SWAN CITY PIANO FESTIVAL Keyboards come alive again

LAKELAND — In 2021, the halls were quiet, the keys were motionless and the sounds of sometimes vibrant, sometimes reflective but always emotion-invoking melodies were silenced.

But as the world slowly opens back up, so will piano lids across Lakeland as some of the area’s most outstanding pianists take to the keyboards in what will be the second live Swan City Piano Festival. Some of Florida’s most renowned musicians will perform varied programs highlighting the piano’s nuances as well as offering insights into the music and composers’ backgrounds.

The 2nd Annual Swan City Piano Festival will help engage the vibrant arts culture of Lakeland through a celebration of pianists and their piano repertoires — past and present.

Some of Florida’s most renowned musicians will perform varied programs highlighting the piano’s nuances as well as offering insights into the music and composers’ backgrounds.

Swan City Piano Festival Director Patrick Fleitz, director of piano studies at Harrison School for the Arts, said the audience responses for Swan City Piano Festival 2021 were all positive and he foresees this year’s event being just as successful.

“I originally put the festival together because I felt it wasn’t something found in Lakeland. There were just individual piano recitals but a festival entirely devoted to piano didn’t exist,” said Fleitz, who holds a master’s degree in piano performance from the University of South Florida, Tampa.

The focus for the piano festival, said Fleitz,  is to feature acclaimed and accomplished pianists from Florida. This year, those pianists and their scheduled times are:

• Charles Hulin, 5 p.m., June 9. Hulin will give the festival opening lecture at the Harrison School for the Arts’ Black Box Theatre. He is an associate professor of music at Southeastern University and parish pianist at Lakeland’s All Saints Episcopal Church.

• Robert Fleitz, 7 p.m., June 10, Harrison School for the Arts. Fleitz is a Lakeland native who will showcase new piano works, including the world premiere of the piece “Lacustrine” by Harrison’s  composer-in-residence Brian Dozier Brown and commissioned by the festival.

• John C. O’Leary III, 7 p.m., June 11, Harrison School for the Arts. O’Leary is a Tampa-based jazz pianist who will play a set of original compositions. He has performed with notable jazz greats including Randy Brecker, Dick Hyman, Houston Person and Jason Marsalis.

• Hannah Sun, 3 p.m., June 12, First Presbyterian Church, 175 Lake Hollingsworth Drive. Sun is a Deland-based pianist and professor of piano at Stetson University who will play selections by Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, Liszt, John Field and her own compositions.

Additionally, the Swan City Piano Festival will have a Children’s Event in partnership with Lakeland Pressed LKLD bookstore June 10. Created by theater educator Claire Fleitz and Lakeland musician Derik Thomas, children 2 to 6 years old can can explore music through sight, sound and movement in an interactive setting. Sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and the free events begin with a reading of David Litchfield’s “The Bear and the Piano.” Advance registration required at www.swancitypianofestival.com

Patrick Fleitz, performer Robert Fleitz’s father, said the festival adds to the “amazing arts scene” already being fostered in Lakeland and offers the public the chance to stellar performances without having to travel to Tampa or Orlando.

“There are a lot of really, really talented pianists in our area of Florida and so far, we’ve been able to find them and get them to Lakeland to perform,” he said.

Hulin — the pianist who accompanied Lakeland opera singer Shudong Braamse at the Feb. 24 performance in Carnegie Hall — said the Swan City Piano Festival offers the pianists a way to connect more with each other on a personal level while sharing their talents. He said through the festival, Patrick and Robert Fleitz can better advocate for the arts in Lakeland.

Hulin said he may also perform at the Swan City Piano Festival.

“It’s often rare we’re in the same place at same time and don’t get to collaborate together much,” said Hulin, parish pianist for Lakeland’s All Saints Episcopal Church. “It will also offer the audience a diverse array of piano music styles in a very accessible format. They’ll be able to talk to the artists as they discuss the pieces with those attending.”

Also planned is a free public art installation by Tampa artist Eli Goldstone, presented June 10 near Harrison’s lobby. Called “Lacustrine,” it reimagines lakes across the city and brings together sonic artist Brian Brown and Goldstone who use music to augment video and sculpture.

There will be other music-based educational offerings for people of all ages and levels, including some masterclasses with Sun and Fen-Fang Chen, piano professor at FSC.

“For those who go, they’re going to hear great music, by great performers and everything is free. I hope everyone has a great time and something that they will want to come back to each year,” he said, “It’s something we want the whole community and beyond to be a part of.”

IF YOU GO:

WHAT: Swan City Piano Festival

WHEN: June 9 to June 12

WHERE: Harrison School for the Arts, 750 Hollingsworth Road, Lakeland; First Presbyterian Church of Lakeland, 175 Lake Hollingsworth Drive

COST: Free

INFO: www.swancitypianofesitval.com; 863-944-5737

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Swan City Piano Festival highlights the mastery of music