After traveling “Around the World in 8 Recitals” last season, we welcome you
“Home”
Our third season 2026-2027
Ticket prices are listed after each concert description for adults/children 12 and under
Scroll down below the ticket form to see dates and performers for all concerts!
Additional details will be added as the summer progresses. Please check back for more information!
“HOME”
our third season 2026-2027
More photos and details will be posted throughout the summer, but the lineup is already embedded in the order form above—request your tickets today!
Sep. 13, 2026, 6:30 PM: “there’s no place like home” Appassionata Piano Duo (Maira Liliestedt and Janelle Phinney)
Returning Home
Maira Liliestedt and Janelle Phinney’s collaboration has spanned thirty years. First, they both called Bowling Green their college home. Then, providence brought them separately to call Canton their home. After Janelle’s move to Iowa, she returns to her former home to join Maira again on her house concert series. And they musically wrap up a world tour we started with last year’s KTA Concert Series by visiting the Far East, the Caribbean, Australia, South America, and Europe before returning home to the United States in musical examples as varied as the pianists’ own fascinating backgrounds. Join us for this recital to see how international threads are woven in the performers’ lives and the music of this program, as we celebrate music in Maira’s home. $28/14 (Adults: $28; Age 12 and under: $14)
Oct. 24, 2026, 6:30 pm: Gabriella Kowalski and Haydon Dudley, joint student piano recital
Ties to a long-ago Polish homeland
Gabby (left) and Haydon (below) give a joint student recital playing music of Mozart, Bach, and Polish composers Chopin and Pieczonka, matching Gabby’s Polish roots.
Haydon joins Gabby for this high school piano recital celebrating two students’ soaring progress and musical passion. $10/5
Nov. 15, 2026, 6:30 pm: Maira Liliestedt, solo piano recital
Music of Maira’s native homeland
This program includes music from composers in Europe and my native Romania (Bach, Mozart, Chopin, and Romanian George Enescu) along with feisty tangos of Astor Piazzolla, in a passionate style I feel at home representing on the keys or the dance floor. $28/14
dec. 13, 2026, 6:30 pm: “Home for Christmas”—Maira and Friends, varied instruments, voice, and piano
There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays
And we invite you to join us in Maira’s home for some holiday arrangements both new and well-known, as Maira celebrates the season with musical friends in solo and collaborative performances. $28/14
Jan. 17, 2027, 6:30 pm: Dr. Amy Yekel, soprano, and Maira Liliestedt, piano
Celebrating a new partnership with a fellow faculty member at her new university home, Maira joins soprano Amy Yekel for this program of riveting music for voice and piano. $28/14
Dr. Amy Yekel
Winner of the Wagner Society of New York’s first place Robert Lauch Award and Leiderkranz finalist Dr. Amy Yekel is an award winning International American Dramatic Soprano. Deemed “Born to sing Turandot!” by the Toldeo Blade which also exclaims “Her buttery smooth soprano voice seems effortless in delivery, yet her power actually was enough to reverberate off the staid old stone walls…sending a palpable thrill to those listening.”
Dr. Maira Liliestedt
In conductor Eric Benjamin’s words, Maira’s playing is like “an Indy race car driver taking the car out for a spin,” which is perhaps why she feels so at home at the keyboard, whether alone, or joined by other musicians.
Feb. 27, 2027, 3 pm: Colin Evans, senior piano recital
A home filled with music
Coming from a family full of musicians, like the famous composers of old, Colin aims to take his pianistic passion to the greatest heights. Join us in sending him off to a musical career in college with this mesmerizing program of Beethoven’s “Les Adieux” Sonata, Ravel’s Jeux d’eau, Chopin Etude, and Mendelssohn Variations serieuses. $10/5
Mar. 20, 2027, 6:30 pm: Ellie Chamblee and Edmund Shi, joint piano recital
Ellie Chamblee and Edmund Shi return
Proving that we can chase our dreams to the highest level, medical professionals and Keys to Artistry adult students Ellie Chamblee (right) and Edmund Shi (below) bring us music that is close to their heart: Ellie feels at home in the achingly-beautiful soundscapes of Federico Mompou, and Edmund has considered Franz Liszt’s beloved Second Hungarian Rhapsody a “coming home of sorts”—studying and performing a piece on his bucket list. They share these favorites and and more on this spring program. $10/5
Edmund Shi joins Ellie Chamblee in this delightful recital featuring a wide-ranging repertoire from Liszt and Chopin to Bartok, Mompou, and Granados.
