Secretary of State Tom Schedler, the Friends of LSEM and Willis Knighton Health System announce the dedication of the East Wing Auditorium in honor of pianist Van Cliburn on January 24, 2016. The Shreveport Symphony and Noel Foundation will sponsor a Chamber Music concert at 3pm. An artist’s reception will follow the concert and light refreshments will be served.
The Noel Foundation, Inc. Chamber Music Series brings together the talents of world-class guest artists with the top Shreveport Symphony musicians in intimate musical settings. For the Inauguration of the Van Cliburn Auditorium in the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum, the international guest artists will be Stanislav Khristenko and Tomer Gewirtzman performing Solo and Piano 4-hands. Both musicians are winners of the Wideman Competition, which brings to Shreveport an incredibly talented group of pianists to compete, and many winners have attained great careers. Symphony Music Director Michael Butterman and violinist Jennifer Carsillo will also perform on the program.
Over the last four years, the state has recently completed an extensive refurbishment of the East Wing Auditorium. Renovations began with replacement of the ceiling tiles, which were collapsing, then painting, carpeting, new curtain and re-sanding the wood stage. The most extensive work included updated lighting and refinishing every chair back and new upholstery for 325 seats.
A Shreveport native, Harvey Lavan Cliburn, Jr. Van Cliburn won the first Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow in 1958. He achieved international recognition for bridging the gap in Russian and American relations during the Cold War.