Juilliard Pianist to Perform at COM 10/30

Reviving the music of the masters, internationally renowned pianist David Syme will display his exquisite, energetic skill in a free concert at 7 p.m. Oct. 30 in the College of the Mainland Fine Arts Building Recital Hall.

His vast repertoire consists of the classics of Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff and others. A deftly versatile pianist, Syme also interprets the melodies of ragtime, traditional Irish and Hebrew songs and rock medleys.

"He plays like a dream," said COM music professor Dr. Paul Boyd. "I heard him first at a master class where he inspired us all and as a result our student won a competition the week afterward. The audience is just mesmerized when he performs."

Thrilling audiences since age 18 with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Syme has enjoyed a career spanning two continents.

"I started at age 3, and I could play anything that I heard without lessons in a short time," Syme said in an interview on his website.

The classically trained Juilliard musician learned from the legendary Jorge Bolet and has represented the United States in international competitions.

Audiences and critics applauded his performances in the Carnegie Hall and major venues in across Europe, Canada and Mexico.

"He's a fearless player with a go-for-it, heart-on-the-sleeve approach as his programming of Liszt's daunting arrangement of Wagner's Tannhauser overture made clear," said critic Michael Dervan in an article The Irish Times on Aug. 14, 2013.

The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, call Boyd at 409-933-8342.

College of the Mainland offers a variety of fully accredited associate degrees and certifications that prepare students for success in transferring to a university or entering the workforce, including programs in process technology, business and health care. An Achieving the Dream Leader College, COM has an excellent professor-to-student ratio that allows instructors to connect with each class. We're the launching pad for success stories throughout the Mainland. For more, visit www.com.edu.

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