Denise continues her conversation with Richard Alston. A native of East Orange, New Jersey, Richard Alston received his first lessons from the late Dorothy Early at the tender age of eight. He was playing organ and piano for the first Baptist church of Vauxhall, New Jersey. He continued his studies with Sylvia Ravenoff in New York and received his bachelor of music degree from the Juilliard School. He later was awarded the highly prestigious Maria Guerrera ju scholarship in piano to return to Juilliard for his master's degree. Alston has drawn the attention of the musical world, educators and college and university students in recent years for bringing to like the great contributions to classical music by the composers of African descent. Alston not only performs exquisite words of these composers that remain to this day, relatively unknown to the larger public, but he also delights audiences with lectures and master classes on the colors of music, classically black composers of African descent, Under his direction as associate professor of music and the coordinator of performing arts Sten crafted a degree program in the music department at Essex county college that has flourished into a full fledged performing arts department of music, dance and drama. Alston has also served as a faculty advisor for Westminster College Choir, Education Opportunity Program, and formerly a member of the Juilliard school's music advancement program faculty. In the Metropolitan Opera’s revival of Porgy and Bess Alston brought an unforgettable sense of well researched authenticity to the role of jazz Bo Brown, the man after whom jazz genre is believed to be named. He repeated his portrayal of Jazz Bo Brown in the historic production presented by the New Jersey State Opera at Symphony Hall in Newark, New Jersey. As a special guest artist with the New Jersey Symphony Alston performed in a special concert in commemoration of the birth of William Grant Still.  Alston  also enjoys performing chamber music as a guest artist with the Harlem Chamber Players, Alston performs in two separate concerts.  Richard Alston's video Troubled Waters by Margaret Bonds was selected as the alumni video of the month in January  2015. Professor Alston, now retired professor Alston is the minister of music at St.Mark's Episcopal church in Plainfield, New Jersey.What You Will HearWhat Richard would tell his younger selfThe White Peacock, early teachings and artistic styling and musicalityHow Richards roots affect his artistryTroubled Waters by Margaret BondsMentorsRichard’s connection to other artist at JuilliardComposers of African descentPorgy and Bess, Jazz Bo BrownWorking with actors and singersQuotes“As pianists, we should make the piano sing like a singer.”“I always look beyond the black and white on the page.”MentionedAlstonpianist.comYoutubeMargaret BondsChevalier de Saint-GeorgeBilly StrayhornWilliam Grant StillCarmen de Lavallade