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Highlands Today

Accomplished AP pianist to perform Saturday

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By MARC VALERO

Highlands Today

Published: June 12, 2009

AVON PARK - Concert pianist Michele Cann of Avon Park graduated "summa cum laude" and received the highest honors as the valedictorian of the 2009 class at The Cleveland Institute of Music.

Fred Volkmer of the The Southhampton Press (N.Y.) said of Cann's performance appeal that she is "a colorist who can charm."

Cann will be featured at a vesper/recital at 7 p.m., Saturday, June 13 at the Avon Park Seventh-day Adventist Church.

The 21-year-old said Thursday that she plans to study one more year at the Cleveland Institute to earn her master's degree and then eventfully she wants to earn a doctorate in music and teach at the collegiate level.

This summer she will return for the fourth time to perform at the eight-week Piano Fest in the Hamptons.

Due to the support of the festival, the performing students receive a full scholarship covering their expenses, Cann said, which makes it competitive to be selected to play the full eight weeks.

"It's a very rewarding experience, but somewhat stressful because you are trying very hard to keep yourself up there at the same level as everyone else," she said.

Formerly first chair violinist and piano soloist with the Highlands Symphony Orchestra, Cann during her teenage years placed in several state and national piano competitions allowing her the opportunity to perform with several esteemed orchestras including the Tampa Bay Symphony, the Florida Orchestra, the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Central Florida Symphony.

During her tenure at the Cleveland Institute she has performed with Peter Salaff (founding member of the Grammy award wining Cleveland quartet).

She has performed at the South Hampton Cultural Center and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Cann is the daughter of Leonard and Kaye Cann of Avon Park.

Highlands Today reporter Marc Valero can be reached at 863-386-5826 or mvalero@highlandstoday.com.

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