Pianist Mac Frampton returns for free Oct. 18 concert at MTSU

Drawing from pop, sacred and classical styles, award-winning pianist Mac Frampton will present a free public concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, in Hinton Hall inside MTSU’s Wright Music Building.

Acclaimed pianist Mac Frampton, shown here joking with an audience during a concert, will return to MTSU Oct. 18 for a free public performance in Hinton Hall inside the university’s Wright Music Building. (Photo by Tom Fletcher, courtesy of AlkahestArtists.net)

A recipient of master’s and doctoral degrees from the Cincinnati Conservatory and the winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Frampton established himself early as a classical pianist. After 30 years and more than 3,000 concerts worldwide, Frampton’s performance style also draws heavily from the pop arena.

He’s the founder of the Hollywood Hills Orchestra, a 15-member ensemble that specializes in great film music. Frampton’s “Pop Go The Classics!” production showcases contemporary interpretations of great classical music and features a six-piece ensemble.

“My shows are always tailored to the audience, and I often change course midstream when I get a feel for what the audience wants to hear,” Frampton said.

Frampton is offering an extensive list of possible performance pieces for his MTSU School of Music concert, where he’ll be accompanied by a percussionist, keyboardist, bassist and other supporting musicians.

His pops list includes favorites like “Chariots of Fire,” “James Bond Suite,” “Memory,” “My Heart Will Go On,” “Send in the Clowns” and “Wind Beneath My Wings,” while his sacred selections may include “Amazing Grace,” “God Bless America,” “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” and “How Great Thou Art.”

Favorites such as Bach’s “Prelude and Fugue in C Minor,” Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata,” Debussy’s “Claire de Lune,” Ravel’s “Bolero” and Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” also are a sampling of the evening’s potential classical repertoire.

No tickets are required for this free concert. For more information on this and other MTSU School of Music events, call 615-898-2493 or visit the Concert Calendar at www.mtsumusic.com.