Professor of Piano Andrew Cooperstock loves all things French—the art, music, food and language—and he’ll soon combine that passion with his love for teaching and performing.

In partnership with CU Boulder Education Abroad, a brand new Global Seminar—Chamber Music Performance—will engage a dozen student participants in Aix-en-Provence, Marseille and Paris, France. Eight of the students traveling to France with Cooperstock are from CU Boulder and four are joining the class from the University of South Carolina.

From July 24-Aug. 7, the class will offer students opportunities to perform chamber music throughout France—including a unique occasion for a local audience to experience the performers from half a world away.

“One of the concerts in Paris is going to be at the new Steinway and Sons gallery there,” explains Cooperstock. “The students will perform chamber music and then—in the second half of the program—just the pianists will each play a short piece on the Spirio Steinway.

“A signal will be livecast from Paris to the Spirio piano in the Steinway and Sons Denver location where audience members can hear the sound actually coming out of another Spirio piano, like a player piano—not from a speaker like a Webcast or Zoomcast or something.

“The sound is extremely accurate, so it should sound pretty much exactly like the Paris concert,” he adds.

In addition to the Steinway recital, participating students will perform in a Baroque church in Aix-en-Provence and the American Church in Paris, among venues, and engage in master classes. They’ll also enjoy sightseeing, a boat ride along the Seine, a trip to Notre Dame and a tour of the Institute for Research and Coordination in Acoustics/Music (IRCAM). 

“The support of Stephanie Pund and Sylvie Burnet-Jones from Education Abroad, College of Music Dean John Davis and the college’s administrative team were really instrumental in supporting this class and recognizing its importance. It’s a lot of work on everybody’s part but well worth it!”

Stay tuned for updates when the group returns from their study abroad and join us to experience the livecast recital at Steinway & Sons on July 28, 11 a.m. (56 Steele Street, Denver)!