Classical and jazz pianist virtuosos join for Piano in the Arts concert on Georgia Southern’s Armstrong Campus

February 27, 2019

Renowned classical pianist and artistic director of Piano in the Arts Ben Warsaw, DMA, left, and jazz pianist virtuoso Joe Alderman will perform together for Piano in the Arts’ final concert of the season on March 3.

Renowned classical pianist Benjamin Warsaw, DMA, assistant professor of music on Georgia Southern University’s Armstrong Campus, and jazz pianist virtuoso, Joe Alterman, will join for a mixed-genre Piano in the Arts concert series performance, “Crossroads, Jazz Meets Classical.” The event will be held on March 3 at 3 p.m. in the Fine Arts Auditorium on the Armstrong Campus in Savannah.  

Warsaw, a classical pianist, composer, teacher, accompanist and the artistic director of Piano in the Arts, performs solo and ensemble concerts throughout North America and Europe. Named the Georgia Music Teachers Association’s 2017 composer of the year, Warsaw has performed original compositions for President Jimmy Carter at the Carter Center and been featured on NPR.

Alterman, widely regarded as one of jazz’s most prodigious talents today, has released four critically acclaimed albums and performed to packed houses at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Birdland, Blue Note and jazz festivals around the world. Fittingly, jazz authority Nat Hentoff said that Alterman “represents the past, present and future of jazz,” and “he’d be able to hold his own even with greats like Parker, Gillespie, Monk and Davis.”

The pianists have been friends for years and believe that the audience will benefit from their established rapport, as they offer an energetic performance meant to dispel preconceived notions of classical and jazz music.

“Being able to play with a friend is always exciting because there is different energy on stage,” Warsaw said. “The shared energy makes for a more familiar performance.”

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit georgiasouthern.edu/armstrongtickets.

Piano in the Arts is devoted to providing world-class concert performances and learning opportunities for Armstrong Campus students outside of the traditional classroom. “Crossroads, Jazz Meets Classical” is the last concert of the Piano in the Arts season.

Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers 141 degree programs serving nearly 26,500 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.