The rolling stones of Susan Stubson

by Christi Marsico
Tuesday, October 2, 2007 1:53 PM MDT

ARTCORE presents Susan Stubson's “Look & Listen,” a performance featuring a collaboration of senses, on Sunday, Oct. 7.

The 4 p.m. concert will be at First United Methodist Church, 302 E. Second St.

Stubson's presentation includes the introduction of James Przygocki, playing the viola, and the works of local artist Jim Kopp.

"As a pianist, I wanted to do something different, and I felt like Jim Kopp's artwork was the most pliable because his works are a burst of color," Stubson said.

Kopp's corresponding pieces will be presented while Przygocki and Stubson play works by Brahms, Prokofieff and especially Scriabin, a Russian composer who believed music is a multi-sensation experience.

Being a sixth generation Wyomingite, Stubson's love for the West runs almost as deep as her passion for playing the piano, which has brought experiences to her as an artist, wife and mother of two.

At the age of 8, she began her formal piano studies and quickly developed an affinity for classical music and performance.

Stubson went on to earn her Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance from the University of Colorado, Boulder, during which time she also won the hallowed Fiske Competition for four consecutive years.

A regional finalist for the Music Teachers National Association, Stubson traveled with the Dallas Brass, performing Gershwin's “Rhapsody in Blue.”

Stubson received a Master’s of Music degree in performance and literature from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y.

Career changes

She moved to New York City to work as a freelance pianist for the Orchestra of Saint Luke, among other various classical music organizations. That experience was stressful, yet very fulfilling, she said.

According to Stubson, "My first year in New York was interesting because I played for everything and anything and met incredible people; I played for great artists of our time."

While working as a vocal coach and rehearsal pianist at the Juilliard School of Music, Stubson saw "students who were incredible and right on the cusp of their careers," as well as made ties to the Metropolitan Opera.

"People would literally come from all over the world, and you knew for this singer (that) this was a culmination of their life's work," Stubson said in regard to her experiences as an accompanist.

While at the Metropolitan Opera, Stubson also worked as tenor Nico Castel's assistant where the most challenging things, Stubson said, were working in different languages while maintaining an extremely high level of playing for people who were at the top of their game.

Despite all of these accolades, Stubson felt unhappy and unfulfilled while living in New York then.

She left New York to pursue a degree in law and returned to Wyoming where she met her husband, Tim, while attending law school.

Soon after, they moved to Casper where she practiced law for several years before retiring to practice the art of motherhood.

"Casper's community is what I love about where I live. We've managed to surround ourselves with incredible people," Stubson continued.

"I love to play the piano and as a solo artist, you don't always have the chances, so this is a privilege."

Tickets are $12 for adults, $11 for seniors, $6 for students and school teachers and $4 for children 12 and under.

Tickets are available at the Simply Shelia, Hill Music, the Shade Tree, Sonic Rainbow and Ayres Jewelry Co.

For more information, log on to www.artcorewy.com, or call 265-1564.

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