Kirill Gerstein Named 2010 Gilmore Artist

Kalamazoo, Michigan, January 7, 2010 - Russian-born pianist Kirill Gerstein has been named the recipient of the 2010 Gilmore Artist Award, it was announced today by Daniel R. Gustin, Director of the Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival. One of the most prestigious honors for pianists, the Gilmore Artist Award is presented every four years on a non-competitive basis to an exceptional pianist who, regardless of age or nationality, has the potential to sustain a career as a major international concert artist.  Mr. Gerstein will receive $300,000 in support of his musical and career goals over the next four years.  Previous recipients of the Gilmore Artist Award are Ingrid Fliter (2006), Piotr Anderszewski (2002), Leif Ove Andsnes (1998), Ralf Gothóni (1994), and David Owen Norris (1991).  

"Over the past ten years we have observed Kirill Gerstein develop into one of the most compelling and profound musical artists of his generation," said Dan Gustin. "He is the epitome of what we seek in the Gilmore Artist - a musical thinker and performer who will continue growing and who can, and we believe will, attain a career as a major concert pianist for the 21^st Century."

Mr. Gerstein has been praised for his masterful technique, musical curiosity, and probing interpretations. From early piano lessons at a special school in Russia, to studies in jazz at Berklee College of Music in Boston, to performing at the classical music world's most prestigious venues, Mr. Gerstein is "on the fast track to a major career, and he deserves to be," noted The Boston Globe.  He won first prize at the 2001 Arthur Rubinstein Piano Competition in Tel Aviv and was chosen as Carnegie Hall's "Rising Star" for the 2005-06 season.  Mr. Gerstein is the first Gilmore Artist to have received the Gilmore Young Artist Award, which he was awarded in 2002.

"I am extremely honored and humbled to have been chosen as the 2010 Gilmore Artist," said Kirill Gerstein. "It feels very gratifying and flattering to have my work recognized and supported by such a distinguished panel of experts in the classical music world. I'm quite overwhelmed by the myriad of projects that this award could make possible, and I'm looking forward to working with Dan Gustin and his staff at The Gilmore to realize some of my creative dreams.  It's with great appreciation that I accept this incredibly generous award."

            The Gilmore Artist Award is given by the Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival, established in 1989. Operating under a unique selection process, candidates for the Gilmore Artist Award are nominated confidentially by a large and diverse committee of music professionals. The nominated candidates are then unknowingly evaluated for their pianism and musicianship in various live concert performances by an anonymous six-member Artistic Advisory Committee.  The intention is to evaluate the candidates' work over a sustained period of time, rather than judging their achievement during the course of a highly concentrated and competitive set of conditions.        

            The Gilmore Artist receives a $50,000 cash grant to be used at the artist's discretion and $250,000 typically disbursed over a four-year period for projects and activities that will enhance the artist's musicianship and career. 

In addition to Dan Gustin, Director of The Gilmore, the Artistic Advisory Committee for the 2010 Gilmore Artist Award included Matias Tarnopolsky, until recently the Artistic Administrator of the New York Philharmonic, and now the Director of Cal Performances at the University of California, Berkeley; Sherman Van Solkema, Professor of Music and retired chairman of the Music Department, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, MI; Ann Schein, concert pianist and teacher; Don Michael Randel, President of the Andrew Mellon Foundation; and Curtis Price, until recently the President of the Royal Academy of Music, London, and now Warden, New College, Oxford University, U.K.

The Gilmore also gives Gilmore Young Artist Awards every two years to the most promising of the new generation of American pianists, age 22 and younger.  Ivan Moshchuk and Charlie Albright were named the 2010 Gilmore Young Artists.  Between 1991 and 2010, 26 young pianists received the Gilmore Young Artist Award, including Yuja Wang, Jonathan Biss, Christopher Taylor, Adam Nieman, Orli Shaham, and Wendy Chen, in addition to Mr. Gerstein.

The Gilmore Festival and Awards are the legacy of Irving S. Gilmore, a Kalamazoo businessman and philanthropist, whose special devotion to keyboard music and its musicians inspired the creation of the biennial Gilmore International Keyboard Festival and the Gilmore Artist and Young Artist Awards.  Mr. Gerstein, along with former Gilmore Artists Ingrid Fliter, Piotr Anderszewski and David Owen Norris will appear at this year's Gilmore International Keyboard Festival taking place April 17 to May 8, 2010 throughout West Michigan. More information can be found at www.gilmorekeyboardfestival.org.

