More about the Program

2020 focused on composing Waltzes of Hope, and Three Reflections: JFK, RBG and MLK, and the following year saw the premieres of his Reflection of Justice: An Ode to Ruth Bader Ginsburg with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s Remembering Ruth Bader Ginsburg for mezzo-soprano, piano and orchestra, with mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves. In 2022, he premiered his own concerto, Three Reflections: Freedom (JFK), Justice (RBG), Equality (MLK), and 2023 featured the premiere of Peter Boyer’s Rhapsody in Red, White & Blue with the Utah Symphony.

Biegel appeared as soloist in Kenneth Fuchs’s Piano Concerto ‘Spiritualist’ with the London Symphony Orchestra led by JoAnn Falletta (Naxos 8.559824) which received a 2019 GRAMMY Award, and digital recordings released on his Naturally Sharp label include Cyberecital: An Historic Recording, A Pianist’s Journey, and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue (1924 version) with the Adrian Symphony Orchestra and Bruce Kiesling conducting.

The program also includes “The Columbia River Suite” by former WVSO music director, Glenn Kelly. Composed in 1973, “Columbia River” is a, “five-movement composition relating the river’s physical and geographical qualities to man’s struggle for purpose in life.”