Pianist, city native joins ASO for concert
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Award-winning pianist Anthony Cornet of Altoona joins the Altoona Symphony Orchestra for its concert "Music of the Americas" at 7:30 p.m. on April 15 at the Mishler Theatre.
Cornet will play George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," an American classic for blending jazz and classical music, with the orchestra under Maestro Nick Palmer in a celebration of the diversity and richness of American music.
"One of the things I'm so excited about is working with Nick Palmer," Cornet said. "When I was growing up I used to attend symphony concerts and would watch him conduct that would be 20-some years ago. It will really feel like it is coming full circle to work with him. It will be a real treat for me."
The 17-minute "Rhapsody in Blue," Cornet said, is "one of the most popular pieces for piano and orchestra. What I like about it is there's a charisma to the piece that is infectious for the audience and it is really enjoyable to share."
It is what makes "this piece the perfect piece for audiences who haven't really experienced symphony concerts before. So if anyone has been on the fence about going to an Altoona Symphony concert I really suggest this is one of the best avenues in. 'Rhapsody in Blue' is very audience accessible but it also has some grit to it as well. If anyone reading this has been thinking about going for a while this is a perfect entry point."
The concert will include a variety of other pieces celebrating the Americas, including excerpts from Florence Price's "Symphony No. 1," the first symphony composed by an African-American woman to be performed by a major symphony orchestra. Additionally, the Charles Ives/Schumann "Variations on America," a patriotic tune arranged in a thrilling style, according to a news release. Additional music from notable composers from North, Central, and South America will be featured.
Cornet, 33, is a 2008 graduate of Altoona Area High School where he performed with the Jazz Ensemble and was a frequent accompanist. He is the son of Rick and Paulette Cornet of Altoona. Area music lovers may remember Rick Cornet from his time playing electric bass in the band Sunny Skies in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
In 2017, Cornet earned his doctorate in Piano Performance from Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah University, under the guidance of renowned Irish pianist, John O'Conor.
In addition, he completed Masters and Bachelors degrees at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and Temple University in Philadelphia on full-tuition scholarships, according to his website.
Cornet first appeared with the Altoona Symphony in 2014 and he counts that performance among his favorite performances, along with his debut at Carnegie Hall in New York City, and playing in Russia while on a performance tour in Europe.
"Playing with the Altoona Symphony was a really wonderful experience the first time so I am really looking forward to it this time," he said.
Upon completing his education, Cornet returned to Altoona and is a private piano instructor, a composer and publisher of keyboard music and instructional piano books for children, and performs in the region. He is the son of Rick and Paulette Cornet of Altoona.