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Performers
Pianist Jean Park is active as a soloist, chamber musician, educator, presenter, and adjudicator. She currently serves on the piano faculties of Duke University and Meredith College, coaches ensembles for the North Carolina Chamber Music Institute, and teaches advanced piano students in Cary, North Carolina. Her chamber work includes performances as pianist of the Ardora Trio and collaborations with university colleagues and symphony musicians.
Solo highlights include Around the World in 88 Keys, a recital featuring music from six continents at the Cary Arts Center; a live broadcast on WSMR Classical; a recording of Schubert’s Fantasy in F minor featured in the 2019 film Don’t Let the Night End; and first prize in the Graduate Division of the Schubert Club Competition. She has served as a Rising Faculty Star at the Texas State International Piano Festival, presented on piano ensemble music by Korean composers at the 2025 MTNA National Conference, and been invited to adjudicate competitions in North Carolina, Texas, and New York.
Dr. Park has taught at the collegiate level since 2018, with previous faculty appointments at the University of the Incarnate Word and San Antonio College. She studied at Stony Brook University (D.M.A.) with Gilbert Kalish, the Manhattan School of Music (M.M.) with Daniel Epstein and André-Michel Schub, and the University of Washington (B.A.) with Regina Yeh.
Pianist Lara Saldanha is equally at home as a soloist and collaborator in the worlds of new music, standard repertoire, and historical performance. New music highlights include appearances with Metropolis Ensemble, Sandbox Percussion, Chelsea Symphony, Leschetizky Association, Mannes American Contemporary Ensemble, and Round Top Festival. Standard repertoire highlights include concerts at PS 21 in Chatham, NY, Princeton Sound Kitchen, Valley Cottage Young Masters Series, Rites of Spring Festival, Music Iowa City, Icicle Creek, National Federation of Music Clubs, Weill Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and Bohemian National Hall. As a historical performer, Lara has studied harpsichord and fortepiano and appeared as a soloist in Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with Kollective366. Lara debuted in India, her country of origin at the National Center of Performing Arts in Mumbai, Kala Academy in Goa, and Pune Music Society. As a vocal pianist, Lara has worked with Opera Middlebury, Art of Song at Toronto Summer Music, Manetti Shrem Opera Program at Festival Napa Valley, Opera Saratoga’s outreach programs, Cincinnati Song Initiative’s Fellowship, and Dellarte Opera.
Lara recently moved to North Carolina after a decade in New York City. She is currently an Adjunct Professor at Meredith College and the Repetiteur for UNC Opera, and teaches piano privately at her home studio in Chapel Hill. She studied at Stony Brook (D.M.A.), Mannes (P.D.P.L., M.M.), and Northwestern University (B.A./B.M.) with Christina Dahl, Vladimir Valjarevic, and Alan Chow, and was a Collaborative Fellow at Bard Conservatory.
Founded in June, 2003, the Fourth Friday Concert Series, formerly know as the 4th Friday Mix, stands as one of our area’s longest-running concert series. We remain committed to providing free and inclusive concerts that welcome musicians with a passion for sharing their talents. All attendees, including children capable of listening attentively, are warmly welcomed. Fourth Friday Concerts typically feature 2-4 performers or performance groups, although special occasions may showcase a single performer or group for the entire concert.
