The McNeese State University department of performing arts will present a three-day Amerinnovations Piano Workshop from Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 11-13, in Ralph Squires Recital Hall. The workshop will feature a guest recital, masterclasses, private lessons and a student recital.

The Amerinnovations workshop is unique because of its focus on music written in the past 50 years. According to Christy Vogt, assistant professor of piano at McNeese, contemporary American composers have focused on writing innovative music using extended techniques to produce new sounds.

“During this workshop, audiences will hear the beautiful and different music produced by these extended techniques, such as strumming and plucking the strings inside the piano,” Vogt said.

The Amerinnovations Piano Workshop will begin with a guest artist recital featuring David Friend at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11. Friend, a Lake Charles native and former student of Dorothy Sahlmann, is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music. Admission for the guest recital is $5 and open to the public.

Masterclasses with McNeese piano students will be held from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12. Private lessons will continue on Saturday.

The three-day workshop will conclude with an Amerinnovations student recital at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13. Admission for the student recital is $5 and open to the public.

For more information on the Amerinnovations Piano Workshop, contact Vogt at >337-475-5038 or email cvogt@mcneese.edu.