PARKERSBURG - It was almost a full house Saturday at the Smoot Theatre for the first performance of the Mid-Ohio Valley Piano Ensemble.
Felice Jorgeson, artistic director of the Smoot, said she did not anticipate any of the audience using the balcony.
"We were putting up the Christmas decorations and we didn't finish the balcony so that's why there are boxes and pine needles up there," she said.
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MOV Piano Ensemble debut concert
Saturday's program was conducted by Steven Huang, director of orchestras at Ohio University. Huang said the students playing at the performance were in four groups: elementary, early intermediate, intermediate and early advanced.
Huang said Saturday's program was unique in that it gave the piano students the opportunity to work with others in their music.
"Piano is a solitary instrument," he said. "The goal here is to get together and to play together."
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Up to 20 young pianists were on stage at one time Saturday as members of the Mid-Ohio Valley Piano Ensemble performed.
The experience of playing with several duets will help them communicate better as musicians, he said of the students.
Jorgeson said the students had been practicing the pieces since March and had rehearsals at the theatre on Thursday, Friday and early Saturday.
The Mid-Ohio valley Piano Ensemble was presented as part of the Music Teachers National Association Year of Collaborative Music
