Acclaimed classical pianist Susan Zhang is accustomed to surprising people — especially when she shows up with The Concert Truck in Chandler.
The 16-foot box truck, dubbed “a Transformer on wheels,” opens to reveal a fully equipped mobile concert hall, complete with a grand piano, lights and sound system. This allows Zhang and violinist Alena Hove to share their love of classical music with the masses for free.
Although the schedule is publicly revealed, The Concert Truck is still unexpected to some. The Concert Truck’s public schedule is: 6 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, at the Chandler Nature Center, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd.; 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Downtown Chandler Farmers Market, Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, 3 S. Arizona Ave., and 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, at Chandler Museum, 300 S. Chandler Village Dr.
“I think it can be very unexpected for some people,” Zhang said with a laugh. “I’ve heard it exceeds expectations. People tell me, ‘Wow! That was an amazing experience.’”
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The complete schedule also includes private performances at Conley Elementary and Willis Jr. High schools as well as the Sun Lakes Country Club.
This marks the third consecutive year the Chandler Center for the Arts has sent The Concert Truck around the city, as part of the venue’s commitment to expanding access to live arts experiences beyond the center.
“The arts don’t have to begin and end at the doors of a theater,” said Julianna Crespo, Chandler Center for the Arts general manager.
“The Concert Truck gives us an opportunity to meet people where they are and bring live music into the places where people live, gather, and connect. We want people throughout Chandler to see the arts, and Chandler Center for the Arts, as something that belongs to all of us.”
Zhang agreed.
“Our goal is to give access to classical music to everyone in an outdoor space that you could park a truck, essentially,” she said. “We give a world-class, live classical music experience anywhere we can park the truck.”
Zhang has been praised for her “astounding musical authority.” She made her orchestral debut at age 12 with the Augusta Symphony and has since performed with the South Carolina Philharmonic, Aiken Civic Orchestra, and Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, appearing at major venues across North America, Europe, and Asia. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Peabody Conservatory, and the University of South Carolina, Zhang also serves on the faculty at the Gilman School and Peabody Conservatory.
Zhang said piano is a longtime love.
“When I started, it was probably something my parents made me do. But as I got older, I got better at it and found it was a really engaging, amazing art form, and the music written for it is just so incredible,” she said.
“It felt like something that I could really own and express and participate and be present with. I think there are many amazing instruments that are beautiful, have a wonderful tone and sound quality.”
She added that the piano is “really cool” because the pieces usually involve many instruments, but she plays the transcription for one instrument — the piano.
“We do a lot of that on the truck, especially when we’re working with opera houses or orchestras,” she said.
Hove is praised for her “rich, smooth tone” and “nuance and grace.” A student at the Colburn Conservatory, she studies under the renowned Robert Lipsett, the Jascha Heifetz Distinguished Violin Chair.
Hove made her solo debut at age 9 with the Port Gardner Bay Chamber Orchestra and has since appeared with the Pacific Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Seattle Philharmonic, Colburn Orchestra, Burbank Philharmonic, San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra, Ottawa Chamber Orchestra, and the Colburn Baroque Ensemble, among others.
Zhang said, due to demand around the United States, a second truck has been built.
“I’m hoping to reach more people and impact more communities,” Zhang said.
“We’re building our group of artists. We’re building community even within our industry. That’s definitely a big goal of mine. We want to reach more people, more communities, more artists and bring everyone together during these intimate performances.”
