Small ensembles featuring pianists Ken Hardin and Aileen James. Program to include Carnival of the Animals and more…
Ken Hardin is artistic director/conductor of Twin Cities Concert Association/Orchestre Panache; conductor of Music in the Mountains’ Festival Chorus; pianist/harpsichordist for MIM’s Festival Orchestra; half of the popular piano duo “2x4” with Paul Perry; conductor of the Sierra College Choir and faculty member at Sierra College; has performed with the Reno Philharmonic, Chico State New Music Symposium, Nevada County Composers Cooperative, and various other West Coast presenters. Hardin is also noted as an accomplished jazz pianist. He works with Foothill Theatre Company directing their musical productions, most recently My Way: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra. Hardin graduated from CSU, Northridge and continued on the faculty there until moving to Nevada County in 1984.
Aileen James began her formal training at the age of five. After receiving a Bachelor and Masters Degree, she received a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Performance from Stanford University. Further studies have been at USC, the Schubert Institute in Austria, and the Royamount Music Festival in France. She is an acclaimed performer as soloist, duo-pianist, chamber musician and accompanist. Dr. James has studied with Adolph Baller of the Alma Trio and Menahem Pressler of the Beaux Arts Trio. Dr. James has been a private teacher for 40 years and has served on the faculties of Pacific Union College, Stanford and Santa Clara Universities. From 1986–1997 she was the Artistic Director of the American Pianists Association in Indianapolis, heading its Biennial National Piano Fellowship Competition and fellowship program. Currently, Aileen resides in Grass Valley and remains active with frequent performance engagements throughout Northern California, her private teaching studio, and has served on MIM Boards of Directors and Education Committee. She continues to serve on TCCA’s board of directors and enjoys her role of musicologist and pre-concert forum hostess.