William Joseph
With over 20 years of classical piano training and practical experience, the young William Joseph has become one of the most sought after pianists on the stages of the world. Discovered by legendary producer David Foster, Joseph has mastered the art of bridging his classical training with melodies from contemporary artists to form a fresh take on instrumental popular music. David Foster says, “William is a breath of fresh air and brings new meaning to the old style of instrumental music.”
As a child, Joseph quickly learned to bang out the theme from "Fraggle Rock" on a toy piano after watching the show on television. Later he studied Chopin and Rachmaninoff with Russian piano master Stella Saperstein. Joseph says “I was blessed to have her as my teacher form age 5 to 18… she was like a second mother to me.”
Joseph’s musical influences run the gamut from Chopin to Pink Floyd. He describes many of his songs as "cinematic, like the soundtrack to an epic film that has yet to be made." Joseph does not just play the piano with his fingers; he plays with his entire body. One foot pushes down on the pedal, while the other keeps time with the music; his head nods along with the beat of the drums, and his entire body rocks back and forth, feeling the music down to the core of his soul. He is a true performer. "I absolutely love playing in front of an audience," Joseph says.
Professional experiences have taken Joseph all around the world and he has played with some of the most noted artists of our day. Joseph has performed for former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, composed music for Celine Dion and has appeared alongside artists like Andrea Bocelli & Michael Bublé as part of the PBS special “David Foster and Friends”.
For 2 nights, Friday December 12th and Saturday December 13th, Joseph will bring his talent to the stage of the DSU Cox Performing Arts Center. The concert will feature some of Joseph’s biggest hits, including his instrumental version of the mega-hit “Radioactive”. He will perform backed by the Dixie State Symphony Orchestra (DSSO), to produce a powerful instrumental odyssey that is sure to inspire audiences of all ages. DSSO Director, Dr. Paul Abegg says that performing with William Joseph will be a treasured experience for his student musicians. The concert will feature both popular and holiday compositions, with DSSO performing their traditional holiday piece “Twas The Night Before Christmas” which will be narrated by new DSU First Lady, Kristin Williams.
The concert is made possible by a generous sponsorship by SunRiver St. George. Nice Dress is suggested for this concert.
Date and Time
Friday Dec 12, 2014 Saturday Dec 13, 2014
Friday, December 12 - 7:30 p.m. Saturday, December 13 - 7:30 p.m.
Location
Cox Performing Arts Center
Fees/Admission
General $20 Youth $15 DSU Student $5
Contact Information
Mary Stephenson
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