Apr. 10, 2027, 3 pm: Dr. Caroline Oltmanns, solo piano recital
Caroline Oltmanns, piano
Dr. Oltmanns is a Steinway Artist and a Professor of Piano at Youngstown State University. A frequent performer around the world, she is on faculty for multiple international festivals. $28/14
May 23, 2027, 6:30 pm: Pridonoff Duo: Eugene and Elisabeth Pridonoff, pianos
A Musical Home
The musicianship, artistry, and mentorship of Elisabeth and Eugene Pridonoff have fostered the better part of Maira Liliestedt’s own pianistic skill and passion—the playing of these legendary pianists, returning to our series for the third time, is a veritable musical home for our host pianist, and thus a fitting conclusion to our musical celebration of home on this house concert series hosted in Maira’s home. Don’t miss this epic finale to our third season! $36/18
October 25, 2025, 6:30 pm: Bicentennial of Johann Strauss Jr., the “Waltz King”
Ukraine, Romania, Austria, U.S.A.
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Ukraine, Romania, Austria, U.S.A. 〰️
Bohdan Subchak, violin, and Maira Liliestedt, piano
Happy 200th birthday, Johann Strauss, Jr.!
The “Waltz King”s 200th birthday would have been TODAY! We kick off our journey around the world in musical capital Vienna, Austria! Celebrate with beloved waltzes and polkas like “The Beautiful Blue Danube,” “Vienna Blood,” and the “Pizzicato Polka.” $28/14
Bohdan Subchak, violin
Ukrainian and Romanian-American celebrate Austria!
Ukrainian violinist and Mount Union faculty member Bohdan Subchak and Romanian-American resident pianist Maira Liliestedt will make you want to twirl around the floor in this spirited musical birthday bash!
November 9, 2025, 3:00 PM: Folk Music of the World
Folk Music of the World
Assistant concertmaster of the Canton Symphony Emily Cornelius takes center stage sweeping from our American home into a a Central European adventure through the folk music of Hungary, Romania, France, and Estonia. $28/14
Emily Cornelius, violin;
Maira Liliestedt, piano
Ross Karre, percussion
On the percussion faculty at Oberlin Conservatory, Karre joins Emily Cornelius for Arvo Part’s Fratres.
Emily Cornelius, violin, Ross Karre, percussion, and Maira Liliestedt, piano
December 14, 2025, Rescheduled for January 4, 2026, 3:00 PM: piano Senior recital
Dorian Draper performs music of Bartok, Grieg, Mozart
Our international musical tour turns North from Romania to Austria, and finally, to Edvard Grieg’s native Norway. Enjoy a program of Mozart’s B-flat Major Sonata K. 570, Bartok’s Romanian Folk Dances, and Grieg’s Norwegian “Wedding Day at Troldhaugen.” $10/5
Dorian Draper, piano
January 18, 2026, 3:00 pm: Favorite Songs and Arias
Ben Hayes, tenor
Today, we visit France with music by Faure and Massenet, and the British Isles to the strains of Roger Quilter’s “Love’s Philosophy” and “Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal.” Mozart also makes a stop with an excerpt from the ever-popular “The Magic Flute.” 28/14
Ben Hayes, tenor
February 15, 2026, 6:30 pm: Joint piano recital
(5:45 pm Lecture on Chopin’s “Funeral March” Sonata, presented by Maira Liliestedt, is open to season subscribers; tonight’s single concert ticket holders can purchase tickets to the lecture separately by adding $5 to their concert ticket price)
Edmund Shi, piano
Physician and Keys to Artistry adult student Edmund Shi leads a Hapsburg adventure through the music of Hungary and Austria on the first half of this joint recital.
Samuel Atkinson, piano
In this recital’s second half, Keys to Artistry adult student and mechanical engineer Samuel Atkinson relays the aching and heart throbbing of Polish master Frederic Chopin’s Sonata No. 2, the “Funeral March.” Season subscribers are welcome to arrive early for a 5:45 pm lecture on the Funeral March Sonata by pianist Dr. Maira Liliestedt. Shi and Atkinson joint recital $10/5
Edmund Shi and Samuel Atkinson, piano
March 15, 2026, 3:00 pm: Colors in Sound!