Born in Voronezh, in southwestern Russia, thirty-year-old Kirill Gerstein studied piano at a special music school for gifted children and taught himself to play jazz. He came to the U.S. at 14 to continue his studies in jazz piano at Boston's Berklee College of Music while continuing to study the classical piano repertoire. Following two summers at the Boston University Young Artist program at Tanglewood, Mr. Gerstein moved to New York City to study with Solomon Mikowsky at the Manhattan School of Music where he earned both his Bachelors and Masters of Music degrees by the age of 20, then continued his studies in Madrid with Dmitri Bashkirov and in Budapest with Ferenc Rados. Now an American citizen, Mr. Gerstein divides his time between the United States and Germany, where he has been a professor of piano at the Musikhochschule in Stuttgart since 2006.

Mr. Gerstein has performed with esteemed orchestras and conductors, and in recital throughout the world. He has appeared as soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Baltimore, Dallas, Detroit, Indianapolis, and San Francisco Symphonies. He has also performed with the Munich, Rotterdam and Royal Philharmonics, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Staatskapelle Dresden, the Finnish and Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestras, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra, Tonhalle Orchester Zürich and the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne, among others. He has given recitals in Boston, Cincinnati, Detroit, Hamburg, New York, Paris, Prague, Vancouver, at Washington's Kennedy Center, the Liszt Academy in Budapest, and at London's Wigmore and Queen Elizabeth Halls.

At summer festivals Mr. Gerstein has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra at Mann Music Center and at the Saratoga Festival and the Cleveland Orchestra at the Blossom Music Festival. He made his Salzburg Festival debut playing solo and two-piano works with András Schiff in 2008.  In 2009 he performed at the Verbier, Aix-en-Provence, and Lucerne Festivals, and returned to Caracas to work with Gustavo Dudamel and the Simon Bolívar Youth Orchestra.

 In addition to his recital and concerto appearances at the Gilmore International Keyboard Festival in May 2010, highlights of his upcoming North American engagements include debuts with the Atlanta, Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Louis symphonies, and the Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Hall, and return performances with the Baltimore, Houston and San Francisco symphonies. In January 2010 Mr. Gerstein will tour with cellist Steven Isserlis, with performances at the Kennedy Center and in San Francisco. He will also make his debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood in summer of 2010. Internationally he will perform with the London Philharmonia, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Spain, Stockholm Philharmonic and WDR Symphony in Cologne.

Honens announces 2009 Winners

media release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Honens International Piano Competition announces Laureates and prizewinners

CALGARY, AB, November 6, 2009 – William Aide, Chairman of the Honens Jury, announced tonight the Laureates and prizewinners of the Sixth Honens International Piano Competition in Calgary. First Laureate is Georgy Tchaidze, 21, (Russia), Second Laureate is Evgeny Starodubtsev, 27, (Russia), and Third Laureate is Gilles Vonsattel, 28, (Switzerland). 

“The outstanding concerto performances by the Honens finalists have made the jury’s decision all the more difficult,” says Aide. “Our three Laureates demonstrate the artistic conviction Honens seeks in its search for the ‘Complete Artist’.”

In addition to more than $100,000 CAN in cash prizes, Honens awards its three Competition Laureates one of the competition world’s most lucrative career development prizes valued at more than $500,000.  This three-year program, which prepares the laureates for the rigours and realities of a professional music career, includes international engagements, presentation of debuts in essential career-building markets, production of recordings, residencies at The Banff Centre, media training, networking opportunities with presenters and artist managers, and mentoring and coaching.  The program is customized to each laureate’s needs, regardless of Competition ranking.

During the Awards Ceremony, Nexen Inc. announced it would again be the Presenting Sponsor of the Seventh Honens International Piano Competition, October 18 to November 3, 2012.

Honens International Piano Competition is among the world’s most prestigious events of its kind.  It searches the world to discover “Complete Artists” – 21^st century musicians for 21^stcentury audiences.  The Sixth International Piano Competition, was presented by Nexen Inc., and supported by Steinway & Sons, Irene Besse Keyboards Ltd, Macleod Dixon LLP, TransAlta and Enbridge Inc. For more information visit honens.com.

