February 16, 1995
Internationally known pianist and composer, Karl Ulrich Schnabel, will coach one of SF State Music Department's top piano students, Elliott Dunlap, in a repertoire this Sunday.
In his second year studying piano at SF State, Dunlap, 21, has 10 years previous experience.
Being coached by a master, he said, will help him gain some special insight into piano playing.
Schnabel will critique Dunlap's performance of Beethoven's Opus Two No. 3, a piece from the classical era of music.
The Master Class was established by Schnabel to help musicians develop greater musical understanding.
According to Victoria Neve, a music department faculty member, Schnabel comes to San Francisco around February every year to coach musicians.
"It is also a way for SFSU students to see one of the greatest artists," Neve said. "He is such a sweet man; I've worked with him for five to six years ... every time he is in town I take a lesson with him."
Aside from being a critique, The Master Class is a way for students to participate in a public lesson, Neve said.
The Master Class will also help musicians learn to communicate the music to the audience in a greater capacity.
Neve, in addition to enjoying the performance, will be performing a duet, Mozart's Sonata in D Major for Two Pianos, with fellow faculty member Inara Morgenstern.
According to Neve, Schnabel, born in Berlin in 1909, is known for his classical and 18th and 19th century music.
Schnabel is also known for his duets with his father, Artur Schnabel, one of the greatest Beethoven interpreters that ever lived, Neve said.
In addition to coaching, Schnabel has performed as a soloist, chamber artist, and duo pianist throughout Europe, North and South America, Australia and New Zealand.
Sunday's Master Class is only one on a worldwide tour of hundreds of Master Classes that Schnabel has planned.
The class will begin at 2:30 p.m. in Knuth Hall, located inside the Creative Arts Building, and is being sponsored by the department of music and the San Francisco branch of the Music Teachers Association of California.
The admission fee for the event is $15. For tickets and information, call (415)905-6252 or (415)338-1431.