Ellie Chamblee, piano
Keys to Artistry adult student Ellie Chamblee brings Russian melancholy of Sergei Rachmaninoff and German angst of Johannes Brahms to this program. Visual artist Laurie Chamblee shares works she created upon the inspiration of the music we will hear. $10/5
Ellie Chamblee, piano, and Laurie Chamblee, visual artist
April 18, 2026, 6:30 pm: Glory to God in the Highest
Eden Walker, composer and pianist
Mount Union and Keys to Artistry alumna Eden Walker brings the vibrance of her faith to our venue with her original compositions and exquisite Christian hymn arrangements. $14/7
Eden Walker, pianist, composer, arranger—original compositions and hymn arrangements
MAY 17, 2026, 3:00 PM: Pridonoff Duo
The Pridonoff Piano Duo
Eugene and Elisabeth Pridonoff return! The legends grace our stage for the second year in a row after their smashing success brought the house down last May! $36/18
Elisabeth Pridonoff
Elisabeth Pridonoff was for 35 years Professor of Piano and Duo-in-Residence with Eugene Pridonoff at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music. Now Emerita Professor of Piano, she is on the faculty of the Arizona Piano Institute and Artist-in-Residence at Lipscomb University in Nashville. Elisabeth and Eugene Pridonoff’s students, according to the September 2022 MTNA e-JOURNAL, are among the most tenured and tenure-track piano performance faculty in the United States from leading teachers and institutions. Formerly Co-Artistic Director of the Prague International Piano Institute with Eugene Pridonoff, she has taught at the Brevard Festival, International Piano Week of Belgium, the Barcelona Festival, and the Amalfi Festival. A graduate of The Julliard School, she earned a Master of Music in piano and voice studying piano with Adele Marcus and Sasha Gorodnitski and voice with Hans Heinz and Anna Kaskas. Post graduate studies were with Guido Agosti at Chigiana Santa Cecelia and in Rome, Italy. Elisabeth Pridonoff is a Steinway Artist and has recorded for Centaur, Toccata Classics, and ablaze Records.
Eugene Pridonoff
Eugene Pridonoff is internationally recognized as a leading performing pedagogue for over a half century and was Professor of Piano and Artist-in-Residence at the University of Cincinnati, Arizona State University, Iowa State University and Temple University. Linked with the great performing traditions of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, he studied with Rudolf Serkin, Mieczyslaw Horszowski, Eleanor Sokoloff, Lillian Steuber, Emmanuel Bay, and Alice Ehlers, at the University of Southern California, Curtis Institute of Music, and Temple University. Former students of Eugene and Elisabeth Pridonoff were first place winners in the Horowitz, Missouri Southern, American Pianists Association, Shreveport Wideman, and Midland-Odessa competitions. He has performed with the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Montreal Symphony, Beijing Central Opera Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, and Phoenix Symphony. A Steinway Artist, he can be heard on YouTube, Spotify, and ablaze Records.
2024-2025 Concert Series Season
Past Concerts—Information, Photos, and Video
May 16, 2025, 6:30 pm
Pridonoff Duo
Our series culminates with the legendary Pridonoff Duo! Be mesmerized by the passion, artistry, virtuosity, and sizzle of the electrifying performance of this world-class duo! $35/$18
Concert Sponsor
Our Debut Season
2024-2025
September 14, 2024, 6:30 PM
Debussy and Chopin
Adult students Ellie Chamblee and Edmund Shi presented a piano recital featuring some of the most universally-beloved Classical pieces including the Chopin Scherzo No. 2, Fantasie Impromptu, and Ballade No. 3, Mozart’s C Minor Fantasy, Bach French Suite in G Major, and Debussy’s Pour le Piano and Clair de lune. $10/5
⏳⏳ SOLD OUT! ⏳⏳
OUR FIRST CONCERT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS! CHECK OUT VIDEO AND PHOTOS BELOW!🎼✨🎶🎈🎆
Ellie Chamblee (above) and Edmund Shi (left)
October 19, 2024, 6:30 PM
Bach, Haydn, and Schubert
Adult student and Mount Union piano graduate Samuel Atkinson presented a solo recital featuring Schubert Impromptus Op. 90, Bach’s Italian Concerto, and Haydn’s Sonata No. 23 in F Major, plus favorites of Brahms, Chopin, and Rachmaninoff. $10/$5
⏳⌛SOLD OUT!⏳⌛
OUR SECOND CONCERT WAS ALSO A SMASH HIT! Check out the recording below to enjoy it again. First half: recordings I and II. Second half: recording III. Encore: recording IV. 🎈✨
November 9, 2024, 6:30 pm
Maira Liliestedt
Sadly, Keys to Artistry alumna and University of Mount Union senior pianist Eden Walker is injured. Maira Liliestedt will instead present a solo recital featuring some of her perennial favorite pieces of music. $10/$5
⌛⏳ SOLD OUT! You can enjoy the music in recording below. Last minute concert—raw, but from the heart. 🎫🎫
December 14, 2024, 6:30 PM
A Christmas Extravaganza!
