Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Associate Vice President, Marketing Communications, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

8/31/09
Story by Peggy Graham

Concert pianist Richard Cass plays Ruel Joyce Recital

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Concert pianist Richard Cass will play in recital  at noon Monday, Sept. 28, in Yardley Hall of the Carlsen Center, Johnson County Community College, as part of the Ruel Joyce Recital Series, free concerts featuring Kansas City classical musicians.

Cass is well known in Kansas City for his reputation as a teacher at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, where he is now a professor emeritus. He continues his performing career with recitals, concertos with orchestra, recordings, chamber music and residencies at prominent universities and conservatories. He is featured in Ben Saver's book, The Most Wanted Piano Teachers in the USA, and is the recipient of numerous awards and citations.

A native of Greenville, S.C., Cass graduated summa cum laude from Furman University, where he majored in music and French. Later he studied as a Fulbright scholar at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris. Cass is a Steinway Artist.

The Ruel Joyce Recital Series continues at noon Mondays in the Recital Hall, except as noted:

Oct. 5   Tamamo Gibbs, violin
Oct. 12  Don Lipovac, accordion
Oct. 19  Duo Solo — Mary Kirkendoll, flute; Mike Kirkendoll, piano
Oct. 26  Nathanael May, piano
Nov. 2   Mark Gibbs, cello, Yardley Hall
Nov. 9   Jeff Harshbarger, bass, and  guests, Yardley Hall

The series, named for Ruel Joyce, a longtime jazz bassist who headed the local musicians’ federation from 1977 until his death in 1989, is cosponsored by the JCCC music departments, Community Services and the Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts. Seating is available first-come, first-served.

For more information, call 913-469-8500, ext. 3605.

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