Canfield twins to perform faculty concert at SUNY Oswego

SUNY Oswego music faculty members, alumnae and twins Evangeline and Elizabeth Canfield will perform four-hand piano duets in a Focus on Faculty concert at 7:30 p.m. April 20 in the Sheldon Hall ballroom.

The Duo Canfield concert is free and open to the public.

This is their second year teaching as adjunct instructors of group piano classes at SUNY Oswego, and the first time the Fulton residents will perform their own concert as faculty. They completed their undergraduate degree in music at SUNY Oswego and were both Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence recipients in 2013. They subsequently received their master's degrees in piano performance at Bowling Green State University.

The Canfields also are part of the Oswego Youth Conservatory, the music department’s community outreach program. Elizabeth is the managing director and Evangeline the assistant managing director. This program allows them to teach piano classes for ages 3 to 80.

The Canfields knew they wanted to be pianists before they even took lessons. They started playing at age 11, began lessons at the college at 14 and have not slowed since. They have been finalists in multiple competitions such as the Ellis Duo Piano Competition in Mississippi, the Ohio International Piano Duet and Duo Competition and have competed in a piano festival in Greece.

The Canfields happened to learn about SUNY Oswego’s teaching opening during a transition phase in their lives and are happy to be back in Oswego and giving back to the community that they grew up as a part of.

"To give the opportunity that we had to students and community members, if they want to study music professionally or for fun, is really rewarding," said Elizabeth.

Enrollment in the Oswego Youth Conservatory program has tripled as the Canfields have continued to work toward expanding the program.

"We are looking at where we can grow the program and to continue to meet the needs of our community," said Evangeline.

Duo Canfield plans to perform landmark works for four-hand that highlight key time periods. They look forward to performing for their friends in the community and their students especially to show they "practice what they preach" as faculty members.

The Canfields expressed that being twins does impact their performance by adding to the spontaneity and fun of it.

"We know each other so well that once we sit down behind a piano, there's that connectivity that happens," said Elizabeth.

"There's something about being on stage performing with your best friend," said Evangeline.

For more information, call 315-312-2130.