BBC Music Broadcaster Jeremy Siepmann to Lecture at New Paltz

NEW PALTZ — “Jeremy Siepmann considers musical theory is such a fresh and exciting way that even those without any musical interest whatsoever find themselves part of this man’s enthusiastic adventure. Suddenly a scale is no longer a scale but a fascinating ladder, its every rung a fresh excursion into the nature of sound.” -Listener response, Paris

(New Paltz, NY)–Renowned British musician, teacher, author, and broadcaster Jeremy Siepmann will lecture on “The Life and Times of the Piano” on Tuesday, October 19th at 8pm in McKenna Theatre, SUNY New Paltz. Tickets to the presentation are $6 general admission and $4 for senior citizens. Using live and recorded examples, “The Life and Times of the Piano” presents the history of the instrument with musical illustrations, high anecdotal content, and social observation. Siepmann’s lecture is designed to inform, to provoke, and to amuse in equal measure.

Jeremy Siepmann’s career as a broadcaster began in New York in 1963 with a radio series on the life and work of Mozart, described by Alastair Cooke as “the best music program on American radio.” Siepmann has devised, written, and presented more than 1,000 programs, including the international-award-winning series The Elements of Music. In 1988, he was appointed Head of Music at the BBC World Service, broadcasting to an estimated audience of 135 million. He left there in 1994 to form his own independent production company.

As a writer, Siepmann has contributed articles, reviews, and interviews to numerous journals and reference works including New Statesman, Music & Musicians, BBC Music Magazine, and The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians among others. His books include a widely acclaimed biography of Chopin, The Reluctant Romantic, two volumes on the history and literature of the piano, and a biography of Brahms, Everyman.

Tickets to this lecture are available in the McKenna Theatre lobby, one hour prior to the lecture. For additional information call 914-257-3872.