The Collegian

Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: Arts

Assistant Professor of Music Omri Shimron will highlight the newest addition to this year's string of faculty music recitals. He will perform a ragtime-themed solo piece, and also plans to include a lecture element, speaking and showing examples as well as playing music.

The recital, which is at 8 p.m on April 5, will also feature Adjunct Instructor of Voice Eden Simmons, Artist/Teacher of Music Brad Blackham and Adjunct Professor of Cello David Peshlakai.

"I just love playing chamber music and feel very fortunate to have such wonderful colleagues I can play with," Shimron said.

Shimron began playing piano when he was six years old and living in Israel. He attributes much of his musical success to his family and teachers.

"We had a piano at home," Shimron said. "I had two older sisters who played it and I just followed them. My parents are not musicians but loved music. They were very encouraging, took me to concerts and played classical music at home. I was [also] lucky to have had good teachers around in Israel."

Associate Professor of Music Melissa Knecht, who helped bring Shimron to Hillsdale, said Shimron was a child prodigy on the piano and still possesses extraordinary technique.

"[Shimron is] an excellent musician as well as an excellent pianist," Knecht said. "Not a lot of music theorists can do those technical things."

While other music theory professors have tried to cancel class to practice for concerts, Knecht said Shimron never tries to do so.

"It's my responsibility, this is the nature of my duties here at Hillsdale and I take it seriously," Shimron said. "If I can find time I will practice and perform, but my first and foremost responsibilities are my classes and students."

Knecht said Shimron's approach to teaching helps his students immensely.

"Even though he teaches a very hard subject, his music students understand," Knecht said. "Previous teachers [have had to give] extra coaching."

Shimron said he tries to make his classes as "interactive" as possible.

"Music theory is skill-based, lecturing for 50 minutes does not work," Shimron said. "I try to involve [my students] as much as possible. I ask questions, [ask them to] do things on the board and have them sing in class as little examples of what we are studying."

Shimron also plays music in his music theory classes, which his predecessors did not do.

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