Pianist Joyce Yang hears AND sees musical notes.  She brings her talent and inspiration to The Firestone Theater for a student performance on September 15th.

From Kerry Clawson's Akron Beacon Journal profile of Ms. Yang:

"Her visual imagery process, which features variously colored circles, inspired three visual art students at Firestone High School to create a project of their own. Facilitated by art teacher Patrick Dougherty, the three seniors created a four-panel Asian screen in varying pastel backgrounds with cherry tree branches stretched across the panels and vibrantly colored circles in yellow, red and blue as well as yellow dashes where cherry blossoms would be.

Seniors Camille Harper, Sandra Diego and Maria Manuel spent three weeks last spring on the work, with Harper creating a pastel blue panel, Manuel a pink panel and Diego a purple panel. All three collaborated on a green panel.

They used parts of old musical scores as the background for the extended branches, painting over them in oil to create a wood look. The students’ Asian-style screens are a nod to Yang’s South Korean heritage.

“It’s a chance to explore Eastern art. When you teach, it’s always the Western tradition,’’ Dougherty said Tuesday at Firestone.

The project is part of a continued collaboration between Tuesday Musical and Firestone High School that’s tied to the world-class musicians that the series brings to Akron. Past projects include an M.C. Escher-inspired four-panel painting paired with a concert by the organization’s quartet in residence, Escher String Quartet; and a bas-relief sculpture inspired by Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Project."

Photo Credit: Phil Masturzo