Pikes Peak Music Teachers General Meeting and Program Presentation

The nineteenth century saw the rise of the character piece as the preeminent compositional genre of Romantic composers for the piano. Mendelssohn’s 48 “Songs Without Words” are early masterpieces of this genre and attained great popularity in the nineteenth century because of their technical and musical accessibility.

This presentation will provide a survey of the collection, organizing the songs into different genres, discussing specific technical and musical devices, and hopefully introducing you to some jewels of the repertoire for your students (and yourself!). Please bring scores – any edition is acceptable.

Jennifer Hayghe has performed in solo recitals and made orchestral appearances throughout the world, including the United States, Europe and Asia. Hayghe received her bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees from The Juilliard School, where she was the last student of the legendary artist-teacher Adele Marcus. Hayghe won every award possible for a Juilliard pianist to receive, including the William Petschek Debut Award, resulting in her New York City recital debut at Alice Tully Hall.

Hayghe has performed and taught as a soloist and chamber musician at universities and colleges throughout the country as well as appearing as a concerto soloist with various orchestras throughout the United States.  She has performed in major chamber music series, including Bargemusic in New York and the Garth Newel Center for Music series in Virginia, and has taught chamber music throughout the United States and Central America.

Hayghe is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Colorado in Boulder. Formerly an Associate Professor of Piano at Ithaca College and the Barineau Endowed Professor of Piano at Louisiana State University, Hayghe has served as a featured artist at music teachers’ conventions throughout the country as well as a presenter at the Music Teachers National Association national conference.  Most recently, Hayghe has given masterclasses at the Manhattan School of Music and in the New York University Piano Master Class Series.  She lives with her husband, Robert McGaha, and son William in Erie, CO.