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| Concert Pianist Darlene Miller |
Concert Pianist Darlene Miller
Artist review by John Durant Feb 2008
I recently
discoved the incredible talent of Darlene Miller on the "Showcase Your Music" website,
and it didn't take long for me to become a fan of this very gifted concert pianist. Darlene is extremely
versatile, and flawlessly performs sophisticated compositions in many genres from classical to jazz with tremendous
heart, soul and emotion.
Her piano arrangements of standards like Love Story, The Way We Were, and The Theme
From Mohogany were my personal favorites. Her approach to these classics is very reminiscent of Liberace, with strong
familiar melodies embedded in a beautiful tapestry of notes that span the entire range of the piano. Darlene seems
to feel every note, and the music seems to flow out of her like and endless refreshing spring.
Her technical
mastery of the piano is evident in her flawless technique and incredible control over her dynamics. I truly believe she is
capable of performing any composition with equal precision and emotion, and her versatility is very impressive.
Darlene plays with her entire heart and soul, and she creates that strong emotional connection that immediately
draws you into the music. This is such a refreshing change from seeing concert pianists that seem like they're just
going through the motions. Many of these pianists have amazing technical ability but very little emotional
appeal. Darlene obviously has an abundance of both!
Concert pianist Darlene Miller has a wide variety of music
available for your listening pleasure on ShowcaseYourMusic.com, so please click on the link below, and you'll be directed
to her profile page. You must hear this extremely gifted performer!
Click here to go to Darlene Miller's profile page on ShowcaseYourMusic.com!
Darlene Miller: Bio
I just want to share Darlene's bio featured on the "Showcase Your Music" website so you can get to
know a little more about this incredibly gifted pianist. Please visit the "Showcase Your Music" website
to hear her performances.
Biography
I started at the age of three playing the piano. Piano lessons began at the age of 5, with Jane
Brown from the Cincinnati Conservatory in Music, and violin lessons at the age of 11 with Dr. Piowstrowski, and Dr. Holeshofski;
and Dr. Katz (conductor of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra at that time). At the age of 8, I won the International Music
League held in Sandusky,OH with a total score of 98. I have received many Superior awards from the International Music Guild
Association. At the age of 14, I was guest pianist with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra as well as other orchestras, studied
with the Wasson Studio and received a few lessons with Van Cliburn. I represented the United States at the Eastern Music Festival,
studying under Dr. Rich from Britian. At the age of 15, I had been accepted to study at Julliard in New York and Curtis in
Philadelphia, but my family felt I was too young and wouldn't allow me to go. I was awarded the McCarthy Scholarship to attend
Bowling Green State University where I studied under the leadership of Jerome Rose, artist in residence. For years I have
been the pianist for World Premieres, guest soloists with orchestras, bands, trios, quintets, Chamber Orchestras, pianist
for hotels, restaurants, performing and arranging plays, and weddings; the pianist that entertained Robert Dole and his wife
while visiting the Dayton, area; pianist for private parties held by the Legal Society in Dayton, Dental Association of Dayton,
as well as other private parties; and teaching in the Dayton School system. For a short time, I instructed my own students
in my Miller Piano Academy. I graduated with a BA in music (piano and violin performance) and BS in nursing from Wright State
University. Studying the classics developed technique and sensitivity. Now I can perform and allow the emotions of the piece
to take over. I have been educated to not get up on stage unless you had something to say; for anyone can play pretty music.
Every note has breath and meaning and should take you on a trip without you ever leaving the farm. It is total atmosphere.
I really feel each and every note I play. It all has so much meaning. I tell people that I play from my toenails....because
the heart stops too short in the chest...LOL !!!!
My dream is to perform and light everyone's heartstrings all
over the world,especially for God. Please, when you hear me perform bring a penlight so I can see with each piece performed
whose heart has been touched. I love to see every penlight in the audience come alive. I'll be asking, "Who's Lit tonight?"
LOL If the piece touches your heart then light your penlight so I can see it. To look out into the audience and see nothing
but the glow of lights, is heaven for the artist and heaven for the audience... What a way to connect. Enjoy listening to
my selections that I have arranged and performed and tell me which one was your favorite...
I love Follow Me which
melts my heart; Summer of 42 with its mysterious atmosphere; Love Story and its romance; My Heart Will Go On that is driven
by the bass and the haunting melody; and I tried to capture the emotions of Lionel Richie singing Truly..
I hope
to be the twist of Liberache someday...(the grand piano, the beautiful outfits, the candelabra, and music that touches the
heart)...only female this time!!!! LOL ... Darlene
I have added two of my favorite concertos to share with
you. The violin picture was taken backstage. I was concert mistress of the orchestra and had to lay my violin down in order
to play the piano with the orchestra. Hope you will listen to both concertos and give me a chance to show you how I can really
play:
The Beethoven Concerto starts out with a long orchestral intro, but the cadenza where the artist gets to
show off is at the end. See if you can hear where I tried to make the piano sound like a harp. When I walked out to perform
this, my husband (but now ex)was sitting in the front row with his arm around his mistress, what a way to have to perform.
It was a true Beethoven moment-truly ferocious, and truly sickening sweet as the hurt poured in. There are sections that the
piano plays smoother than a flute, and ends sounding like heaven opened up right after the cadenza.
The Saint
Saens Concerto begins after you hear my footsteps actually on the stage. It starts out with a Cadenza; but the most exciting,
technical section of this concerto appears in the middle, right after the most beautiful melodies ever produced; and does
it ever get down. It was my hook your wagon to the stars technical piece that I first heard at the age of 15; and it took
a good portion of my life before I could play it. My family says I killed the orchestra...LOL Enjoy. This was the last piece
my father heard. He died just before he could hear it with the orchestra. This was in honor of my father.
For
the holidays I have added Christmas music for your enjoyment also.
Please enjoy my jazzy selections that were
just added and tell me which ones were your favorites!! Love 720 in the book, Ain't Misbehavin, Get Some Cash for Your Trash,Baby
Elephant Walk, and Crazy World~~~~
I want to be known for the emotional ride that people feel when they listen
to my music. I want to bring you to tears, cover you with goosebumps and touch your SOUL!!!
I want to change
the way the world listens to music. I don't want to play the classics traditionally for most sound like very fast exercises,
COLD with no breath, depth, tone qualities, or textures that touch the heart. Please forgive me for not performing some pieces
as fast as tradition has them playing, for you wouldn't get much food driving through a restaurant at 80 miles an hour. So,
I have decided to trade that in for more meat and potatoes...LOL I want to trade tradition and speed for the emotions, excitement,
tone qualities that the pieces really do have in them. I want you to really feel the beauty and the soul the masters put in
their pieces.
So, when you listen to my performances, bring a tissue and allow the emotion of the piece to touch
your soul. I don't want you to hear it. I want you to feel the piece. I want it to come straight off the page into your heart.
We will connect with music. How I feel is what you will feel.
I want to touch your soul....
Thanks for visiting my showcase and hope you were entertained. Please drop me a line and tell me which
ones you enjoyed the most.
musicdarling@yahoo.com
Darlene Miller Music LLC
Website for sales
being created: Come and visit
www.DarleneMillerMusic.com
Click here to go to Darlene Miller's profile page on ShowcaseYourMusic.com!
