Sep 01 2016
The 5 Browns (cancelled due to weather)

The 5 Browns (cancelled due to weather)

Presented by Opening Nights at Florida State University at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall - Florida State University

Florida State University’s Ruby Diamond Concert Hall will host a special performance featuring five Steinway Art Case pianos from the collection of Tallahassee entrepreneur and museum owner DeVoe Moore.

The 5 Browns — a classical piano ensemble of five siblings — will perform on Moore’s rare Steinways at the first-of-its-kind, free concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1. While the concert is free, tickets must be reserved beginning Wednesday, Aug. 3, at tickets.fsu.edu or through the FSU Fine Arts Ticket Office by phone at (850) 644-6500.

“These pianos have never been played in one place in their history, and the first time a concert will be performed with them will be at Florida State,” Moore said. “I think it is incredible that FSU will be the first one to have this amazing collection of pianos performed upon at one time.”

Steinway & Sons, founded in 1853 and considered the world’s premier piano manufacturer, is co-sponsoring the concert and underwriting The 5 Browns’ appearance.

“Everyone at Steinway & Sons is excited to witness history on Sept. 1 as our talented Steinway Artists The 5 Browns perform upon five of the very unique Steinway pianos provided for this event by DeVoe Moore,” said Ron Losby, president of Steinway & Sons – Americas. “DeVoe’s collection of eight Steinway Art Case pianos, all with historical significance, is the largest such collection in the world — and seven of these pianos will be on hand for this momentous occasion.”

The 5 Browns — Ryan, Melody, Gregory, Deondra and Desirae — are the first family of five siblings to have attended New York’s Juilliard School. The quintet has three CDs that have climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Magazine’s Classical Album Chart. The program will include selections by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, George Gershwin and Robert Schumann.

“We are thrilled and honored to host this unique event at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall that will enable DeVoe and Shirley Moore to share their treasured Steinway collection with the campus and Tallahassee community,” said President John Thrasher. “The superb craftsmanship of Steinway pianos is internationally known, and we truly appreciate the company’s generosity to make this idea come to fruition.”

Moore’s collection of eight Steinways is the finest private collection in the world and is housed at the Tallahassee Automobile Museum, which he established in 1996.

“When you’re a company with 163 years of history, there’s not many things that you can call ‘the first’ or ‘the best,’ however, I believe it’s safe to say that this is the most significant collection of Steinway pianos to ever be involved in a single piano performance,” Losby said.

In addition to the five Steinways to be played by The 5 Browns, two others in Moore’s collection will be on display in the lobby of Ruby Diamond Concert Hall during the event.

Moore bought his first Steinway, the Alma-Tadema replica, in 2006.

“The craftsmanship they put into that piano was incredible, and I bought the first one because I was struck with the beauty of it,” Moore said.

Admission Info

This performance is free to attend, but please note that tickets are required for entry.

Tickets will be available at 11:00 a.m. EST on Wednesday, August 3 via the FSU Fine Arts Ticket Office.

Phone: 8506446500

Email: openingnights@fsu.edu

Dates & Times

2016/09/01 - 2016/09/01

Additional time info:

PROGRAM

Welcome by Christopher Heacox, Director of Opening Nights Performing Arts at Florida State University

Presentation of Video and Piano Collection by Ron Losby, President of Steinway & Sons, Inc.

Performance by The 5 Browns:

  • The Sorcerer’s Apprentice – Dukas……….The 5 Browns
  • Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, K.448, Allegro con spirito – Mozart……….Desirae and Deondra Brown
  • Prelude in C-Sharp Minor Op.3, No. 2 – Rachmaninov……….Melody Brown
  • Malaguena from Andalucia Suite – Lecuona……….Gregory and Ryan Brown
  • The Moldau – Smetana/arr. Shumway……….The 5 Browns

INTERMISSION

  • Rhapsody in Blue – Gershwin/arr. Shumway……….The 5 Browns
  • The Factory – Ryan Brown……….Ryan Brown
  • Windmung – from Myrthen, Op. 25 – Schumann/Liszt……….Gregory Brown
  • Clair de Lune from Suite Bergamasque – Debussy/arr. Anderson……….Melody, Desirae, and Deondra Brown
  • Islamey: Fantasy for Five Pianos – Balakirev/arr. Anderson……….The 5 Browns

Location Info

Ruby Diamond Concert Hall - Florida State University

222 S Copeland St, Tallahassee, FL 32306

Parking Info

General parking is available in the St. Augustine Garage located on the corner of Pensacola and Copeland Streets, and the Call Street Garage located on corner of Call and Macomb Streets. Accessible parking is available at the North Entrance of Ruby Diamond Concert Hall and along Convocation Way. The accessible entrance drop-off area is located at the north entrance of Ruby Diamond (the roundabout) and may be accessed by Convocation Way. Elevators are available to take patrons to the appropriate floor. Ushers will help direct patrons to the elevators.