The 2013-2014 Blue Ridge Community College Concert Series will commence with a performance by pianist Yuri Chayama on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 7:30 p.m. in Thomas Auditorium.

The program will feature works by Haydn, Chopin, Liszt, Debussy and Toru Takemitsu.

Born in Yonago, Japan, Yuri Chayama has performed in the United States, Germany, France, Italy and Japan. She holds a masters degree from both the University of New Mexico and the Musikhochschule in Aachen, Germany; her doctorate is from the University of Arizona. Her teachers have included Hideo Abe, Michael Rische, Falko Steinbach and Paula Fan. Dr. Chayama received major prizes in the Competition Internationalé in New Mexico and the Ibla Music Competition in Italy; the renowned composer Dr. Kurt Schwaen awarded her the prize for Best Interpretation of his composition Nocturne Lugubre in Berlin in 2004.  Dr. Chayama’s recordings of Chopin, Liszt and Debussy have been heard on classical radio stations in the U.S. and Japan.

All concerts feature open (non-reserved) seating. Proceeds benefit the college’s Personal Enrichment Program. Thomas Auditorium is located in the Sink Building on BRCC’s Henderson County campus.

For more information, contact Martha Howell at 828-694-1743 or by email at marthah@blueridge.edu.

For more information, contact Kevin Ayesh at 828-694-1860.

– article submitted by Kevin Ayesh