The Lee University School of Music will present Dr. Muen Vanessa Wei, piano, in a faculty recital on Wednesday, April 28, at 7:30 p.m. The performance will take place in Squires Recital Hall, in the Humanities Building on Lee’s campus.
The recital, “Immortal Beloved,” is the sixth recital in Dr. Wei’s “Complete Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas Concert Series,” which showcases all 32 of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas over six semesters. The performance will feature Sonatas Op. 7 “Grand Sonata,” Op. 14, No. 2, Op. 27, No. 1, "Quasi una fantasia," Op. 27, No. 2, “Moonlight,” and Op. 78, "à Thérèse."
“This program delves into the emotional depth of Beethoven’s sonatas and reflects the intimate side of his music,” said Dr. Wei. “This special program includes five piano sonatas, all of which were dedicated to women who played significant roles in Beethoven’s life.”
Dr. Wei joined Lee’s School of Music in 2021 as an assistant professor of piano and teaches courses such as applied piano, piano seminar, and piano for ministry. Prior to Lee, she served as a guest professor at China West Normal University and piano faculty at New Tampa Piano and Pedagogy Academy. She has collaborated with many great musicians such as Lynn Harrell, Ian Hobson, Peter Lloyd, and Joel Smirnoff. Dr. Wei also has a debut album titled “Im 3/4 Takt” that was considered “one of Centaur’s finest releases to date” by Fanfare.
Dr. Wei earned a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Illinois at Urbana, a Master of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and a Bachelor of Music from the China Conservatory of Music.
The recital is free, non-ticketed, and open to the public. Livestream viewing will be available at leeu.live/.
For more information about the recital, contact the School of Music at music@leeuniversity.edu or call 614-8240.