POINT LOOKOUT, MO. — College of the Ozarks faculty member Dr. Clara Christian, professor of music and coordinator of the piano program, will perform a piano recital on Thursday, March 12, at 7:30 p.m., in the Newman Recital Hall in the Gittinger Music Center. Her performance is co-sponsored by the Center for Faithful Arts and the music department. The Center for Faithful Arts is catering the recital and guests are encouraged to enjoy refreshments in the Gittinger Music Center after the performance.
Christian will perform the premiere of a sonata written by C of O’s own Dr. Luke Carlson, professor of theory and composition, along with pieces by Johann Sebestain Bach, Franz Liszt, and Frédéric Chopin. This performance is part of an ongoing project of commissioned works by American composers that Christian is premiering individually.
Christian highlights the blessing it is to perfect her music while teaching full time. “I am very intentional and make sure I touch on every piece every day and check my tempos to make sure each day I'm making gradual progress,” said Christian. “Performing is a privilege and blessing that allows us to reflect the character of God as we are made in His image as He is the creator of all things; whether I am presenting a brand-new work by a living composer, or repertoire from centuries past, it is an intensely creative process.”
The faculty recital is free and open to the public. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Recital Program
“Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1,” Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
“Prelude and Fugue no. 6 in D Minor, BWV 851”
“Prelude and Fugue no. 7 in E-flat Major, BWV 852”
“Soneto 104 del Petrarca, S. 151, No. 5,” Franz Liszt (1811–1886)
Intermission
“Sonata for Solo Piano” (2025), Luke Carlson (b. 1983)
1.“Musingly”
2."Vividly”
3.“Ecstatically”
“Etude in C Minor, Op. 25, No. 12,” Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849)
“Etude in E Major, Op. 10, No. 3”
“Etude in G-flat Major, Op. 10, No. 5”
About Dr. Clara Christian
Pianist Dr. Clara Christian is professor of music and piano program director at College of the Ozarks, where her students have won both state and national awards. Prior to College of the Ozarks, she taught at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Northwestern University’s Music Academy in Evanston, Illinois. Active as a clinician and adjudicator, she serves on the executive board of the Missouri Music Teachers Association.
Christian has performed at venues such as the Chicago Cultural Center and the Jaani Kirik Concert Series in St. Petersburg, Russia, and has given performances in Strasbourg, France, and Sondershausen, Germany. She received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Northwestern University with Alan Chow, studied piano pedagogy with Marcia Bosits, and earned a Master of Music degree with Ellen Mack at the Peabody Institute. Her Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance is from Wheaton College, where she studied with Daniel Horn. Her awards include the Chicago Musician’s Club of Women, Elaine and Jerome Nerenberg Scholarship and top prize in piano; being selected as a 2022 finalist for the American Prize in Piano Performance, professional division; and performing as a semifinalist in the 2017 Franz Liszt Festival and International Competition.
Recent performances include a solo appearance with the Missouri Philharmonic Orchestra, various guest artist concerts throughout the United States, and participating in the semifinal round for the Music International Grand Prix. In addition to giving solo performances, she is a frequent collaborative artist and has given several premieres with her trio, Fuse. She is currently working on a project of all newly commissioned music and, in 2026-27, will give four premieres of new music written for her by American composers. For more information, visit clarachristian.com.
About The Center for Faithful Arts
Established in 2023, the Center for Faithful Arts promotes the creation of art as an act of worship. It exists to engage culture by encouraging and supporting artists of Christian faith in their pursuit of artistic excellence and by providing opportunities for dialogue between the arts and theology. Under the direction of Dr. Rusty Osborne, professor of biblical and theological studies, the center supports student and faculty exploration in visual, fine, and interpretive arts. The center hosted its first major event, the Festival of Arts, in April 2024, drawing students, faculty, and community members for performances, exhibits, and discussions on the role of faith in the arts.