Some of West Virginia University’s most talented musicians will showcase their skills during the Curiosity Series Faculty Showcase on March 19.

The WVU School of Music prides itself on its cultivation of a vibrant community of musicians and scholars who engage in research and creative activity in the fields of music performance and improvisation, composition, music-teacher education, theory, musicology, music therapy, technology, and industry. While the world-class faculty usually stand back and let students shine, the Faculty Showcase gives faculty the opportunity to show-off. 

The Showcase will open with Christine Mazza on harp performing Scandinavia by Monica Stadler. On piano, Konstantinos Valianatos will perform Estampes from Claude Debussy. Entanglement from Ryan Hare will be played by Lynn Hileman, bassoon. Ching-Wen Hsiao and Valianatos, piano four-hands, will be performing Hungarian Dances by Johannes Brahms and Sabre Dance by Aram Khachaturian.

Mir Ist So Wunderbar from Fidelio, Ludwig van Beethoven’s only opera, will be brought to life by Laura Knoop Very as Marzelline; Robert Chafin as Jachino; Hope Koehler as Fidelio and Leonora; William Koehler as Rocco; and James Kenon Mitchell on piano. 

Rounding out the program will be Joel Diegert on saxophone and Sun Jung Lee on piano performing Sonatine by Maurice Ravel.

The WVU Curiosity Series Faculty Showcase will be held at 8 p.m. March 19 in Bloch Hall. The event is free and open to the public.