A local composer’s piano concerto will receive its world premiere on June 14 at Concordia University Chapel in River Forest, performed by the Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest. Oak Park-native Alex Groesch has been working on this piece for several years, and this season-ending concert will feature his first-ever piano concerto, starring the talented Chicago piano soloist, Mio Nakamura.
Groesch, who has been a member of the symphony since 2017, has been writing original compositions since high school. With this piece, Groesch was inspired to remind people that large-scale orchestral music is still alive today in a world where everything seems to be pushed shorter and faster. He believes that bringing the community together to experience an original work is a worthwhile and meaningful endeavor.
In addition to Groesch’s Piano Concerto No. 1, the symphony will also be performing Suk’s Pohádka (Fairytale) and Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1, featuring violin soloist, Nikki Chooi.
Tickets for the concert can be purchased online at SymphonyOPRF.org or at the door.
Anne Gandolfi
Symphony of OP&RF