Once again, First Covenant Chuch welcomes Pi-Ju Chiang to our Sunday music ministry.

Pi-Ju is a very accomplished Pianist from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Her style and skill is indeed a gift to behold.

...This just in from the FCC News Desk

April 14th, 2008.

Approximately 80 people were witnesses to one of the best kept secrets in Northeast Ohio yesterday; Our annual free Spring Concert!!

Those in attendance were treated to amazing music and song by Staff and Students of the Cleveland Institute of Music, and Andrea Schulz, our good friend and "resident" Classical/Opera Vocalist.

The highly skilled musicians were:

Pi-Ju Chiang on Piano

Yun-Ting Lee on Violin

Chia-Ling Chien on Cello

The program opened with Pi-Ju and Yun-Ting performing an excerpt of one of Mozart's great pieces of music.

Andrea then sang "Pie Jesu" and "Widmung" which covered the famous Opera "Requiem" and a composition by Robert Schumann.

Following that, Pi-Ju and Chia-Ling played an absolutely beautiful Sonata written for Cello and Piano. Chia-Ling is a beautifully emotional player, and her facial expressions often show an intense concentration, even a touch of sadness, that seems to perfectly match the somber Cello sounds.

Once again, Andrea took the stage and showed incredible diversity and variety with the songs "Ma Poupee Cherie" (french) by de Severac, followed by an older, traditional spiritual song "On Ma Journey".

When the audience had regained their breath, the entire Instrumental Trio performed a piece written by a local composer, which featured pleasant sounds working together in harmonious precision.

Our guest Vocalist finished her set with "O Mio Babbino Caro", an Aria from Puccini's Gianni Schicci Opera, and finished with a rousing performance of the familiar song "Granada" a 1932 Latin number written by Augustin Lara.

Andrea's worldly musical journey took the audience by the hand, heart and ear to Italy, France, Spain, Germany, and North America.

And finishing off this glorious evening of music was Pi-Ju and Yun-Ting performing several movements of the famous "Carmen Fantasie".

This finale selection alone was worth the drive from anywhere!

The piece was written as a Virtuoso Showpiece for violin and orchestra, and is widely considered to be one of the most difficult pieces in the violin repetoire.

Pi-Ju, who is a world-class Piano Accompanist and on staff at the Institute, provided the solid and intricate foundation on grand Piano, as Yun-Ting pulled out all the stops, and showed absolute brilliance and top-level skill on his instrument. As the piece progressed towards the climax, Yun-Tings fingers moved around the fingerboard of his violin with such fury and precision, the human eye literally could not follow!

And as a fitting end to this gift of music and song, all four artists received a long, well deserved standing ovation from the appreciative gathering.

If you missed this unforgettable evening, don't worry! First Covenant Church is dedicated to bringing this caliber of music to the community on a regular basis. Watch for future announcements on this site, as well as in the local paper, and don't miss our next program!!