My first PianoForte concert

free and in the neighborhood and open to all

10/05/2012 4:27 PM

By Bonnie McGrath

Just after the concert (Photo by Bruce Oltman)

I just joined the PianoForte Foundation a few weeks ago. And today I decided to go to the group's regular first Friday concert--which is always free and open to all. It's performed at Columbia's Sherwood Community Music School and always broadcast on WFMT. Not only was it a great concert--Egyptian pianist Wael Farouk (who will be making his first solo appearance at Carnegie Hall November 1) played Rameau's "Le rappel des oiseaux" and Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition"--but there were South Loop connections galore. Not the least of which is that Farouk is on the faculty of the Chicago College of the Performing Arts at the South Loop's very own Roosevelt University. And the PianoForte Foundation itself is housed in the adjacent Fine Arts Building next door to Roosevelt U.

The announcer from WFMT was Dave Schwan--a resident of Dearborn Park and one of the writers who read his work at Jazz Showcase during South Loop Neighbors Writers Night a few years back.

The audience contained a goodly number of South Loopers that I knew: Prairie District Bruce (who also happens to be on the PianoForte board) was there; as were Steve and Jay from 910 S. Michigan. My new best friend Shelley--who happens to be the Chicago Journal's new stellar ad salesperson accompanied me to the concert--and it was fun to introduce her to Jay, because his wife Wendy used to have Shelley's job when CJ was in its infancy.

Another new friend, Dolores, was also there with a friend from Paris--but she is a West Looper. Although definitely within the CJ reading area.

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By Dolores Jackson from West Loop
Posted: 10/05/2012 5:06 PM

This West Looper is always glad to see something written about the First Friday series. The music is always excellent and I love the intimate performance space. Thanks, Bonnie.