TribLocal.com: 'Oakton Six Piano Ensemble Performs April 16-17' in Scott Joplin's 'Maple Leaf Rag'

[ABOVE: Joplin Piano Rags; Roy Eaton, piano; Sony SBK 833 (1995) BELOW: “Members of the Six Piano Ensemble are (left to right): Garfield Sallman, Des Plaines; Lina Schaal, Manigirdas Motekaitis, Larry Baer, Adrian Metzger, Marianne Pyster, all from Chicago; and Beatriz Levi, Skokie. The ensemble’s founder and conductor is Glenna Sprague, Skokie (standing, center), professor and coordinator of music at Oakton” (Trib Local Des Plaines)]

AfriClassical has asked Prof. Glenna Sprague what music of Scott Joplin will be performed by the Six Piano Ensemble at Oakton Community College April 16 and 17, 2011. She has graciously replied, in part, “The ensemble is performing 'Maple Leaf Rag' by Scott Joplin.”

Trib Local Des Plaines

Arts

By Steve Repsys, Special to the Tribune

Friday April 1, 2011

“What has 528 keys? The internationally acclaimed Six Piano Ensemble! The ensemble performs two concerts of popular, classical, and ragtime selections, 8 p.m., Saturday, April 16, and 3 p.m., Sunday, April 17, at Oakton Community College, 1600 E. Golf Road, Des Plaines.

“The program features works by Bach, Mozart, Dvorak, Grieg, and Scott Joplin, all arranged for multiple keyboards by founder and conductor Glenna Sprague, professor and coordinator of music at Oakton. In addition, the ensemble welcomes renowned composer Robert Vandall, who will guest conduct Oakton Toccata, a composition he wrote for the group.” [Scott Joplin (1868-1917) was a Ragtime and Classical composer who is profiled at AfriClassical.com]

Comments by email:
(1) AND many thanks to you, Bill, for the wonderful publicity regarding the Oakton Six Piano Ensemble Concerts! Glenna (Prof. Glenna Sprague)

(2) I am so very happy to see this notice on AfriClassical. Glenna and I were colleagues at Oakton Community College. She often accompanied me. I was there from the beginning of the Six Piano Ensemble, and account it and its growth and success as one of my joys. Thanks, Bill. Gwen (Gwendoline Y. Fortune)

(3) This is very interesting. Are you aware of a work for six pianos and orchestra composed by the Ghanaian composer, Emanuel Gyimah Labi and premiered in England by 'Piano Circus' with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra? A later 3 piano version was performed in St Louis. Michael S. Wright