World-class pianist to play at Pomerene Center
COSHOCTON – The Pomerene Center for the Arts is excited to announce that Fritz Schwinghammer, German world class pianist, will be performing for the Coshocton Arts Homecoming and at the Pomerene Center for the Arts on Aug. 11 at 4:30 p.m., with a reception to follow provided by Fritz’ aunt, Reni Akers of Coshocton.
Akers was born and raised in Germany. In 1960, she married a US Army Cartographer and has lived in Coshocton ever since. At the conclusion of a recent video interview with the Pomerene, Akers laughed as she said “I sound so German” followed by a remark that she doesn’t hear herself like that.
During the interview, Akers talked about her nephew “Fritzy,” as she called him, who “was one of three, just an ordinary boy.” His talent was apparent early on she said. At the age of three or four, he received a small melodica, a handheld keyboard instrument you blow into, as a Christmas present. He mastered it immediately which prompted the family to go out the next day to buy a bigger one. When he could read, Schwinghammer began piano lessons. Within two years, he had outgrown what his first teacher could offer and later, what his small German town, about the size of Coshocton, could offer. He completed his study of piano, chamber music and interpretation of lieder in Munich under Klaus Schilde, Michael Schäfer, Helmut Deutsch, and Leonard Hokanson.
Today, Schwinghammer is one of the leading chamber music and lieder pianists of his generation and regularly appears at leading music festivals with singers such as Herrman Prey, Dietrich Henschel and Rainer Trost. In addition to his activity as a performer, he teaches piano and lieder interpretation at the Musikhochschule in Munich.
Akers spoke of her accomplished nephew as “a very pleasant, non-opinionated, go-with-the-flow kind of guy”. She is looking forward to his visit and sharing him with Coshocton. Schwinghammer’s 18-year-old son Leopold will also be playing a few pieces on the violin with his father. This performance is open to the public. The cost for indoor seating is $20 for adults and $10 for students. Terrace seating is $5. For more information on Coshocton Arts Homecoming, visit www.pomerenearts.org or call 740-622-0326.
The Coshocton Arts Homecoming is a party, an excuse to get together and celebrate the arts created and performed by folks in the county and by our creative friends and family who live “outside.”
Homecoming Schedule: Friday, Aug. 10 at 6 p.m. Opening of the Coshocton Art Prize Exhibit, 7:30 p.m. Jazz on the Lawn with Christopher Graves; Saturday, Aug. 11 at 4:30 p.m., Fritz Schwinghammer, Piano Recital
Category: Arts & Entertainment
