Press Release
PINEHURST — Twenty fingers will be tickling the ivories in celebration of Women’s History Month during a piano duo performance titled “Portraits,” featuring Sandhills Community College faculty member Kristina Henckel with Amanda Virelles in a dynamic collaboration devoted to repertoire for piano four hands and two pianos.
The performance will be held on Tuesday, March 31 at 7 p.m. in the Owens Auditorium at the Bradshaw Performing Arts Center on the campus of Sandhills Community College.
The award-winning piano duo 4HANDS, brings a brand-new program for two pianos and piano four hands. The evening opens with a tribute to women composers from three musical traditions, reflecting the duo’s international spirit and commitment to imaginative programming.
Works by Amy Beach (USA), Madeleine Dring (England), and Cécile Chaminade (France) showcase brilliance, lyricism, and character across cultures. The second half features a cornerstone of the two-piano repertoire: Sergei Rachmaninoff’s "Fantasie-Tableaux, Suite No. 1," a beloved masterpiece of sweeping orchestral color and emotional depth.
Patrons will experience an expansive, orchestral sound that only two grand pianos can create — featuring BPAC’s own Steingraeber Concert Grand, paired with a Yamaha SFX Concert Grand, in a thrilling dialogue.
Since the formation of 4HANDS in 2019, the duo has been recognized for expressive ensemble playing, vivid musical dialogue, and innovative programs that balance underrepresented works with canonical masterworks.
Their discography includes three albums:
- "Rhapsody in White and Blue" (2021)
- "Slava" (2022)
- "Hispanic" (2024)
4HANDS received the Grand Prize and the Artist of the Year Award in the Chamber Music category at the 2022 International Youth Music Competition; the following year, they performed at The DiMenna Center for Classical Music in New York and Carnegie Hall.
Tickets for event may be obtained at: ticketmesandhills.com/events/4hands-26.