Winnipeg Debut of Pianist, Ang Li

WINNIPEG­ - On Saturday, October 3, 2009, Virtuosi Concerts will host the western Canadian debut of classical pianist, Ang Li. CBC radio will also record this Winnipeg concert.

Li has performed on some of the most recognized stages across China, Europe, and North America. 2009 has been busy for the 24-year-old. In February, she made her Hong Kong debut performing Chopin's 2nd Piano Concerto, followed by 3 concerts with the Fort Worth Symphony performing Beethoven's 4th Piano Concerto. This summer, Li performed at the Lanaudiere International Music Festival, returning to Canada for the first time since 2008.

From her earliest public appearance at the Beijing Concert Hall at age six, Li has grown up with the piano. "One of my biggest challenges over the last couple of years was transitioning from being a conservatory student to an independent artist, " says Li. "There was a time when I felt very much on my own with the music I was preparing for concerts, competitions and recordings. It pushed me to bring out a more defined musical character."

Programme: MOZART, Fantasia in C minor, KV 475a ;RACHMANINOFF, Études-Tableaux, Op 33, Nos 2, 8,9; LISZT, Après une Lecture de Dante Fantasia quasi Sonata; SCHUBERT, Piano Sonata in B-flat major, D.960

Concert Information: 8PM, Eckhardt-Grammatté Hall, University of Winnipeg, 515 Portage Ave. www.virtuosi.mb.ca . For Tickets call 786-9000: Adults $29 / Full-time post-secondary students $10/ High-School students $5 (subject to availability at door.

Brilliant pianist brings unique improvisational gifts and visionary interpretations to performances

Gabriela Montero

Wednesday, September 30th – 7:30 pm

Edmonton, AB … The 2009-2010 Edmonton Symphony Orchestra performance season debuts The ESO Presents series with a dazzling pianist of natural spontaneity. Gabriela Montero, for one night only, joins your ESO and William Eddins on stage at the Francis Winspear Centre for Music for an unconventional evening of intense interpretations and astonishing impromptu soliloquies.

Having performed with musical luminaries Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman at the inauguration ceremony for President Obama, Ms. Montero brings her internationally acclaimed stature and artistry to the Winspear Centre where she will open her orchestral performance program with Rachmaninoff’s enduringly popular Piano Concerto No. 2. She will then proceed with a solo program, connecting to her audience in a completely unique and powerful way through improvisational performance.

Often inviting audience members to suggest themes or melodies for elaborate improvisations, Gabriela says, "I connect to my audience in a completely unique way - and they connect with me. Because improvisation is such a huge part of who I am, it is the most natural and spontaneous way I can express myself.”

Concertgoers have a premiere opportunity to experience an imaginative fantasy world of instantaneously constructed musical creations and lush renditions of classical work. Ticket prices range from $20 – $65 (agency fees apply), and are available through the Winspear Centre Box Office at (780) 428-1414, or online at www.edmontonsymphony.com.

The next, and only other performance part of The ESO Presents series this season, will take place on June 1st, 2010. Prodigiously gifted organist Cameron Carpenter will stun concert patrons with his extraordinary musicianship and extreme athleticism not normally associated with the organ.

The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, marking its 58th season in 2009-2010, has taken its place as one of Canada's foremost orchestral ensemble. Its current roster includes 56 musicians from Canada and around the world, performing a wide-ranging repertoire from the great classical masterworks to pops and children's concerts. The presence of the orchestra and its enrichment of the community's quality of life are key elements in the stature and profile of Edmonton on the national and international scene.

Gonzales : Le recordman spectaculaire et son piano à eXcentris / Gonzales: The record-holder and his piano at eXcentris

Montréal - À peine plus de trois mois après avoir battu le record du plus long spectacle pour piano et voix de l'histoire, Gonzales revient à Montréal avec Piano Talk Show, un spectacle interactif avec piano, surprises, bavardages et humour.

