By Jalayna Pough, Reporter
UNCP department of music presents, ‘Gather Hear Louisiana,’ Guest artist Miki Sawada performed a piano concerto in Moore Hall on Oct 3.
Sawada is a pianist who has recently decided to tour around the 50 states in hopes of bringing happiness to people and to introduce them to classical music. She kicked off her UNCP concert by showing a documentary that opened with a scene of a Louisiana church, singing soulfully as they welcomed her as a guest to their congregation.
The documentary provided a brief glimpse into Sawada’s tour in Louisiana, showcasing her visits to various gathering places in the region. These shows provided her with opportunities to display her talents and captivate audiences who heard her play. In her documentary, Sawada can be seen acquiring a van to transport herself and the required equipment for her journey. In the documentary it is evident that many people were drawn to her musical style, with some even expressing a desire to join in and play something themselves.
Sawada refused to plan a set itinerary of her journey in Louisiana instead she chose a different route.
“I came up with an idea to do a tour with no itinerary. I would just show up, source a piano and van, and then let the people I met dictate where I would head to and where I would play.”
Through her distinctive ‘Gather Hear Tour’, her objective was to use music as a bridge, reaching out to Americans from diverse socioeconomic and political backgrounds.
Sawada is acknowledged as an adventurous musician ready to explore new horizons in classical music, venturing into unexplored territory that few have ventured into.
This project sought to find qualities that bring us together in a diverse country. Sawada has delivered over 70 complimentary concerts in states including Alaska, West Virginia, Massachusetts, Utah, Louisiana, frequently in remote rural communities where live classical music is a rarity.
‘Gather Hear Tour’ is now headed to its next stop in Alabama, where Sawada will continue to enthrall audiences with her classical music performances in diverse gathering spots.