Story-telling melodies from the gracefulness of Edvard Grieg’s "Wedding Day at Troldhaugen" to the sophisticated piece of Mozart’s "Sonata in B flat major" played in allegretto, echo wall-to-wall from a Steinway & Sons grand piano located on the center of the stage, while audience members listen in respect and silence.

Renowned pianist and music professor William Corbett-Jones demonstrated his dedication to music goes beyond the classroom when he delivered a striking performance to an audience of 50 at Knuth Hall in SF State's Creative Arts building on September 9.

The one and a half hour long event was free to students, faculty and the general public, and was part of a larger series held by SF State’s School of Music and Dance and College of Creative Arts that will feature over nearly 200 concerts and over 100 performances this semester.

“Events like this one are good opportunities for less fortunate students,” says Corbett-Jones. “Sunday is a good day because there’s free parking, also.”

Some people traveled beyond San Francisco to get a seat at the public event, like Ernest Ames, 75, of Pacifica, who has enjoyed many of Corbett-Jones’ performances throughout the years.

Ames started attending over a decade ago when his son Kenneth, who graduated from SF State's Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts department in 1988, told him about the free recitals.

Kenneth’s word of mouth on such events got Ames coming back for more and continues to attend performances such as piano recitals by students in the music program.

Nancy Wortman, a resident of the Sunset District and longtime friend of Corbett-Jones, travels to SF State at the beginning of every semester to pick up a College of Creative Arts event calendar to keep track of upcoming performances within the department.

She and her husband try to attend featured concerts and events as often as possible.

“They have excellent programs here,” said Wortman. “And they’re mostly free or moderately priced.”

Although the audience was comprised mostly of many elder locals, students like freshman Evelyn Martinez grabbed a seat with her friend.

Martinez is enrolled in a Basic Music Piano class and was assigned to attend a number of concerts throughout the semester.

“I think it’s cool that we have opened events like these to the public,” says Martinez. “It’s a great experience and opportunity.”

Corbett-Jones is one of the accomplished and qualified faculty within the creative arts, music and dance departments who share the mission “to educate students to become significant creators, scholars and educators capable of major contributions in our urban, national and global environment.”

His next and final performance of the semester will be collaboration with colleague and distinguished violinist Professor Jassen Todorov on Sunday, December 2nd at 3p.m.