Bourbonnais, IL – The much-loved Monster Concert returns Saturday, November 1 at 1:30 p.m. at Olivet Nazarene University’s Larsen Fine Arts Center in Kresge Auditorium, uniting dozens of local piano students and teachers for a one-of-a-kind musical showcase.
The event, co-sponsored by the Kankakee Valley Music Teachers Association (KVMTA) and Southwest Area Music Teachers Association (SAMTA), has been a community tradition since the 1990s. Originally held in shopping malls on multiple keyboards, it now features students and teachers performing on digital pianos in coordinated ensemble pieces.
The program will include works from patriotic tunes to classical and Broadway selections. Ensembles will be conducted by Cheryl King of Bourbonnais, accompanied by orchestral backing tracks and violin parts led by Desiree Hicks and her students.
Participants will also take part in two workshops: Sarah Maranto will lead Monster Madness, a session of music games and races, while Steven Meyer, an Olivet graduate in music education and jazz studies, will conduct a percussion workshop.
Admission is free, with free-will donations supporting KVMTA and SAMTA programs.
