Chopin in Black & White & Technicolor: A Concert Talk

• Diana Gao, piano
• Larry Starr, speaker

Part concert, part talk, "Chopin in Black and White and Technicolor" is the final Sunday Salon Series event for this season. Award-winning LMC pianist Diana Gao introduces Chopin's rarely heard Ballade No. 2 in F major, with its stark black-and-white contrasts. Musicologist Dr. Larry Starr then explores the Ballade as well as Chopin's popular Fantaisie in F minor, a free-flowing musical kaleidoscope, with Gao's musical illustrations on the piano. The Salon concludes with another presentation of the Ballade – this time with new ears – and a full performance of the Fantaisie, followed by Q&A with both presenters. Whether you're a lifelong Chopin fan or just being introduced, you'll be sure to walk away with new ways to hear these timeless pieces.

About Ladies Musical Club of Seattle

Formed in 1891, the Ladies Musical Club of Seattle is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to foster classical music amongst our members and in the community through education, performance, and awards. We do this by offering music and education programs to people of all ages and diverse backgrounds in Seattle and across Washington State.

About the Frances Walton Competition: For nearly 40 years, the LMC's Frances Walton Competition has provided a unique opportunity for Classical musicians ages 20 to 35 to audition for an award package including generous cash prizes; a live performance on Classical KING, one of the premier classical music stations in the U.S.; and an outreach and recital tour of locations throughout Washington State.

About Diana Gao, piano

Diana Gao began studying piano at age 4. She moved to the U.S. from China in 2013 to pursue her MBA at the University of Washington (UW), and is currently a Senior Marketing Manager at Microsoft. Although she has pursued a career outside of music, the piano has remained a significant mainstay in her life. She has consistently cultivated her passion through regular lessons and performances. She’s been studying with Dr. Robin McCabe from UW and is a prizewinner in many competitions, including Gold Medalist of the Seattle International Competition and First Prize of the "Golden Classical Music Awards" International Competition. She also performed at the prestigious Piano Texas International Festival. Since 2020, she has presented annual fundraising recitals through the Microsoft Give campaign, raising thousands of dollars in support of local organizations. Those events reinforced her belief that music has the power to inspire change and make the world a better place.

About Larry Starr, speaker

Larry Starr holds the title Professor Emeritus of American Music Studies at the University of Washington School of Music, where he taught for more than four decades. He retired from university teaching in 2018, but he continues to speak on music at the Seattle Symphony (pre-concert talks), the Women's University Club (Seattle), and now the Ladies Musical Club. He has written books on Charles Ives's music, Aaron Copland's songs, George Gershwin's Broadway musicals, and most recently Listening to Bob Dylan, and is the coauthor of a textbook on American popular music. Larry's advisees have gone on to distinguished careers in teaching, research, and arts administration—a noteworthy recent example being Whitney Henderson, LMC's own Executive Director.