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Lorie Francis' love for the piano started at a very early age. While still in Junior High school, she was already accompanying for her school choirs. She continued studying and accompanying at every opportunity through her public school years. |
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When she enrolled at the University of Idaho, her talents for accompanying and sight-reading were immediately put to work. She accompanied for one of the University choirs and for musicians of every discipline on workshops and recitals. She began to excell as a soloist, too, winning the Washington/Idaho Symphony Young Artists competition, and performing numerous recitals on her own. |
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After graduating from the U of I, she was offered a Teaching Assistantship at Colorado University. While there, she continued to refine her pianistic skills, culminating with a very successful tour of Japan by the elite CU Wind Ensemble, playing works such as the Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue. |
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Since earning her Master of Music degree in piano performance from CU, she has embarked on a wide variety of projects. She has been a member of the UMR music faculty since 1998 where she serves as classroom instructor, private teacher, UMR choral accompanist and co-director of the UMR spring musical. In addition to these part-time duties at UMR, she teaches a class at Columbia College, accompanies for the Rolla High School choirs, teaches Elementary Music at St. Patrick's Catholic School, and teaches piano to a select few private students. |
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Lorie is married to John Francis, a radio producer at KUMR. |
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