist: William Spannagel is a 2006 graduate of Cameron University with a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance and Instrumental Music Education.  He studied piano with Dr. Hyunsoon Whang.  In 2007, he graduated from Cameron with a Master of Arts degree in Teaching.  During his time at Cameron, Spannagel was the recipient of the PLUS Scholarship, was consistently named to the President’s List, was one of CU’s Top 20 Students, and was awarded the Presser Award, Cameron’s top music scholarship.  Mr. Spannagel is pianist at Lawton Heights Methodist Church, and teaches music at Hugh Bish Elementary in Lawton. He is President of Lawton Music Teachers Association, a member of Oklahoma Music Teachers Association and is a nationally certified teacher of music (NCTM).  Spannagel is currently a student at the University of Oklahoma, where he is working towards a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance, studying piano with Dr. Jeongwon Ham.

Recital Program: Spannagel will be playing Schubert’s Wanderer Fantasy, Mozart’s Fantasy in C Minor, and Balakirev’s Islamey.

When and Where: Saturday, April 23, 2011 at 4:00 PM, in Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall*

*Both Pitman Recital Hall and Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall are located in Catlett Music Center at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. Directions can be found here.