Un spectacle de Gonzales, c'est une expérience unique dans une ambiance de folie ! Grâce à sa formation classique, l'auteur-compositeur-interprète démontre une maîtrise exceptionnelle pour son instrument et c'est en faisant de l'électro qu'il s'est taillé une place de choix dans le cœur du public. Avec six albums à son actif, l'artiste nous entraîne dans toutes sortes de textures musicales, des plus épurées et classiques (Piano Solo, 2004) aux plus éclectiques (Soft Power, 2008).

Gonzales, alias Jason Beck, est un pianiste montréalais installé à Paris. Producteur, arrangeur et auteur pour de nombreux artistes, il compte des collaborations avec Feist, Peaches, DJ Tiga, Julien Doré, Jane Birkin, Arielle Dombasle et Philippe Katerine.

Le 18 mai dernier, il établissait un record Guiness en présentant à Paris un concert de 27 heures, 3 minutes et 44 secondes. Pour l'occasion, Gonzales avait interprété tant du Gershwin, du Beethoven, ses propres compositions que des chansons de Britney Spears ou la chanson-titre du film Rocky III.

Le répertoire vaste et le personnage spectaculaire de Gonzales promettent une soirée certainement inattendue!



Samedi, le 26 septembre à 22h

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Montréal – Barely three months after becoming the world record holder for the longest piano and vocals show, Gonzales has returned to Montreal with his new concert, Piano Talk Show, an interactive event with lots of surprises, stories, and humor.

An evening with Gonzales has always proven to be a unique experience, enveloped by a seamlessly invigorating ambiance! Thanks to his classical education, the singer-songwriter has demonstrated exceptional talent on his instrument of choice, the piano; however, it was when he went "electro" that he really found his niche. Throughout the essence of his six albums, this artist has introduced us to a variety of musical genres, from his most wholesome and classical music (Piano solo, 2004) to his most eclectic (Soft Power, 2008).

Gonzales, a pseudonym for Jason Beck, is a Montreal pianist now living in Paris. A producer, as well as an arranger and author for a multitude of artists, he has collaborated with Feist, Peaches, DJ Tiga, Julien Doré, Jane Birkin, Arielle Dombasle and Philippe Katerine on a variety of projects.

On the 18th of May last year, he became the Guinness record holder for his concert in Paris, a show that lasted 27 hours, 3 minutes, and 44 seconds. For the occasion, Gonzales had chosen to interpret pieces by Gershwin, Beethoven, his own compositions, as well as songs by Britney Spears and the theme song from Rocky III.

The musically talented and undoubtedly entertaining Gonzales always proves to be a inimitable experience!

Saturday, the 26th of September at 10 o'clock.

Leon Fleisher Un pianiste légendaire / Leon Fleisher A legendary pianist

Montréal, le 15 septembre 2009 — C'est au légendaire pianiste américain Leon Fleisher que eXcentris a demandé d'inaugurer le volet classique avec ce premier Grand Concert Steinway. Accompagné de ses amis, les musiciens Michael Tree, Matt Haimovitz, Katherine Jacobson, Andy Simionescu, John Zirbel, Pam Frank, Dominic Painchaud et Young Hi Moon, Fleisher nous a orchestré deux soirées mémorables de musique de chambre, en solo sur son célèbre piano Chavy Chase, et à quatre mains. Des œuvres de Schumann, Bach, Dvorak et une interprétation du Quintette pour piano en F mineur de Brahms sont au programme.

Né en 1928, Leon Fleisher commence le piano à 4 ans, et devient un des plus jeunes virtuoses à bénéficier de l'enseignement d'Arthur Schnabel. Rapidement, il gagne une renommée internationale. À 37 ans, un accident neurologique le prive de la mobilité de deux doigts de sa main droite. Il entreprend alors les carrières de chef d'orchestre et d'enseignant, tout en développant un répertoire pour main gauche. En 2004, un traitement expérimental lui permet de recouvrer l'usage de ses doigts et d'enregistrer Two Hands, un album hautement acclamé qui fera l'objet d'un film documentaire nommé aux Oscar en 2006. En 2007, il reçoit le prix Kennedy Center Honors, qui confirme une carrière des plus grandioses, et ce, malgré l'adversité. Son programme pour 2009-2010 est particulièrement chargé; il sera entendu aux quatre coins de la planète en plus de poursuivre des engagements à titre d'enseignant, la transmission de son savoir étant chère à ses yeux.

