World-Renowned Pianist Andrew von Oeyen Begins Residency at Pepperdine University

September 7, 2023 – Malibu, CA – Pianist Andrew von Oeyen will be in residence at Pepperdine University September 24–28, 2023. Beginning with his dynamic program "Angels and Demons" on Sunday, September 24, von Oeyen will guest teach a piano master class, chamber music class, and various engaging activities with Pepperdine students, concluding in a concert with the Pepperdine Orchestra on Thursday, September 28. 

"We are delighted that Andrew is coming to Pepperdine to share his artistry and expertise with our students," said divisional dean and professor of theatre Bradley Griffin. "Like many of my colleagues and students, I watched Andrew's 'live on Zoom' CFA concert from Paris during the pandemic, and even then, I looked forward to the day when I could hear him perform in person." 

Pepperdine faculty and staff initially scheduled von Oeyen's residency for fall 2020 but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the community's inability to gather in person, on October 11, 2020, von Oeyen treated Pepperdine faculty, staff, students, and friends to a virtual performance recorded in Paris and a live question and answer session. 

Welcoming his triumphant post-lockdown return in Raitt Recital Hall, the September 24 program "Angels and Demons" "explores the heavenly and diabolical in music," says von Oeyen, "its saints and sinners, both literally and figuratively. . . . In fact, it's often at those blurry intersections of good and evil, ascent and descent, spirituality and sensuality, where music is its most divine." This repertoire includes: 

• Bach/Busoni: “Nun komm’ der Heiden Heiland,” BWV 659
• Bach: French Suite No. 5 in G Major, BWV 816 
• E. MacDowell: Rhapsodie: In ritmo tenebre (“Lasciate ogni speranza Voi ch’entrate” Dante-Inferno) from First Modern Suite
• Liszt: Mephisto Waltz No. 1, S. 514
• Massenet/von Oeyen: Méditation from Thaïs
• Saint-Saëns: Danse Bacchanale from Samson et Dalila, transcribed for piano by the composer
• Messiaen: Vingt Regards XX - Regard de l'Église d’amour

In concert on Thursday, September 28, at Smothers Theatre, von Oeyen will guest conduct from the piano with Pierre Long-Tao Tang, director of the Pepperdine Orchestra, featuring student concerto winners Yulbee Shin on violin and Edward Lee on cello. The repertoire includes:

• Sibelius: Movement I from Violin Concerto
• Elgar: Movement I from Cello Concerto
• Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor”
• Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue

"The Pepperdine University Orchestra is excited to welcome the reputed Andrew von Oeyen as guest pianist and conductor," said Tang. "He will rehearse, coach, and direct us from the piano. This type of collaboration is completely new to us, and we are eager to take on this challenge. Also, we are featuring two of our student concerto competition winners. These student winners will have a chance to learn invaluable concerto performing skills from Mr. von Oeyen. Many of us attended Mr. von Oeyen's virtual recital at Pepperdine two years ago and are excited to finally see him in action!"

Purchase tickets online at arts.pepperdine.edu/events or by calling our Box Office at 310.506.4522 from noon to 5 PM, Tuesday through Friday, and two hours prior to curtain time. Subscribers receive a 10 percent discount on the best seats and exchanges without fees. The Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts is on the Pepperdine University campus at 24255 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, CA. Parking is available during performances next to Smothers Theatre for a fee and in the Theme Tower lot with a shuttle service at no charge. 

About The Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts
Delighting more than 50,000 patrons and participants annually with live performances, art exhibitions, and local outreach opportunities, the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts serves as a hub for the arts on Pepperdine University’s Malibu campus, uniquely linking professional guest artists with Pepperdine students as well as patrons from surrounding Southern California communities. Three performance spaces, including the 450-seat Smothers Theatre, the 124-seat Raitt Recital Hall, and the “black box” Lindhurst Theatre, host hundreds of performances, rehearsals, and master classes throughout the year. The Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art, a dynamic, two-story exhibition space, showcases a revolving selection of modern and contemporary art with a focus on art made in California.

Media Assets
Download a photo of Andrew von Oeyen 1 | 2
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Additional photos available upon request

 

Media Contact

Ericka Sherrill
Marketing and Publicity Manager, Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts
ericka.sherrill@pepperdine.edu
310.506.4055