The Second Congregational Church of Newcastle will welcome pianists Sarah Oeste and Joel Pierce for a 3 p.m. Second Sundays concert on Oct. 12. The performance will highlight the unique sounds of two pianists on a single keyboard.
The afternoon will feature works for four hands by some of the most beloved composers in history, including Franz Schubert, Claude Debussy, Johannes Brahms and Maurice Ravel. From the expressive melodies of Schubert to the enchanting colors of Debussy, this is an opportunity to experience the rich and powerful sound of four hands in harmony, played on the church’s Steinway grand piano.
Oeste is a solo pianist and educator living in Midcoast Maine. She holds a bachelor of music degree in piano performance from the University of Maryland, where she studied under the renowned Larissa Dedova. In Maryland, she won competitions to perform piano concertos by Ludwig van Beethoven, Sergei Prokofiev and Dmitri Shostakovich. Oeste now teaches private piano lessons from her home studio in Woolwich as well as group music classes for young students. She is also the music director at Second Congregational Church in Newcastle.
Pierce is a pianist, organist, choir director and dedicated private instructor based in Topsham, where he operates the Pierce Piano Studio. Originally from a musical family influenced by his grandmother’s teachings, he eventually received his two music degrees in Tucson, Arizona, before relocating to Maine in 2019. Pierce now teaches a thriving roster of around 65 students weekly, spanning ages 6–85, and is currently the music director at the First Congregational Church of Wiscasset.
No advance tickets are available. Instead, there is a recommended free-will donation of $20 for adults and $10 for students (free for children below school age). Proceeds from the concert are earmarked for scheduled improvements to accessibility of the church, including an ADA-approved exterior ramp and walkways to special designated parking spaces.
All are welcome to attend. The church is located at 51 Main St.
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