Elizabethtown College Professor of Music Justin Badgerow and Adjunct Instructor of Violin and Viola Shawn Wang took their musical talents overseas this summer, completing a mini-residency as the Atlas Duo in Chengdu, China.
Badgerow refines a young piano student’s skills in Chengdu, China
During their residency, Badgerow, a pianist, and Wang, a violinist provided masterclasses to violin and piano students. The classes were organized by the Chengdu Chanson Culture Communication Company. Wang and Badgerow were the sole invitees from the United States.
“It was a real treat to teach the young piano students, who ranged in age from elementary to high school, and were very prepared and receptive,” Badgerow said. “I had an interpreter to help share ideas about how to improve their performance at the piano, and we worked in several sessions together before they presented their final performance to the public.”
The two Etown faculty members also performed a recital that featured the music of Mozart, Bach, Grieg, and Gershwin in Chengdu.
Badgerow also went abroad to Vilnius, Lithuania in July to the College Music Society International Conference. He was selected to present a recital as part of Duo Algeria, a collaboration between Badgerow and flutist Lisa Van Winkle, Assistant Professor of Music at New Mexico State University. The duo performed music for flute and piano by modern Slovenian composers.
“The conference was a great experience to meet other musicians, learn new cultures, visit beautiful cities, and perform,” Badgerow said. “Our performance was in a lovely recital hall, and we received a warm ovation from several musical colleagues and attendees.”
While in the Baltics, Badgerow also had the opportunity to perform at another recital at the House of the Blackheads – a historic hall built in 1532.
