A Concert to Remember

On Friday, May 19, Arts for Rural Texas gathered at the ARTS Ross Gallery located on the Fayetteville, Texas Town Square to celebrate classical piano with two young pianists from Baylor University. The evening kicked off with wine service and a light reception at 6:30 pm as citizens from around the region gathered to enjoy the evening of music.

Christie Pollard, Baylor University graduate of the class of 2023 began the evening with selections by Franz Schubert, Franz Liszt, and Sergei Prokofiev. Christie’s performance was both Feroce (Italian for “Fierce”) and Poetico (Italian for Poetic,) which were also the names of two of the movements in her Prokofiev selection. Christie is a native of Brenham, Texas, where she began taking piano lessons at age 5 under the instruction of Mr. John Dujka. She graduated from Brenham High School. Miss Pollard then attended Baylor University where she obtained her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance this past spring. Christie will return to Baylor in the fall of 2023 to pursue her master’s degree in Piano Pedagogy and Performance.

Miles Gillette took the bench following Christie, with nocturnes and ballades by Frederic Chopin, Claude Debussy, Ottorino Respighi, and Franz Liszt. As a rising senior at Baylor University, Miles demonstrated an incredible mastery of technique, control, and expressive passion. Miles is a graduate of Fayetteville ISD where he began his study of piano at age 6, also under the instruction of Mr. John Dujka, who received a special recognition on Friday evening for his role in inspiring these two artists. Young Mr. Gillette performed his first recital at age 10 in the ARTS Ross Gallery so many years ago, making the evening a very special homecoming for him and his family who were in attendance.

“We love to see young artists who have grown up in our communities return to us for events like these. Whether they be concerts, independent films, dance recitals or visual arts shows; when young artists come home to share their gifts, talents and fruits of their studies, practice and passions, it highlights the importance of the work that ARTS does in the communities that we serve” says Kevin White, Events Director at Arts for Rural Texas.

Arts for Rural Texas is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Fayetteville, Texas. The organization serves more than nine different communities in and around Fayette County. It is ARTS’ mission to enrich lives through art and art education with an emphasis on opportunities for children. To that end, ARTS offers free after school art classes, fine art assemblies in schools, low-cost summer camps, youth art competitions as well as various adult programs and community events. Visit the ARTS Ross Gallery in Fayetteville at 114 N. Live Oak Street, Fayetteville, Texas 78940 and the ARTS Gorman Gallery in Schulenburg at 1201 S. Kessler Ave., Schulenburg, Texas 78956.

Musicians and performers who are interested in working with ARTS are invited to contact Kevin White at 979378-2113 or emailing him at events@artsforruraltexas. org. For more information regarding upcoming events, ongoing youth programming or adult classes and workshops, please e-mail info@artsforruraltexas. org.