Renowned pianist, chanter Dr. Paul Barnes to perform at Heidelberg

Tiffin, Ohio — Renowned pianist and chanter Dr. Paul Barnes is set to perform at Heidelberg University on March 31 as part of the School of Music & Theatre’s Distinguished Montague Artist series. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. at the Brenneman Music Hall’s Ohl Concert Hall.

Dr. Barnes will present his latest recital, titled “Illumination,” which features a program of contemplative and cathartic piano works inspired by the mystical world of chant.

As a Greek Orthodox chanter, Dr. Barnes collaborated with Philip Glass and Victoria Bond to create piano works based on ancient Byzantine and Jewish chant, including “Illuminations on Byzantine Chant” and “Annunciation.”

Additionally, the program includes new chant-based works by Native American flutist Ron Warren and David von Kampen, such as “The Way of Mountains and Desert” and “Soaring Oranges,” respectively. These four works received their world premiere performances recently.

Dr. Barnes, who resides in Lima, is also collaborating with Hollywood film composer JAC Redford on a new work inspired by the incarnational writing of Plato. The work will premiere at the St. Constantine School in Houston in July. His recordings are available on various platforms including Spotify, Pandora, iTunes, Apple Music, YouTube and Amazon.

Currently the Marguerite Scribante Professor of Music at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Glenn Korff School of Music, Dr. Barnes was recently appointed as the artistic director of the Lied Center Piano Academy. The academy invites several high-school pianists to Lincoln each summer for an intensive week of piano, composition, improvisation and collaboration. Additionally, he will be teaching at the Piano Plus Summer Institute in Greece this summer. Dr. Barnes has served as convention artist at several state MTNA conventions and was named “Teacher of the Year” by the Nebraska Music Teachers Association.

The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact the School of Music & Theatre at (419) 448-2073.