By Lyn Bronson

When John Larry Granger stepped to the podium on a rainy Saturday evening on January 10th to lead the Santa Cruz Symphony in its third program of the 1997-98 Season, there was a special feeling in the air. This concert’s special feature was a triumphant performance of the Schumann Piano Concerto by 17-year old Aptos pianist, Aaron Miller, who is graduating from Aptos High School this June and departing the area to seek fame and fortune.

Right from the entering solo flourish, Aaron revealed a no nonsense approach to this concerto. He is a sensitive, sincere musician, utterly without affectation, who shows a rare maturity for his young years. Never was there a moment where musical values were sacrificed for pianistic effects. Not to say that he doesn’t have a virtuoso’s equipment, for he does, but he never lets it get in the way of the music. One of the problems with the first movement of the Schumann Concerto is the length of the recapitulation. However, Aaron’s choice of tempi kept the movement tightly organized and the recapitulation flew by like magic. His cadenza to the first movement was strong and fleet and made a powerful effect. In the lovely slow movement, Aaron shaped the lyrical phrases of the middle section with tender care and subtle refinement. The final movement was a delight from beginning to end. This performance earned Aaron a prolonged, spontaneous standing ovation, and he responded with a sparkling performance of Gershwin’s Third Prelude for Piano.

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