Reduced-Price Student Tickets Available for 'Philip Glass: Works for Piano' at Crystal Bridges

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Maki Namekawa, left, (photo courtesy of Andreas H. Bitesnich), Aaron Diehl (photo courtesy of John Abbott), Jenny Lin (Photo courtesy of Liz Linder.)

The Van Cliburn Concert Series' Philip Glass: Works for Piano, featuring Maki Namekawa, Aaron Diehl and Jenny Lin, takes place Thursday, Dec. 6 at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

Todd Shields, dean of the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, said that thanks to an ongoing partnership between Crystal Bridges and the University of Arkansas, students can now purchase discounted tickets for $10 for this evening of concert piano.

“We’re always excited to create new opportunities with our partner institutions, like Crystal Bridges, that benefit our students,” Shields said. “Our art and music students are often at the museum and attend these types of performances, but we want to make sure all students from across campus have the chance to experience live music from such virtuosos.”

The show, performed by three of today’s internationally acclaimed pianists on the museum’s exquisite Van Cliburn Steinway Piano, will be from 7 to 9 p.m.

Students are also invited to Culture Hour at Eleven before the show, where they can enjoy live music and exceptional prices on select food and drinks, including cocktails, from 5 to 7 p.m.

“We have a strong ongoing partnership with University of Arkansas, and now we’re proud to be able to offer student discounts for signature cultural events such as the Van Cliburn Concert Series,” said Beth Bobbitt, public relations director for Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

Bobbitt said that Philip Glass: Works for Piano is an all-Glass program featuring Philip Glass’s recent compositions for solo piano and new arrangements of his classic works, performed by:

• Maki Namekawa, who performs at international venues such as Carnegie Hall, Barbican Centre, Cité de la Musique Paris, and Concertgebouw Amsterdam. Her world premiere recording of Philip Glass's Complete Piano Etudes reached number 1 on the 2014 iTunes classical charts.
• Aaron Diehl, who is one of the most sought-after jazz virtuosos. A graduate of Juilliard, Diehl was named the 2011 Cole Porter Fellow by American Pianists Association, and in 2014, became the youngest ever Monterey Jazz Festival Commission Artist.
• Jenny Lin, who is a Steinway Artist and one of the most respected young pianists today. She joined Philip Glass in his ongoing world tour of The Etudes and Works for Piano and released the Complete Etudes for Piano in 2017 on the Steinway & Sons Label.

This event is open to the public, and tickets are $50 for general admission, $40 for museum members and $10 for students.

Register online or with museum guest services at 479-657-2335 to reserve your ticket now.

The Van Cliburn Concert Series Endowment Fund is supported by Kelly and Marti Sudduth, Reed and Mary Ann Greenwood, Ellis and Kay Melton, Chip and Susan Chambers and the William M. Fuller Foundation, with a special thanks to Tommy Smith and Steinway & Sons.