649 Sunnyside Ave N
Seattle
WA 98103
Schumann’s piano music runs the gamut from unbridled exuberance to deep seriousness. In the extroverted “Carnival Jest from Vienna” he celebrates the musical possibilities of the newly-popular waltz, while having some fun at the expense of conservative Viennese taste. In “Scenes from Childhood” he turns inward, depicting events and feelings from the life of an obviously creative child (doubtless Schumann himself). Together, these pieces show how Schumann’s romantic piano music is playful, thoughtful, wonderful — and timeless.
Part piano performance, part exploration, this Concert Talk features UW Professor Emeritus Larry Starr and LMC Pianist Diana Gao, a dynamic duo whose interactive and illuminating presentations on Ravel, Chopin, Beethoven, and now Schumann have captivated Seattle audiences for several years and counting.
This event will be held at Good Shepherd Chapel, in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood.
Purchase Tickets
Tickets and more event details are found HERE. Tickets are $20 for General Admission, $15 for Students/guests 18 & under, $15 for Seniors, and $10 for LMC Members.
About the Presenters
Larry Starr holds the title Professor Emeritus of American Music Studies at the University of Washington School of Music, where he taught for more than four decades. He retired from university teaching in 2018, but he continues to speak on music at the Seattle Symphony (pre-concert talks), the Women’s University Club (Seattle), and now the Ladies’ Musical Club. He has written books on Charles Ives’s music, Aaron Copland’s songs, George Gershwin’s Broadway musicals, and most recently Listening to Bob Dylan, and is the coauthor of a textbook on American popular music. Larry’s advisees have gone on to distinguished careers in teaching, research, and arts administration—a noteworthy recent example being Whitney Henderson, LMC’s own Executive Director.
Diana Gao is a concert pianist, music advocate, and former corporate marketing leader. After a successful career managing product marketing strategies at Microsoft and Dell EMC, she has fully embraced her passion for music, dedicating herself to performance and artistic advocacy. She earned her MBA from the University of Washington (UW) in 2015 and continues to refine her piano skills under the tutelage of Dr. Robin McCabe from the UW School of Music.
Diana has garnered numerous accolades in prestigious competitions, including First Prize at the “Golden Classical Music Awards” International Competition, which led to a solo performance at Carnegie Hall, a Gold Medalist in the Seattle International Piano Competition, and an Honorable Mention recipient in the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition.
Her artistry has been showcased at renowned festivals such as Piano Texas International Festival, the Aloha International Piano Festival, and the Seattle Piano Institute. Her most recent orchestral engagement showcased her as the soloist in Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. She is an active member of the Ladies Musical Club of Seattle, regularly performing in public concert series, and has served as a jury member for the Frances Walton Competition. Beyond the stage, Diana serves as a Board Member of Classical KING FM 98.1 and is a frequent guest on its acclaimed show, Northwest Focus Live. Since 2020, she has presented annual fundraising recitals at Microsoft, raising tens of thousands of dollars to support local non-profit organizations—reinforcing her deep belief that music has the power to inspire change and make the world a better place.
Diana & Larry will be featured on Classical KING’s Northwest Focus Live on June 27th at 7pm.