arts & entertainment

Married concert pianist sensations, Catherine Lan and Tao Lin perform under the name Duo Beaux Arts. The couple will concertize for area residents at 4:00 PM on Sunday, February 23 at First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, 520 Royal Palm Boulevard. 

Duo Beaux Arts will present an exciting program of compositions for solo and duet piano music, as well as the complete Piano Concerto No. 3 by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev, which Prokofiev himself described as “devilishly difficult.” Dr. Lan will solo on the Prokofiev, while Steinway Artist Lin will delight the audience with Claude Debussy’s dreamy Clair de Lune. Duo Beaux Arts is in high demand on international stages, having performed in Spain, Estonia, Finland, Canada, Switzerland, France, Hungary, and the Netherlands. The one-hour concert on February 23 will mark the third appearance by Duo Beaux Arts for audiences at First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach. Admission is free. For more information, call (772) 562-9088.  

Dr. Jacob Craig, Director of Music and Arts at First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, is a talented pianist in his own right. Even so, he recognizes the extraordinary ability of Duo Beaux Arts.    

“We are more than thrilled for the return of this musical couple to Vero Beach,” said Dr. Craig. “Both are incredible, and Catherine is soon to be featured on the Prokofiev with the South Florida Symphony — but our audience will get to experience her unique talent first.” 

The concert by Duo Beaux Arts is just one of many events sponsored or hosted by First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, known for its musical and artistic outreach to the Central Florida community. Concert donations directly benefit the Music and Arts Department and help fund the appearance of quality musical groups throughout the year. For a list of upcoming events or for more information about First Presbyterian of Vero Beach, visit www.FirstPresVero.org.

ABOUT DUO BEAUX ARTS— Duo Beaux Arts was formed in 2008 by internationally renowned husband and wife concert pianists and recording artists Catherine Lan and Tao Lin. Known for its adrenalized performances, this dynamic duo has performed in France, Switzerland, Spain, Canada, Estonia, Finland, the Netherlands, China, and the US to both critical and audience acclaim. Duo Beaux Arts has been featured on Fox4 Morning Blend TV, WFSQ-FM Classical Radio, Maine Public Station, Venice Magazine, OutClique Magazine, WSFL-TV, Asian-Trend Magazine, World Journal New York, Miami Artzine Magazine, and Gulfshore Life Magazine. Recent engagements include concerto appearances with South Florida Symphony Orchestra, recitals at Romanza Festivale, Swan City Piano Festival, Bowdoin International Music Festival, as well as debut concerts in Dubai UAE and at Buda Castle in Hungary, concert tours across the USA, and returning engagements in Estonia and France. www.duobeauxarts.com

Dr. Catherine Lan

Praised by critics as a pianist with “fluent technique, sensitive musicianship and a probing intellect”, Dr. Catherine Lan has concertized across Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Mexico, Thailand, United Kingdom, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, and Ireland at prestigious venues such as the Carnegie Hall in New York and others. Featured as guest artist at Karlovac Piano Festival and Rovinj Summer Festival, Dr. Lan’s highly acclaimed performances have been featured at WLRN-Public Television, “Beethoven Universal TV” series, Becon TV, Fu-Hsin Broadcasting Station, and Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Radio.

                A soloist with Milwaukee Symphony, Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, Vancouver Symphony, British-Columbia Chamber, and Edmonton Symphony, Dr. Lan is also an avid chamber musician. She is the Director of Chamber Music Series of South Florida Symphony, as well as the pianist and founding member of Duo Beaux Arts, Duo Arpeggione, Duo Formosa, Tallinn Piano Trio, Delray Piano Trio, Beaux Arts Chamber Ensemble, and Chrysalis Chamber Ensemble.

                This season Dr. Lan will be the featured soloist performing Prokofiev Piano Concerto No 3 with South Florida Symphony, as well as Brahms Piano Concerto No 1 with Manassas Symphony, Gulf Coast Symphony, and Palm Beach Atlantic Symphony Orchestras.

                Born in Taiwan and raised in Canada, she received Bachelor of Music from University of British-Columbia, Master of Music from Indiana University (Bloomington), and Doctor of Musical Arts from University of Miami, Dr. Lan serves on the faculty of Broward College and records for Centaur Records. www.catherinelan.com     

Mr. Tao Lin

Described by critics as possessing “Keen musical intelligence and excellent facility” (Miami Herald) as well as “opulent and romantic tone” (Fanfare), Chinese-American concert pianist and Steinway Artist Tao Lin has performed across Asia, North America, and Europe. As a soloist, he has performed with orchestras including Moscow Chamber, Winnipeg Symphony, and Atlantic Classical. As a recitalist, he has appeared at Kennedy Center, National Gallery of Art, Rockefeller University, Chautauqua Institute, Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Minnesota Orchestra Hall, Izumi Hall (Osaka, Japan), and Edvard Grieg Museum in Norway. A devoted chamber musician, Lin has concertized as a member of Berlin Piano Quartet, St Petersburg Piano Quartet, and Brahms Piano Quartet. He is a frequent pianist and lecturer at the Music Festival of the Hamptons, Mainly Mozart Festival, Music Mountain Chamber Music Festival, Arts Rolla Festival, Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival, and Festival Miami. Lin is currently a visiting professor of Shanghai Normal University and a piano faculty member at Bowdoin International Music Festival. Lin records for Centaur Records, Naxos, and Artek labels. www.taolinpianist.com

ABOUT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH– First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, founded in 1958, is a congregation of about 800 members with a vision for mission and ministry to represent the heart of the Reformed Tradition. The church serves Indian River County and beyond, covering worship and service to meet the needs of the community. It is located at 520 Royal Palm Boulevard in Vero Beach, Florida. For more information about First Presbyterian services or upcoming music or art-related events, contact the office at (772) 562-9088 or visit www.FirstPresVero.org. Under the guidance of Dr. Jacob Craig, Director of Music and Arts, the music department consists of a chancel choir, hand bell ensemble, and a comprehensive youth music program with wind ensemble, choir, and orchestra. The church also houses The Galleries at First Pres, a collection of spaces throughout the campus dedicated to a rotating collection of curated art. In addition, First Presbyterian is the home of the Vero Beach Pipes and Drums, PRIMO School of Performing Arts, and the Vero Beach Choral Society. For more information, visit www.FirstPresVero.org.