Come Hear it

Come Hear It

University School of Music Prof. Benning Dexter has been playing a Mozart-Beethoven-Stravinsky program at colleges around the state and finally decided to bring it home for presentation.

“Haven’t played a recital in years,” he confided to this columnist, “but I’m having the time of my life. It's a good program, well received whereever I went, and I want people to come hear it.”

Therefore, at 4 p.m. next Sunday, Rackham Auditorium will be filled with the strains of Stravinsky, Chopin and Mozart, as well as Beethoven, Bach-Siloti.

Dexter will play Bach-Siloti’s Andante in D, Mozart’s Sonata in A, Beethoven’s Sonata in A, opus 101, Stravinsky’s Sonata (1924), and Chopin’s Impromptu in F sharp, opus 36, Nocturne in E, opus 62, No. 2, and his Ballade in A flat, opus 47.

A native of California, Dexter began his study of music and performing at an early age. He continued studying on the West Coast until he was awarded a fellowship at the Juilliard School.

During his five years there, his major instructors were Alexander Siloti in piano and Felix Salmond in chamber music. He later returned to the Juilliard for a year of study with pianist Sascha Gorodnitski.

Of his many network television and radio performances, several dozen were on Radio Tokyo. In concert and recital, he has given premieres of the music of Finney, Jones, Milhaud and Wilson.

He has been a member of the University faculty since 1949. He was chairman of the Piano Department from 1961 to 1973.

Recent recitals include those at Siena Heights College, Schoolcraft College, Alma College, Kalamazoo College and the Interlochen Arts Academy.

TIME OF HIS LIFE - U-M School of Music Prof. Benning Dexter, at left, will present a Mozart-Beethoven-Stravinsky program at 4 p.m. next Sunday in Rackham Auditorium. "Haven't played a recital in years," he confides, "but I'm having the time of my life.