Presented by Appalachian State University
FREE FOR ALL
Join App State’s James Douthit for an examination of the relationship between art and music. Using the music of Debussy and art from the French Impressionist Period, Douthit will explore the process of turning an artistic movement of color and tone into some of the most beautiful piano pieces of the Impressionistic period.
Douthit has performed extensively in the United States, as well as in Austria, Poland, China, and Great Britain. He is noted for his performance of piano compositions of Theodor Leschetizky (1830–1915), one of the most renowned piano pedagogues of the nineteenth century. Of note, the Leschetizky Association of America invited Douthit to present a concert in honor of Leschetizky’s birthday and his performance earned a standing ovation.
Reviews of Douthit’s recitals laud his performances as “musically poetic” and highlight his extensive technical and interpretive skills. He has been praised for his “sweeping gestures at the piano” that “extend his passion for the music and its communication to the audience.”
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
App State named Douthit dean of the Hayes School of Music in 2017. He has said he believes deeply that the study of music is an important component of a well-rounded education for music students and the broader student population. Douthit previously served as a pianist, teacher, and administrator at Nazareth College in Rochester, New York.
A complement to his performances and work in higher education, Douthit has published articles in Clavier, The American Music Teacher, and The National Piano Pedagogy Forum.
Douthit holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in piano performance and literature from the Eastman School of Music, a Master’s Degree in piano performance with an emphasis in accompanying and chamber music from Northwestern University, and a Bachelor of Music Degree in piano performance from Mars Hill University. He has also studied higher education leadership at Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Institute for Educational Management.