Les 25 et 26 septembre 2009, à 19 h, dans notre toute nouvelle salle Cassavetes.

Le 26 septembre 2009, à midi, projection du documentaire Two Hands : The Leon Fleisher Story, en présence de l'artiste. Une conversation avec Leon Fleisher suivra la projection du film.

____________________________________________

Montreal — eXcentris has invited legendary American pianist to inaugurate its classical program with this first Grand Concert Steinway. Accompanied by his friends, musicians Michael Tree, Matt Haimovitz, Katherine Jacobson, Andy Simionescu, John Zirbel, Pam Frank, Dominic Painchaud and Young Hi Moon, Fleisher has arranged two memorable evenings of chamber music for us, solo on his famed Chavy Chase piano, and for four hands. The program will feature works by Schumann, Bach, Dvorak and an interpretation of Brahms' Piano Quintet in F Minor.

Born in 1928, Leon Fleisher started piano at the age of 4, becoming one of the youngest virtuosos to benefit from Arthur Schnabel's teaching. He would quickly establish an international reputation. At 37, a neurological disorder robbed him of the mobility of two fingers on his right hand. He then took to conducting and teaching, all the while developing a repertoire for the left hand. In 2004, an experimental treatment allowed him to recover the use of his fingers and to record Two Hands, a highly acclaimed album that became the subject of a documentary film nominated for an Oscar in 2006. In 2007, he received the Kennedy Center Honors Award, confirmation of a landmark career, even in the face of adversity. His 2009-2010 schedule is particularly jam-packed; he'll travel to the four corners of the globe to perform, all the while keeping up his teaching engagements, given the importance he places on passing on his wisdom.

September 25 and 26, 2009, at 7 p.m., in our brand new Cassavetes Room.

September 26, 2009, at noon: a screening of the documentary Two Hands: The Leon Fleisher Story, with the artist in attendance. The film will be followed by a conversation with Leon Fleisher.

Festival to Transform Washington D.C. into “Piano Capital of the World”

301.230.6556

Festival to Transform Washington D.C. into “Piano Capital of the World”

2009 Washington International Piano Festival to Feature World-Renowned Lecturers and Artists

Washington, D.C. – The nation’s capital will become the “Piano Capital of the World” next month as internationally renowned artists and lecturers will be joined by 44 participants from the U.S., China, Japan, Russia and Germany at the 2009 Washington International Piano Festival. The festival, made possible by a partnership with the Catholic University of America, begins the week of August 9^th and is an opportunity for young aspiring concert pianists, teachers, amateurs, and piano lovers at-large to participate in an inspiring and informative one-week program.

“We are incredibly excited about the Washington International Piano Festival and hope that through beautiful music from some of the world’s most elite artists, participants and observers alike will develop a greater appreciation for the highest standard of classical music,” said Nikita Fitenko, Internationally acclaimed pianist and Co-Director of the festival.

Festival participants will have an opportunity to work with prominent instructors in daily one-on-one coaching sessions as well as educational workshops and master classes. The program also includes seminars presented by outstanding guest lecturers, covering such topics as style, technique, methods and the art of teaching, as well as business aspects of teaching among others. Participants will also have an amazing opportunity to perform in concert at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, which will be webcast live at www.kennedy-center.org.

Each day of the festival will conclude with piano concerts featuring renowned artists such as Milen Petroff and Ivo Kaltchev performing at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage and Joseph Banowetz, Anderson & Roe and Alessio Bax at the Ward Recital Hall on Campus of the Catholic University of America.

The concerts are open to the community at a cost of $20. Tickets may be purchased at the door or may be reserved by emailing the Washington International Piano Festival at washingtonpianofest@gmail.com. In addition, the 2009 Festival participants will present three concerts that are free and open to the public. To learn more visit www.WashingtonPianoFest.com.

About WIPF

WIPF is a non-profit arts organization dedicated to the performance and teaching of classical music at the highest standard. The Festival is sponsored by Jordan Kitt's Music and Yamaha.

