On Friday, Oct. 10, Southwestern University Assistant Professor Dr. Jeanne Hourez performed a piano recital in Thorley Recital Hall.
This was the second of two music department guest recitals this semester. The event was free and open to the public.
Hourez performed three song cycles by composers from France, her native country, one cycle from a Norwegian composer and a song from contemporary Vietnamese-Polish pianist Ania Vu.
“Her last cycle of songs dedicated to famous women was incredible,” said attendee Alana Schmidt. “She played it perfectly. She wasn’t just doing a recital just for the sake of it. You can tell she loves this music.”
All the pieces were composed by women, and most were from the Belle-Époque, a period of French and European history from 1871 to 1914. Hourez researches female composers from that period specifically.
“A proper education for the highest tier of French society at that time meant being well-educated in music,” said Hourez. “Women started teaching kids music, but the repertoire wasn’t big enough, so they started composing their own, and not only for kids. That’s where it starts, but I love women composers from the 20th and 21st centuries as well.”
Hourez was born in France and made her solo debut at age 12. She’s received degrees from the Paris Conservatory, University of Montreal, San Francisco Conservatory of Music and University of Texas at Austin. The latter is where she earned her Doctorate of Musical Arts.
Hourez also co-founded Ensemble Benzaiten, a traveling musician group composed of piano, mandolin and other strings. They’ve performed shows on multiple continents where they rearrange classical music to include the mandolin.
In addition to her assistant professor position at Southwestern, Hourez plays piano for the voice
department of UT Austin and is a staff pianist at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
“Teaching, and especially teaching kids, has really helped me develop,” said Hourez. “I always try to keep lightness and playing no matter the circumstances in mind. If you have a bad day, that can’t impact your lesson with kids, so I guess I’m trying to transport that into my own playing.”
Upcoming music department events include Professor Trevor Davis’ clarinet and saxophone faculty recital on Oct. 17. In addition, the Canyon Trio will hold a concert on Oct. 30. Both events will be at 7:30 p.m. in Thorley Recital Hall.
For information on other upcoming events, go to the music department’s website.
