LEWISTON – Maine native Anastasia Antonacos recalls fighting a lot with her first piano teacher, her dad, accomplished pianist Charles Antonacos.

Today, an accomplished pianist and teacher in her own right, Dr. Anastasia Antonacos is a member of the piano faculty at the University of Southern Maine and Bowdoin College – and has gained a reputation here and abroad as soloist and superb keyboard collaborator.

At 2 p.m. Saturday, June 14, she will conduct a master class at the Franco-American Heritage Center, followed by a 7:30 p.m. recital when she will present works by Schubert, Schumann, Liszt, and the Finnish composer, Einojuhani Rautavaara.

Students wishing to participate in the master class (or their teachers) may contact Antonacos at anastasia.antonacos@maine.edu.

Antonacos studied with her father until age 6, when the waiting list for another teacher opened up. Lessons continued while the family lived abroad.

Once back in Maine, she took up study with Ruth Olive Roberts, a revered local piano teacher. Upon completion of her undergraduate years at USM, Antonacos entered Indiana University School of Music, where she studied with piano virtuoso and teacher Leonard Hokanson and earned master’s and doctoral degrees in piano performance.

Antonacos has performed at the prestigious Salle Cortot in Paris, the Casa Orfeo in Italy, Holland’s Alkmaar Conservatory, Dobrich Hall in Bulgaria and Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City.

As a young artist Antonacos attended the Holland Music Festivals, the Bowdoin Summer Music Festival and Bay Chamber Concerts Next Generation Music Camp, where she now serves as chamber music coach. Once the recipient of prizes at piano competitions in the United States and Europe, she is often a juror at such gatherings, most recently judging the Ocy Downs Piano Competition in March. She has made solo appearances with the Portland Symphony and Bangor Symphony Orchestra, and the USM Chamber Orchestra. She has also presented recitals at Bates College, USM, Bowdoin and Gould Academy in Bethel. She has also made highly acclaimed collaborations with the Vermeer and Cassatt quartets.

Tickets for the recital are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors. Students 21 and under admitted free. For tickets, call the Franco center box office at 689-2000. There is no fee for the master class. For more information, log on to www.francoamericanheritage.org.


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