Pianist Awadagin Pratt Conducts Beethoven from the Bench

Pianist Awadagin Pratt was the first student in the Peabody Conservatory's history to receive diplomas in piano, violin and conducting. 

This weekend, internationally renowned piano soloist Awadagin Pratt will bring all of his conducting and performance knowledge to bear during the Eastern Music Festival Finale concert featuring the Eastern Festival Orchestra and Chorus. Awadagin will conclude his five-week residency at EMF with a performance of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No.1 that he'll be simultaneously conducting from the piano bench.

Saturday night's concert begins at 8:00 PM in Aycock Auditorium on the UNCG campus. Also on the program will be Gustav Mahler's monumental Symphony No. 2 (Resurrection), conducted by EMF Music Director Gerard Schwarz.