LONG BEACH — Concert pianist Akiko Dohi will perform Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” on Sunday, April 27, at 7 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Long Beach, 241 Cedar Ave. (at Third Street) in downtown Long Beach.
Dohi is a concert pianist, award-winning composer, lecturer and vocal coach. Born in Osaka, she received a bachelor’s degree in piano from Osaka College of Music. Her performance of the MacDowell Second Piano Concerto with the Osaka Philharmonic orchestra received glowing reviews, and she was featured on major radio and television stations, including NHK-FM and Kansai TV. In 1970, Dohi won the PEO International Scholarship and came to the U.S.
She earned her master’s degree in piano from the University of Redlands and has appeared in solo and chamber music recitals broadcast on KFAC, KUSC, KXLU, and Radio Pacific Japan. She has also appeared as soloist with the Huntington Park Symphony and the Redlands University Orchestra. An extremely versatile musician, Dohi has studied modern jazz, Latin music, Japanese music, and composition, in addition to her classical piano training.
Traditionally performed with symphony orchestra, the Gershwin classic will be performed by Dohi with the church’s mighty Möller concert pipe organ as orchestral accompaniment.
The organist, Mark Dickey, is the chairman of the music department at CSU Fullerton and also is the organist of the church.
The concert will feature students from CSU Fullerton performing music for brass, percussion, and organ, and a few vocal surprises.
Donations are appreciated. For more info, call (562) 436-2256 or email office@firstchurchlb.org.