College of the Ozarks to host pianist Forrest Wakeman for Guest Artist Recital on November 10

POINT LOOKOUT, MO. — The College of the Ozarks Music Department will host pianist Forrest Wakeman in a guest recital on Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Newman Recital Hall. 

Forrest Wakeman is a performer, composer, producer, worship leader, and keyboard player based in the West Michigan area. He has played for over 20 Broadway national tours, including Wicked, Les Miserables, Waitress, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Book of Mormon.

“Forrest Wakeman is a versatile musician that I was able to meet for the first time this spring,” said Dr. Clara Christian, associate professor of music. “He wears many hats and excels at all of them – conducting, teaching music theory and piano, and performing. I’m thrilled he gets to come visit College of the Ozarks and share his gifts and talents with our music students here.”

Wakeman’s performance will include the following, a collection of music in the “minimalism” style:

• Metamorphosis 1, by Philip Glass
• China Gates, by John Adams
• Battlestar Sonatica, by Bear McCreary
• Vexations, by Eric Satie
• The Book of Sounds, by Hans Otte

More About Forrest Wakeman

Wakeman played for the Grand Rapids, West Michigan, Battle Creek, and Hollan Symphony Orchestras. He is an active recitalist and adjudicator. Recent engagements of his include a solo appearance with the Calvin Community Symphony Orchestra, performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto in C Major K. 467 and serving as rehearsal pianist and coach for Opera Grand Rapids recent production of Mozart’s The Abduction from the Seraglio.

Wakeman holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in piano performance from Michigan State University, where he studied with Deborah Moriarty, and a Master of Music from Western Michigan University with a double major in composition and piano. He currently serves as assistant professor of music at Calvin University, where he teaches private piano lessons, composition lessons, and courses in music theory and music technology. Additionally, he serves as music director for Magnify Church, a large multi-state congregation located just north of Grand Rapids, Michigan.