to play in our neighborhood

By JAINE TREADWELL

Features Editor

Published Oct. 17, 1999

It’s going to be a beautiful day in "our" neighborhood when Mrs. Rogers comes to town Sunday, Oct. 24.

Joanne Rogers and Jeannine Morrison will be in concert at 2:30 p.m. in the Adams Center Theater on the campus of Troy State University.

Rogers is the "Mrs." of television personality Mr. Rogers but she has achieved a great measure of success on her own as a concert pianist along with her friend Jeannine Morrison.

The duo performs in concert all across the United States and they have received rave reviews from coast to coast.

"To have these two renowned concert pianists perform in our area is a great opportunity for those who enjoy beautiful music," said Art Williams, graduate assistant for the TSU department of communication and fine arts. "The concert will be a wonderful conclusion to Troy State’s homecoming weekend. It’s going to be one of the most exciting events scheduled by the Troy Council on the Arts and Humanities and Troy State University this year."

Rogers and Morrison have been been playing a two-piano repertoire since they first practiced together in the band room of Florida’s Rollins College in 1949.

"We sat down, played something together and were surprised and amazed. We just clicked," Morrison said.

Their talents were well known even during their college days when they performed in three big resort hotels in Winter Park. Now, five decades later, the duo is still clicking and still bringing the audience to its feet in appreciation and admiration at each performance.

Don Crapps, president of the Troy arts council, taught with Morrison at Clayton State College and University in Atlanta for 20 years.

"Jeannine retired as professor of music and she spends much of her time traveling and performing with ‘Mrs.’ Rogers," Crapps said. "They are very generous musicians in that they are top-rate performers who don’t perform for the money but just because they love doing it. Having them in Troy is exciting and it will be a wonderful experience for all who attend."

Their program spans the range of music from the 18th century Clementi to 20th-century works written especially for the duo pianists. Their program includes Danza Brazliana which captures the essence of Latin spirit. Variations on a Theme of Haydn by Brahms is another highlight of their performance.

Tickets for the concert are $10 for adults and $5 for TSU students. Tickets are available at local banks, WTBF and Radio Shack.