SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

10:00 am - Piano Masterclass with Paul Sanchez

12:15 pm - New Music: Paths to the Unexpected with Paul Sanchez

1:25 pm - Convocation Presentation with Eric Reed

4:00 pm - Glenn Gould in the 21st Century with Timothy Paige

8:00 pm - Eric Reed, Solo Jazz Pianist, Heilig Memorial Concert

 

Eric Reed

Pianist Eric Reed, one of today’s leading jazz pianists, will appear in concert at von der Mehden Recital Hall on the University of Connecticut’s Storrs campus. Presented as the annual Heilig Memorial Piano Concert, the program offers a rare chance to experience Reed in a relaxed, story-driven solo performance. He will weave personal musical narratives into a dynamic evening of improvisation and reflection. Reed has been a vital figure on the international music scene for more than 25 years. His career began in the churches of Philadelphia, grew through training at South Philly’s Settlement Music School, and flourished in Los Angeles and New York, where he became a sought-after pianist among jazz greats. He has collaborated with legendary artists including Betty Carter, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Buster Williams, and Wynton Marsalis. To date, he has released more than two dozen albums as a leader, most recently Out Late and Black, Brown, and Blue, which highlight his inventive interpretations and original compositions. Now based in Los Angeles, Reed continues to perform, mentor, and pursue his spiritual and artistic evolution. The concert is supported by the Murray-Heilig Annual Concert Fund. The following day, Saturday, October 11, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Reed will lead a free public Master Class with UConn jazz students in von der Mehden Recital Hall.

About the Heilig Memorial Piano Concert and von der Mehden Recital Hall

The Heilig Memorial Piano Concert is one of over 130 public performances presented each year in von der Mehden Recital Hall, the primary performance venue of the UConn Department of Music. The 400-seat hall is known for its excellent acoustics, two Steinway D concert grand pianos, and intimate design—regulars often say, “there isn’t a bad seat in the house.” Von der Mehden Recital Hall is fully wheelchair accessible, with accessible restrooms, service dog accommodations, and ample parking nearby (free after 5:00 PM). Directions and parking information are available at https://vdm.uconn.edu/plan-your-visit/directions-parking/.