Five on Friday

Featuring Ovid Young '62, artist in residence

1. What is the role of an artist in residence?
Artist in residence is something of an honorific title, I suppose. In most cases, it seems to be given to someone who has spent a significant part of his/her career before a broad public, over a number of years, often internationally. It's usually hoped that some of this "real-world" experience can be passed on to university students whose early years are spent in the cocoon of academe -- absorbing theory and philosophy and acquiring performing skills.

2. You're a pianist, organist, composer and conductor. Is there one role you enjoy more than the others?
I began playing the piano at the age of 5 (when dinosaurs roamed the earth) and, so, have been doing that for much longer than my other professional activities as organist, composer and conductor. My evasive answer to your question is that -- to my enormous delight -- I still have opportunities to do all of the aforementioned and am not yet forced to choose only one! :)

3. You've traveled the world as one-half of the Nielson & Young duo-pianists. What was one of your favorite performance venues?
Over more than four decades, I've had performance experiences in a huge variety of countries and venues, but some of the more unusual sites have included the famed Passion Play Theatre in the German town of Oberammergau, performing with a symphony orchestra from the Czech Republic; the stage of the Academy of Music in Madras, India; the Kremlin in Moscow; and, just a few months ago, in Rome's Basilica of St. Paul's-Outside-the-Wall with the Rome Symphony Orchestra.

4. You and your wife, Laura '62, both attended Olivet. How did the two of you meet?
In the music department -- where else?! Laura, a very good amateur pianist, is now retired from her real career as an elementary education professional.

5. With Valentine's Day approaching this weekend, what's one love song you think sounds great on the piano?
Franz Liszt's "Liebestraume" (Dream of Love); or perhaps the classic American popular song, "Laura," from a great film score.