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POWELL, Wyo. - Northwest College pianist Tim Schoessler celebrates the merry, merry month of May with a 7:30 p.m. recital Friday, May 1, in the Nelson Performing Arts Center Auditorium.
He'll open the evening with Beethoven's Sonata No. 17 in D Minor. Nicknamed "The Tempest," this work features three movements, the first of which is marked by wild mood swings. Next, he'll take on Rachmaninoff's "Prelude in B Minor" and "Prelude in G# Minor," showcasing the composer's love of melodic lines and large, harmonically rich chords.
After an intermission, Schoessler returns with Schumann's "Carnaval." Written in 1835, "Carnaval" is a large set of 21 short pieces, each depicting a different character. They range from historical people and prominent literary and musical figures to Schumann's various alter egos. The set is tied together by several four-note themes that appear in each section.
Schoessler closes his program with "Toccata" by Sergei Prokofiev. Written when the composer was only 21, this work shows off a youthful, percussive style that's full of dissonance but pushes a rhythmic drive that never lets up as it builds to what Schoessler calls a "spectacular finish."
Schoessler holds a bachelor's degree in keyboard performance from the University of Wyoming where he studied piano with Theresa Bogard and organ with Steven Hoffman. He is currently completing his master's degree in keyboard performance.
By day, the multi-talented Schoessler is a pianist for the NWC Music Program. By night, he's a heavy metal guitarist in a group called Righteous Vendetta.