Deux soirées de grand piano au Festival de Knowlton

Deux soirées de grand piano au Festival de Knowlton

Montréal, le 14 juillet 2009 – Loin de se restreindre au répertoire du bel canto, le Festival de Knowlton accueille cet été deux pianistes exceptionnels. Le mardi 4 août la jeune pianiste Gabriela Montero, qu'on a pu entendre en compagnie d'Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma et Anthony McGill à l'assermentation du président américain Barack Obama, interprétera le célèbre Concerto pour piano n^o 2 de Rachmaninov à l'invitation du Youth Orchestra of the Americas dans. La semaine suivante, le mercredi 12 août, Stephen Kovacevich, qui continue de susciter l'admiration pour ses interprétations de Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart et Schubert depuis plus de 40 ans, offrira un très attendu récital en sol québécois.

« Nous sommes particulièrement heureux d'accueillir ces deux grands pianistes au Festival de Knowlton, a déclaré Marco Genoni, directeur exécutif du Festival. Ainsi, dès cette année, le Festival de Knowlton deviendra un rendez-vous estival pour les amateurs du répertoire pianistique et pour tous ceux qui apprécient les récitals de piano.»

Les interprétations visionnaires et les dons d'improvisatrice de Gabriela Montero lui ont rapidement valu un succès international. Née à Caracas au Venezuela, la pianiste a joué avec de nombreux orchestres, dont le New York Philharmonic, le LA Philharmonic, le Philharmonia Orchestra, le Philharmonique de Rotterdam et le UBS Verbier Chamber Orchestra. Son CD Bach and Beyond a reçu en 2006 la mention « Choc de la musique de l'année » du magazine Le Monde de la musique. Cette même année, elle a également reçu le titre de claviériste de l'année aux Prix Echo Klassik de Munich qui, en 2007, lui décernaient le Prix Klassik sans frontières. Son dernier disque, Baroque, comprenant des improvisations, a été mis en nomination pour un Grammy l'année dernière.

Quant à Stephen Kovacevich, sa réputation internationale a été bâtie à la fois grâce à ses prestations en concert, reconnues pour leur grande profondeur et leur intensité, et aux enregistrements très prisés qu'il a produits tout au long de sa carrière, Ses enregistrements de concertos, notamment ceux de Beethoven, Schumann et Bartók, ont longtemps été des incontournables du catalogue. Son enregistrement du Concerto pour piano no 1 de Brahms a obtenu un Grammy, le Gramophone Award 1993 et a été nommé « disque de l'année » par Stereo Review Record, alors que sa version du 2^e concerto du même compositeur obtenait un Diapason d'or. Il a de plus réalisé des enregistrements exceptionnels de sonates de Schubert ainsi que des 32 sonates de Beethoven, réalisant ainsi une des versions les plus renommées à ce jour. M. Kovacevich a récemment enregistré les Variations Diabelli de Beethoven, exactement 40 ans après son premier enregistrement de l'œuvre en 1968. Il reprendra ce chef-d'œuvre lors de cette soirée, ainsi que la Partita no 4 de Bach et les touchantes Scènes d'enfants, regard tendre posé sur l'enfance du compositeur Robert Schumann.

Devant le remarquable succès remporté l'été dernier, le Festival de Knowlton devient une manifestation annuelle d'envergure internationale. Du 4 au 16 août, se succéderont concerts symphoniques, soirées d'airs d'opéra, présentation en version orchestrale de l'opéra Bel Canto La Sonnambula de Vincenzo Bellini, récitals, concerts de la relève, classes de maître pour jeunes chanteurs et activités d'initiation à la musique pour enfants.

Les biographies d'artistes, la programmation et les coordonnées de la billetterie sont disponibles sur le site du festival au www.festivaldeknowlton.com.

Le Festival de Knowlton est présenté par la société Festival de musique de Knowlton inc. avec la participation de l'Orchestre symphonique de Montréal et avec la collaboration de l'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia de Rome. Le Festival s'appuie également sur l'apport important de plusieurs commanditaires et partenaires financiers dont Bombardier inc., BFL Canada, le Cabinet de relations publiques NATIONAL, le Mouvement des caisses Desjardins, Tourisme Québec, La Ville de Lac Brome, Swiss International Air Lines, Groupe StrataTech et Ultramar.

Minsoo Sohn | New York Concert | 8 Octoer 2009

MINSOO SOHN, FIRST LAUREATE OF THE 2006

HONENS INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION,

MAKES HIS WEILL RECITAL HALL AT CARNEGIE HALL DEBUT THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2009, 8 P.M.