Maira Liliestedt plays arrangements of our favorite holiday songs! Enjoy the fireside music bathed in the glow of our enormous Christmas tree, join in with sing-along carols, and sip hot-chocolate in this perfect Christmas setting—just right to bring in the holiday spirit! $27/$14
🎄🎄Check out Maira’s YouTube channel for recordings of many of the pieces she performed on this program!🎄🎄
Join Maira in celebrating her favorite holiday with her favorite Christmas songs
Concert Sponsor
January 11, 2025, 6:30 pm
Grieg, Mendelssohn, and Moszkowski
High school pianists Dorian Draper and Nate Scheck play enchanting music of Grieg, Mendelssohn, and Moszkowski. $10/$5
Enjoy the concert in the recordings of the first and second half below!
ENCORE Performance: March 1, 2025, 3 pm;
original date: February 8, 2025, 6:30 pm
Laura Mason, soprano, piano; Maira Liliestedt, piano
An evening showing the intersection of musical theatre and opera! Guest artist Laura Mason received her Bachelor of Music Education from Mount Union University where she focused her studies on both piano and voice. Laura has taught and performed in various venues throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Laura currently teaches voice, piano, and Kindermusik at Kathy's Music in Pittsburgh where she also serves as Director of Education. $27/$14
Enjoy the initial recital recording and the March 1 encore below!
March 9, 2025, 6:30 pm
Appassionata
Piano Duo
Janelle Phinney returns to Canton to join Maira Liliestedt in a complete performance of Brahms’s emotionally-charged Hungarian Dances. The Appassionata Piano Duo has been a successful musical partnership since 1996. Critic Tom Wachunas described the duo’s playing as “a warm and deft joining of palpable grace with flawless, often fiery technique,” displaying a “riveting, lucid finesse alternately muscular and delicate.” The ensemble has also garnered praise for its “wonderful ensemble, balance, and unity of purpose,” and its “terrific collaboration full of grace and passion.” (Eugene and Elisabeth Pridonoff, Cincinnati Conservatory Professors of Piano Emeriti). $27/$14
⌛⌚SOLD OUT! THANK YOU!⌛⌚
Enjoy the live recording below!
Concert Sponsor
April 12, 2025, 6:30 PM
Joint high school recital
High school pianists Eric Wasco and Sami Rankin play a recital of music including pieces by Bach, the famous Mozart D Minor Fantasy, Beethoven’s fiery “Pathetique” Sonata, and Liszt’s soaringly romantic Liebestraume No. 3. FREE concert.
Eric Wasco (above) and Sami Rankin (left)
July 18, 2025, 6:30 pm
Senior recital: Maddie Bigahm
A solo recital featuring the sparkling piano music of Mozart and the luminous landscapes of Debussy. FREE concert.
Sponsorship and advertising Opportunities
If you are interested in sponsoring KTA in bringing superb musicians to our private recital hall, please email maira@keystoartistry.com. Sponsorship levels are available for full concert sponsor, concert co-sponsor, and various lower donation levels. Sponsors and donors will receive free tickets to the concert and other perks possibly including a time to meet the performers during a private dinner party.
Interested in placing an ad for your business in one or more of our concert programs? Please email maira@keystoartistry.com for details and pricing. Thank you for supporting high-level music-making and learning in our home community!
Location and Pricing
These intimate concerts will be held at our Keys to Artistry Recital Hall in Canton, OH. Pricing for guest artist concerts will be $27 for adults and $14 for children ages 12 and under. Pricing for advanced student recitals will be $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 12 and under. Tickets for the Pridonoff Duo (our keynote artists’) concert will be $35 for adults and $18 for children 12 and under.