Ben Holt Memorial Branch Presents Acclaimed Pianist Thomas Otten In Recital

BOWIE, Md. - Sept. 22, 2014 - PRLog -- On October 19 at 3:30 p.m., the Ben Holt Memorial Branch will open its 2014-2015 concert series by presenting acclaimed Pianist Thomas Otten in recital at the Fine and Performing Arts Center located at Bowie State University, 14000 Jericho Park Rd., Bowie, MD.  The recital will feature the piano etudes of African American contemporary composer Leslie Adams which was recently recorded by Otten at the request of Leslie Adams with Albany Records.   Tickets are available at the door for $25 regular admission, half price for children under age 18 and seniors 60+ years in age.  Free admission is available for the first 200 students with valid Bowie State University IDs.

“Leslie Adams’ style, though classically rooted, incorporates strong elements of jazz and pop music, giving it a crossover vibe that’s most engaging and very current/“hip” in feel ... We need music of our time with which people can connect on a personal, meaningful level – and Leslie’s music fits the bill in a big way,” said Thomas Otten.  “We are excited that our 2014-2015 season will debut with the wonderful and engaging music of Leslie Adams performed by such an extraordinary pianist as Dr. Otten,” said Pianist Karen Walwyn, Scholarship Chair for Ben Holt Memorial Branch.  This recital is the first of a series of concerts and events culminating in the 96^th National Convention of the National Association of Negro Musicians in July 2015, including the 2015 National Competition in Piano.   For more information, please visit http://www.dcnanm.org or e‑mail nanmdc.benholt@gmail.com.

ABOUT DR. THOMAS OTTEN

Pianist Thomas Otten, a California native born of German-American parents, has been hailed by the New York Times as “an extremely original player who puts a formidable technique at the service of his ideas.” He made his debut at age seventeen with the National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center, and has since developed a global profile, performing in Australia, Europe, the Caribbean, and throughout the U.S.  He has appeared in such venues as the Gasteig (Munich, Germany), St. Petersburg Conservatory (Russia), Teatro Nacional (Santo Domino, Dominican Republic), Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the National Press Club, the German Embassy, and as concerto soloist at the Chautauqua and Brevard Summer Festivals. His performances have been broadcast on both coasts, including WQXR New York, WGMS Washington, and KUSC Los Angeles.

Otten has been the recipient of numerous national and international prizes.  A student of master teachers John Perry, Nelita True, Barbara Lister-Sink, and Ylda Novik, he holds performance degrees from the University of Southern California (DMA, MM) and the University of Maryland, College Park (BM, summa cum laude). He has been on the faculties of the Saarburger Serenaden International Music Festival (Germany), the American Institute of Musical Studies (Austria), and the Kent/Blossom Festival in Ohio. He currently chairs the piano area at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he joined the faculty in 2002.  His debut CD, Tristan und Isolde:  Piano Transcriptions of Franz Liszt, was released by MSR Classics in 2005.  He recently released a premiere recording of Leslie Adams’ Piano Etudes, Part II on Albany Records.

ABOUT BEN HOLT MEMORIAL BRANCH

The Ben Holt Memorial Branch was founded in 2010 and incorporated in 2014 as a District of Columbia Metropolitan Branch of the National Association of Negro Musicians (NANM) in the memory of Washingtonian and Baritone Ben Holt.  In addition to supporting the mission of NANM, the Ben Holt Memorial Branch is organized to promote the love and appreciation of African American Music, the music of African descent, and the music of the classical European tradition.  The branch seeks to provide a national and international platform of exposure for musicians and music of African descent.  The Ben Holt Memorial Branch recently established its youth division to support and cultivate the talents of young musicians in the Washington, DC area.

ABOUT NANM

Founded in 1919, The National Association of Negro Musicians (NANM) is the country’s oldest organization dedicated to the preservation, encouragement, and advocacy of all genres of the music of African Americans. Since its inception, NANM has provided encouragement and support to thousands of African American musicians, many of whom have become widely respected figures in music and have contributed significantly to American culture and music history.   In July 2015, NANM will celebrate its 96^th National Convention in the Washington, DC area.