Above: Phoebe Wu, a Chicago pianist, is touring Southeast Alaska. In this photo, she plays “A Summerfield Set” composed by Lou Harrison. (Photo credit Jasz Garrett)
By Jasz Garrett
Juneau, Alaska (KINY) – Phoebe Wu returned to Sitka for the first stop of a concert series tour, where they previously taught piano lessons in 2019 at the Sitka Fine Arts Camp. Currently, they are a co-founder and piano teacher at Chicago Piano & Drums in the Avondale neighborhood.
After playing in Sitka, she came to Juneau for the first time to play at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center.
Each piece played in Wu’s set, titled “No Longer Very Clear”, varies from each other, blending classical traditions and modern takes.
“I intend this concert to be for anybody. Can be people who are well-versed in this kind of music. It’s kind of niche though,” Wu said. “It’s meant for people who love classical music but aren’t as familiar with the modern stuff. And it’s meant for people who don’t usually listen to classical music too.”
The concert is part of the Con Brio Chamber Series, and it’s funded by a grant from the Robert Turnbull Piano Foundation.
Their next two stops include Skagway on Oct. 19 and Haines on Oct. 21.
“I’m excited to see all these places and connect with the community,” she said.
Wu also highlighted two of their favorite pieces in “No Longer Very Clear”.
“The opening piece is called ‘A Summerfield Set’ by Lou Harrison and it’s a really strange mix of sounds that remind you of very old classical music and very new sounds that might be strange at first but hopefully intriguing,” she said. “It’s kind of inspired by older, a few 100 years ago, classical music. Then the second one I want to highlight is the last piece which is ‘Sonata Andina’ by Gabriela Lena Frank, who is a living composer. She lives in California and she mixes Andean folk music traditions with Western classical music.”
Wu also brings new works to life through collaborations with composers, musicians, dancers, choreographers, and performance artists.
“I really want people to just come in and experience it for what it is. Your life experience informs how you take in music, just as much as what you might read or learn throughout your life,” Wu said.
