BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The final performance of the Beckley Concert Association’s 2024-2025 season takes place Thursday, when jazz pianist Dimitri Nassar takes the Woodrow Wilson High School Auditorium stage at 7:30 p.m.
Admission is free for Beckley Concert Association members and children accompanied by adults. College students with school IDs will also be admitted free of charge. Tickets are $20 at the door or online at beckleyconcerts.com.
Nassar has been studying piano since the age of 5. The son of a professional piano tuner, Nassar’s early musical education took place at the Cleveland Music School Settlement and the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied under renowned pianist and jazz educator Cliff Habian. During his high school years, he was a member of the Shaw High School jazz ensemble “Rhythm Teens” and the Ohio Jazz Orchestra for Youth (OJOY). He later continued his studies at South Carolina State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in music education, followed by a master’s degree in music education from Anderson University.
In 1995, Nassar was inducted into South Carolina State University’s Jazz Hall of Fame, a recognition of his significant contributions to the field. His talent has also been acknowledged at notable festivals, including Ohio’s TriC and Lakeland jazz festivals, as well as the Count Basie Jazz Festival in Hampton, Virginia.
The Dimitri Nassar Trio has performed at a variety of prestigious events, including the Multicultural Fest at Mary Washington University, the Congressional Black Caucus, the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival, the DC Jazz Fest and the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The trio was also a finalist in the 2009 Chick Webb Jazz Competition.
Over the years, Nassar has taught over 1,000 pianists, ranging from beginners to advanced students. He has also mentored aspiring musicians who have gone on to attend renowned performing arts academies, ensembles and music programs. In 2022, he founded Crescent Piano Studio, offering music education to pianists of all ages and skill levels.
Nassar is also the executive director of Black Keys Matter Incorporated, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and performing music by African and African American pianists, while fostering a deeper appreciation for their contributions to the musical world. Additionally, Nassar is a National Board Certified Teacher.
Dimitri Nassar’s third album as a bandleader, America in the Key of Black, was released in March 2025.
For more information, to purchase tickets or to make a donation visit http://www.beckleyconcerts.com/ or find us on Facebook. Thursday’s performance will also include a sneak peek at the BCA 2025-2026 season, which kicks off August 24 and runs through April 2026.
