For Lawrence University junior William Surtees, co-winning the annual LU Symphony Orchestra’s Concerto Competition wasn’t a pursuit of prestige—it was a personal milestone, a chance to bring a beloved work to life.
Surtees, a music performance (piano) major, will perform the first movement of Frédéric Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor on June 6 (7:30 p.m.) in the Lawrence Memorial Chapel, alongside the Lawrence Symphony Orchestra. The concert program also will include Claude Debussy’s “La mer” and the world premiere of “Head Up” by Denver-based composer Matthew Forte.
While grateful for the recognition, Surtees said the most meaningful moment came before the Concerto results were even announced.
“I was actually way more excited when I got to the finals,” he recalled. “I wasn't expecting to. My mentality was that I just wanted to give the best performance that I could possibly give and see where that got me.”
The Chopin concerto had been on his wish list for years. During the 2021 International Chopin Competition—a prestigious event where this concerto is frequently performed—Surtees closely followed and studied differing interpretations. The eventual winner, Bruce Liu, became his reference point.
“It contains almost everything that defines Chopin,” Surtees said. “Sadness, euphoria, longing, and passion, and also displays his pianistic virtuosity—this contrast in how he illustrates intensity just really fascinates me.”
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Fittingly, among Surtees’s favorite moments are both the dramatic midpoint and the exhilarating coda. Although he identifies the movement as the hardest piano work he’s yet tackled, the difficulties arise from unexpected details.
“The thing that makes [the coda] so hard is actually the dynamic—it’s piano,” he said. “If it was forte, it could sync much more with the keys and fit the hand better. But I remember being so satisfied when I first played through it, thinking, ‘Wow, I actually did it.’”
Although Chopin is now the centerpiece of Surtees’s repertoire, his interest in the composer’s music developed gradually. Born and raised in Bardstown, Kentucky, Surtees began piano lessons in his hometown before transitioning to more advanced studies with Dr. Wesley Roberts at Campbellsville University. With his eye on Lawrence, Surtees began audition preparations—it was only at this point that his interest in Chopin came into focus.
“I was already into Chopin when I auditioned,” he said, “but it was Ballade No. 1 that sealed the deal. It just put him in a league of his own.”
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At Lawrence, Surtees has found space to foster that connection. Under the mentorship of Michael Mizrahi, the Frank C. Shattuck Professor of Music, his curriculum has been tailored to emphasize Romantic repertoire, particularly Chopin. Even as he explores new terrain—his current fascination is Enrique Granados’s Goyescas—Chopin remains a guiding force.
“There’s a freedom and emotional honesty in his music that’s rare,” Surtees said. “With Chopin, the music speaks for itself.”
Surtees plans to perform the full Goyescas suite for his senior recital, but his long-term goals are still Chopin-focused.
“I think my biggest Chopin project goal would be to learn all three of his piano sonatas,” he said. “The third is a masterpiece. ... It's pristine and chaotic at the same time. And the first, people give it a bad rap, but it’s a beautiful piece.”
For now, though, Surtees is focused on one thing: stepping onto the Memorial Chapel stage and sharing a piece of music that has shaped who he is.
“It’s been a dream to learn this concerto,” he said. “Getting to perform it—especially with an orchestra—is something I never thought I’d do until much later. That’s what makes it so special.”
