Pianist Christopher Janwong McKiggan joins the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra under the musical direction of José-Luis Novo, for the second Masterworks Concert of the 2016-2017 season, November 18 and 19 at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts. From the infectiously contagious bouncy rhythms and tunes of Dvořák’s Scherzo Capriccioso, through the joyful piano dance of Zhou Long’s Postures, to the masterfully integrated essence of classical ballet in Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lakeand Adam’s Giselle, this program explores how music and dance are so intrinsically linked to each other.
Annapolis Symphony Orchestra’s “Dance Mix” concert program includes Antonín Dvořák’s Scherzo Capriccioso, Zhou Long’s Postures, for Piano and Orchestrafeaturing Christopher Janwong McKiggan, Adolph Adam’s Grand Pas de Deux from Act II of Giselle, and Piotr Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake Suite.
Born in Christchurch, England, Christopher began his piano studies at age six with his father. He moved to Thailand at age seven, residing with his father, British, and mother, a Thai citizen of Chinese heritage. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Missouri-Kansas City as a Bachelor of Music studying under Doctor Robert Weirich, earned a master’s degree from Rice University and is currently a Doctoral of Musical Arts Candidate under Professor Jon Kimura Parker.
McKiggan won a top prize as laureate at the prestigious 12thUNISA International Piano Competition and won numerous other awards, including the Gold Medal in the Seattle International Piano Competition, second prize in the Isabel Scionti International Music Competition, First Prize in the Bradshaw and Buono International Piano Competition, and awards in other national and international competitions. He is also the recipient of the Presser Award, for which he was awarded a grant to create the international relations project titled Resonance of Hope, an album of which will be released on CD later this year.