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Free Press Standard
A patriotic-themed concert featuring two Carrollton pianists will be held Sept. 13 at the Van Horne Bake Ballroom on North Lisbon Street in downtown Carrollton as part of the Donna Davis Musical Event series.
Pianists Samuel Atkinson and Jay Stoneman will perform at 4 p.m. in celebration of the country’s 250th anniversary. The performance will be held in the ballroom on the third floor of the Van Horne building. An elevator is available.
Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at the door.
Atkinson said the concert will include piano solos, duets and the singing of anthems with audience participation.
Selections planned for the concert include “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “America the Beautiful,” “God Bless America,” “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “Stars and Stripes Forever” and “My Country, ’Tis of Thee,” among others.
Atkinson has studied classical piano with private and professional instructors since he was 3 years old and began playing in church services and piano recitals at age 6.
He graduated from the University of Mount Union in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in music and a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering. He works primarily as a design engineer but continues studying piano with Dr. Maira Liliestedt in her Keys to Artistry studio.
His former teachers include Carla Hively, the late Robert Vandall and his late grandmother, Dixie Smith.
Atkinson performs regularly for weddings, church services, showcase recitals and receptions. He hopes to one day teach piano in his own studio and pass along his love of music to a younger generation.
Stoneman began taking piano lessons at age 5 after his great-grandmother, Zuma Eshler, gave him her piano to learn on. He took lessons from Hively until graduating from high school. His other teachers included Sally Patterson, Brent Schloneger and the late Vandall.
He is a member of First Presbyterian Church of Carrollton, where he serves as an elder and worship leader and helps run the Sharing Bread program. He also plays piano for weddings, events and concerts.
Stoneman graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Arts in architectural studies, a Bachelor of Science in construction management and a minor in historic preservation. He is a real estate agent for Cedar One Realty and an administrative assistant at Centreville Village Assisted Living. He also spends time restoring his historic home in Carrollton.
Stoneman and Atkinson have played together at recitals, concerts and church services for nearly 20 years and continue to perform together.
