McPherson area piano students will be able to learn from world-class pianists Beatrice and Christina Long in a masterclass on Saturday, Feb. 24, at 10 a.m. at McPherson College’s Mingenback Theatre. The sisters perform together as The Long Duo, a highly acclaimed piano duo that will be in concert on Sunday, Feb. 25, at 4 p.m. in Mingenback Theatre as part of the Fern Lingenfelter Artist Series.
The masterclass is open to elementary through high school students who study with teachers who are members of the McPherson Area Piano Teachers League, an organization that promotes quality teaching and learning. The students will play a piano piece and then work with Beatrice and Christina in a master lesson format to take the piece to the next level of performance. Parents, family members, teachers, and other students will have the opportunity to observe and learn from what is being taught.
“We are so excited the Long Duo is offering this masterclass for local students,” said Dawn Ivers, McPherson piano instructor. “It will be a terrific benefit to the young musicians who perform, as well as the local students and community members who come to observe and learn more about what goes into a great piano performance.”
The masterclass and concert are free thanks to a generous commitment to McPherson College honoring Fern Lingenfelter, an alumna who taught piano in McPherson for many years. Her son, Steve Clark, established the fund that supports two annual music performances and encourages the college to provide learning opportunities for area students in addition to the performances. Working together, the college and the McPherson Area Piano Teachers League hope the masterclass will further a passion for the study of piano, much like Fern Lingenfelter did nearly 100 years ago.
“The masterclass with the Long sisters is a wonderful opportunity for our community,” said Brett Janssen, McPherson Area Piano Teachers league president, KMTA Immediate Past President. “It is an opportunity for our area piano students to receive a lesson from world-renowned pianists and for audience members to hear our local pianists and gain insight into musicianship ideas as they listen to the lesson on stage.”