The Studio presented the 19^th annual Family & Friends Duet Recital on Saturday, February 28, 2009.  The following article was featured in the Harlan Daily Enterprise, as a prelude to this special event.

News Release:  February 25, 2009 to Harlan Daily Enterprise

      Music of many instruments and voices will resound in Harlan on Saturday, February 28, as The Studio of Piano Fine Arts presents the annual Family & Friends Duet Recital.  Violins, cellos, piano, guitars and voices will join together in fun and exciting arrangements of tunes new and old.  This year’s recital will offer many original arrangements and compositions.  Clara Atkins-Pope, Pat McClung, Victoria Smith, Justin Taylor and Matus Betko will present students in three recitals this day:  2:00, 4:30 and 7:00.  All performances will be held in the SKCTC Harlan campus auditorium. 

      Founded by Clara Atkins-Pope in 1980, the Studio of Piano Fine Arts is a unique institution in the mountains of Southeast Kentucky.  A recipient of two Individual Artist Grants from the Kentucky Arts Council, Pope has striven to make private and group music instruction a reality for people who crave the ability to perform and enjoy music at their own levels, in their own lives.  To reach this goal, an Apprenticed Teacher and College Intern Program was begun in 1996.  This has grown to accommodate and train several Associate Teachers, all of whom are instructed in a specific curriculum of music theory, technique and performance repertoire, which brings solidarity and strength to the programs the Studio supports.  A strong emphasis on theory, memorization and performance technique makes the students who come through the studio very successful in college and university music classes.  This success often translates into scholarship money to help with college expenses.  Among four studio students who continued to study music as a major or minor in college, well over $60,000.00 in financial aid and scholarship money was awarded to them over the course of their four year degree.  This underscores the fact that higher education values music education; and deems it necessary for a balanced and forward thinking society to support and encourage young musical artists in their quest for knowledge and creative expression.  Such support translates into financial achievement and reward for well prepared young musicians.  The instruction of music theory, technical expertise and solid performance practice is done with an eye toward the individual creativity of each student; giving a special note of awareness to the talent and extraordinary musical impulses of each pupil. 

      Within the studio, each teacher brings a very special character and energy into our musical office space.  Justin Taylor, working first as an apprenticed teacher, a college intern, and now as an Associate Teacher, continues to endear himself to the students he teaches.  Working primarily with piano and guitar students on a very limited basis while finishing his Bachelor and Master degrees,  Justin continues to encourage and instruct his beginning students in a way that is both enlivening and solidly musical.  He enjoys working with students who are inspired inwardly to learn and achieve.  Taking only a handful of students with whom to work this year, Justin is also very busy with his  musical compositions for “Higher Ground II,” which will premiere in April 2009. 

      Pat McClung continues to inspire confidence and solid musical training into her young piano students.  Each week in her curriculum class Pat expresses her delight with special comments and achievements made by her students.  She enjoys the organized, progressive instruction that the Studio curriculum expounds, and is very good at relaying this into her students’ young minds.  Among other duets that Pat and students will perform at the Saturday recital, will be “Sleeping Beauty Waltz,” by Tchaikovsky and “Country Gardens,” an English folk tune, both arranged for piano, four hands. In addition to her love of music, Pat is an avid quilter and seamstress; attending many workshops and winning awards with her beautiful patchwork creations. 

      Victoria Smith has been a student with the Studio of Piano Fine Arts since she was four years old.  Now a College Intern, Victoria is introducing young students to the joys of piano and classical guitar.  Very talented musically, Victoria has excelled in her personal studies, enjoying specifically the challenges of  performing works by J.S. Bach; Mozart, Clementi and Beethoven; as well as elegant hymn arrangements that she occasionally performs in church.  Victoria will present several students in recital on Feb. 28.  Among the pieces that will be performed will be arrangements from Walt Disney production favorites such as  “Kiss the Girl,” from the  The Little Mermaid; and “Be Our Guest,” from Beauty and the Beast. 

      The newest member of the Studio team of teachers is Matus Betko.  A native of Slovakia, Betko is an extraordinary musician, conservatory and university trained.  His resume boasts major concert performances across Western and Eastern Europe with major symphony orchestras.  One of his earliest recordings was with conductor Keith Brion, as solo flautist with the Razumovsky Symphony Orchestra.  Titled John Phillip Sousa “On Stage,” this CD recording can be purchased on Amazon.com as a CD or an MP3 download.  An exciting and energetic teacher, Betko has worked diligently to bring out the personalities of each of his students for the February 28^th recital.  Among compositions that he has arranged with his students for this recital are:  “The River Flows in You,” from the movie Twilight, for piano and flute;   “Andrew’s Piece,” a jazz inspired work for piano and flute; “Up and UP” by Reliant K for piano, guitar, voice and flute; and a medley of favorite pop tunes, brought in by a teenage student, which Betko has masterfully strung together into a unique and exciting piano solo with flute.   Betko and Pope will also perform together a piece written in late summer 2008.   A jazz inspired work, Betko captures an energy of joy and exhilaration, displayed in the whirling notes of flute and piano as they intermingle. 

Pat McClung & Emily Landis
Associate Teacher Pat McClung and piano student Emily Landis prepare for the upcoming Family & Friends Duet Recital.  Emily's selection is "Some Day," a jazz harmony piece which will be performed on piano, four hands.

Associate Teacher Justin Taylor instructs beginning guitar student Hannah Sturgill in the fine points of music performance, as she prepares her recital selection "Bingo," arranged for two guitars

Master Instructor Clara Atkins-Pope works with cello student Bradley Thomas in preparation for the upcoming recital.  Bradley's selection will be "Hunter's Chorus," by Weber.

College Intern Victoria  Smith coaches student Mason Miller as he prepares a left-handed selection for the recital.  Mason recently broke his right arm during a sports  practice, and therefore must perform a left-handed only selection, which will become piano, three hands, as Victoria accompanies him.      

Associate Teacher Matus Betko prepares with Taylor Ragg for their upcoming performance.  Betko is the newest member of the Studio of Piano Fine Arts teaching team.  Betko has performed extensively with orchestras throughout Eastern and Western Europe.  He is currently teaching piano and flute at the studios in Harlan and Leslie Counties.

Students from across the county will be performing in this special recital, celebrating the joy of making music together with friends and family.  The public is invited to attend the 2:00, 4:30 and 7:00 recitals.  All will be held in the SKCTC Harlan Campus auditorium.  Admission is $10 adults; no charge students and children under 18.  For more information please contact the Studio of Piano Fine Arts at 573-4994 or visit our websites at www.pianofinearts.com  and www.pmpublishing.net