THE SHANE LALANI CENTER FOR THE ARTS ANNOUNCES ANOTHER INSTALLMENT OF OUR MSU SCHOOL OF MUSIC AT THE SHANE CONCERT SERIES ON SUNDAY, APRIL 2 AT 3PM

This concert features Kenneth Christensen on piano and Julia Slovarp on cello.

MSU School of Music at the Shane is a series of concerts featuring faculty from the School of Music at Montana State University. Concerts take place in the Dulcie Theatre at the Shane Lalani Center for the Arts in Livingston. Concessions are available before the show. Doors open at 2:30; show begins at 3:00 pm. Tickets are $20/$15/$10 and are available at theshanecenter.org or by calling the Shane Center box office at 406-222-1420.

MSU School of Music at the Shane is generously sponsored by Carol Glenn & Sal Lalani.

Kenneth Christensen, nationally certified teacher of music and pianist, has appeared as a soloist and collaborative artist throughout his home state of Montana as well as the United States, Europe and Asia. His international performances include collaboration with composers and conductors John Rutter and the late Sir Richard Wilcox in performances at Kings College Chapel Cambridge, England and London’s Royal Albert Hall. Other international appearances include performances at the First American Invitational Music Festival in China and the Philippines and the Montana State University 2012 Alumni Chorale Tour of Italy, Switzerland and France. His academic achievements include receiving the prestigious “Award in Excellence in Teaching” while serving on the faculty at the School of Music at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. Mr. Christensen served as President for the Music Teachers National Association from 2013 to 2015 and received a Music Teachers National Association Foundation Fellow in the spring of 2017. Currently Mr. Christensen continues to remain active as a performer and serves as an Assistant Teaching Professor of Piano at Montana State University where his students continue to win state and regional competitions. In 2014 Mr. Christensen was awarded the Montana State Music Teachers Association “Teacher of the Year.” As a member of Music Teachers National Association Mr. Christensen travels the Pacific Northwest judging piano competitions as well as presenting workshops and master classes for students and teachers. In the fall of 1997 Mr. Christensen collaborated with pianist Liza Hella to form their piano duo “2 Pianos 4 Hand.” Together they concertized throughout the United States and performed their New York recital debut in April of 2006 at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. In early 2008 “2 Pianos 4 Hands” appeared on the Emmy Award winning Montana PBS television program “11th and Grant” with Eric Funk. Mr. Christensen earned a Bachelor of Music Degree from Montana State University and completed the Master of Music Degree in Piano Performance from the University of Montana.

Julia Slovarp, DMA is the Cello and Bass Professor at Montana State University. An active musician, she frequently presents chamber programs and is a member of the Bozeman Symphony and BRAVO! Big Sky Orchestras.  She has performed concert tours in Spain, Morocco, Ireland, the United States, and most recently, a piano trio tour of China with violinist Angella Ahn, pianist Julie Gosswiller, and conductor Tobin Stewart. In 2016, a Faculty Excellence Grant took her to France for research. Slovarp has been featured on the Emmy Award winning series 11th and Grant with Eric Funk, and has performed with contemporary groups including Willie Nelson. She is the Artistic Director of Noon Notes at the Library (dedicated to bringing chamber programs to children and new audiences), and is an active member of ASTA, NAfME, MTNA, and the Suzuki Association. Dr. Slovarp earned Bachelor and Masters degrees from Indiana University and a Doctor of Musical of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin, and has completed Suzuki and Mark O’Conner Teacher Training.  She has studied with cellists including Emilio Colón, Joshua Gindele, Janos Starker, Bion Tsang, and Tsuyosi Tsutsumi.