A globally recognized pianist will perform with one of Marshall University’s own Sunday, Nov. 3 at 3 p.m. in Smith Music Hall.

“Spencer Myer is one of the foremost young, professional American pianists in the scene these days,” said Johan Botes, the Marshall University professor who will be performing with Myer as part of the Guest Artist and Faculty Collaboration Series.

“We’re bringing him in because part of this is the West Virginia Music Teachers Association is doing their conference this weekend and we (Marshall) are hosting it this year,” Botes said. “We’re trying to get the most out of him because he’s only going to be here for three days.”

Myer’s awards include first prize at the 2004 UNISA International Piano Competition in South Africa, the 2006 Christel DeHaan Classical Fellowship from the American Pianists Association and the Gold Medal from the 2008 New Orleans International Piano Competition, among others.

Myer’s and Botes’ performance Sunday will include music by Franz Schubert, Gabriel Fauré, Witold Lutoslwaski, Leonard Bernstein and Percy Grainger.

“We decided to do half the program on one piano, so one piano, four hands, and the other half of the concert will be two pianos, four hands,” Botes said. “So we’ll be playing duets on one piano, but we’ll also be piano dueling, which is with two pianos on the stage.” 

Botes said he has worked with the Guest Artist and Faculty Series multiple times, as many as two to three times per month. He said the series is influential for both Marshall and Marshall students. 

“It’s good because it helps the university to be more visible on a national scale, and it also is a good opportunity to see the good work that we do,” Botes said. “If you’re a music major, that’s part of your education to attend as many concerts as you possibly want to and can.”

Sunday’s performance will be free and open to the public.

Summer Jewell can be contacted at [email protected].