The Rawlins Piano Guest Series hosts Robert Palmer

The Department of Music’s Rawlins Piano Guest Series hosted their fifth concert of the 2021-22 season with guest pianist Robert Palmer in the Colton Recital Hall on April 3. 

Palmer said his career spans the United States, Europe and Asia with solos, orchestral and chamber music appearances. Palmer continues to perform regularly throughout the United States mainly in major cities, he said. 

“Following my critically-acclaimed Carnegie Hall debut, I embarked upon a performing career that brought my artistry to many of the major concert halls in the United States and abroad. My performances have been broadcasted on National Public Radio and public television in the United States as well as in China, Japan, Korea, Spain and Taiwan,” Palmer said. 

Palmer mentioned he was a chamber musician who had been heard in recitals with other musicians from around the world. Palmer also teaches students and is a presenter of master classes with students who have been prize-winners in more than 125 state, national and international competitions. 

“I was in recitals with musicians from the Paris Conservatoire, the Metropolitan Opera Company, the Montreal Symphony, the New York Philharmonic and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and was a member of the American Piano Trio from 2000-2020,” Palmer said. “I also have a successful teaching career as a widely sought after adjudicator, clinician, presenter of master classes and lecturer.” 

Palmer said he performed music from four composers and that he chose this repertoire because he thought the audience would enjoy their style and music. He performed music from Chopin, Schubert, Brahms and Liszt.

“What I most enjoy about performing is sharing the great music we play with an audience. Music is such a powerful force that all people can relate to. These are four of the greatest composers who have ever lived and each one of them wrote numerous masterpieces,” Palmer said.

Alessandra Feris, the coordinator for the Rawlins Piano guest series, said not only does it involve in-house professors, but also guests, and the events are all open and free to the community. 

“We’re committed to bringing highly qualified guest artists to USD because we want to set very high standards for our students. So when we choose the guest artists, we aim very high so we bring only the best,” Feris said.