WORKS BY KIRCHNER, BEETHOVEN, AND LISZT; AND TRANSCRIPTIONS OF BEETHOVEN, SCHUBERT AND MOZART

Minsoo Sohn, the First Laureate of the 2006 Honens International Piano Competition, will make his Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall debut in a solo recital on Thursday, October 8, 2009, 8 p.m.

The recital, presented by the Honens International Piano Competition, will feature Beethoven's Diabelli Variations, Leon Kirchner's Interlude II as well as Liszt's transcriptions of works by Beethoven, Schubert, and Mozart.

In addition to winning the Honens International Piano Competition, Mr. Sohn was a top prizewinner at the Rubinstein, Cleveland, Busoni and Hilton Head International Piano Competitions, and received laureate prizes at Belgium's Queen Elisabeth and Santander's Paloma O'Shea Competitions. He has performed in recital halls, at festivals, and with orchestra across North America and Europe.

The Weill Hall program is highly personal to Mr. Sohn: "From my earliest years at the conservatory, I had a tremendous love for the Diabelli Variations without fully understanding the greatness of the composition. I later came to understand this as a triumphant and comprehensive representation of Beethoven's ingenious writing for piano. This musical journey confronts matters of life and death in a most genuine way, but always with humor and love. In some ways, this music is reflective of my life as well; through its ups and downs, it has endured, restoring the spirit of music within me."

William Aide, Chairman of the Fifth Honens International Piano Competition, speaks to Mr. Sohn's artistry: "Minsoo Sohn is an artist of Olympian magnitude. To the Diabelli and Goldberg Variations he brings a structural clarity and an expansive range of dramatic characterization. His Liszt is unsurpassable in its lyric refinement and sonic splendor, qualities reminiscent of great Lisztians of the past, such as Egon Petri and Grigory Ginzburg.

The complete program is as follows:

Kirchner Interlude II

Beethoven 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120

Intermission

Beethoven-Liszt Adelaïde, S.466

Schubert-Listz Gretchen am Spinnrade, S. 558 No. 8

Schubert-Liszt Der Müller und der Bach, S. 565

Mozart-Liszt Réminiscences de Don Juan, S. 418

Tickets for the October 8 recital are $18 to $25, students and seniors $10 and available online at www.carnegiehall.org, or by telephone at Carnegie Charge: (212) 247-7800, or by visiting the Carnegie Hall Box Office Box Office: 57^th Street and Seventh Avenue.

About Minsoo Sohn

The First Laureate of Canada's Honens International Piano Competition (2006), Sohn's masterful technique and astonishing artistic expression create performances rich in deep emotion and musical intelligence. His extraordinary interpretation of Bach's Goldberg Variations from the Honens Competition has been broadcast numerous times on the CBC and across the United States on NPR's Performance Today.

Minsoo Sohn was born in Korea and began piano studies at age three. One of his earliest inspirations was Henryk Szeryng's legendary recording of Bach's Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin. While the violin first captured his attention, he grew to appreciate the piano's many voices and tonal colors. It wasn't until Sohn moved to Boston to study with Russell Sherman and Wha Kyung Byun at the New England Conservatory of Music that he was reassured of his career as a concert artist. "I just wasn't sure I would be a musician," he says. "I had interests in many fields and stopped playing. I even dreamed of being an athlete."

Last season, Sohn performed with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, was part of the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, and was soloist with the Orchestre Symphonique de Québec. His first CD – a disc of Liszt transcriptions and études – was released last fall.

When not sitting at the piano, Sohn can be found watching his beloved Red Sox.

About the Honens International Piano Competition

Founded in 1992, Honens International Piano Competition is one of the world's great music competitions. It is known for its pursuit of the "complete artist" – not only an accomplished soloist, but a musician whose interpretations reflect a wide cultural context, whose well-balanced programs are designed with knowledge and imagination, and who excels in chamber and ensemble performance. Every three years, 21 pianists between the ages of 20 and 30, from all parts of the globe, compete for more than $100,000 CAD (approximately $90,000 USD) in cash prizes, including a comprehensive three-season Artistic and Career Development Program for the laureates, preparing the for the rigors and realities of a professional life in music. This includes arranging performance engagements, production of recordings, residencies at The Banff Centre, promotional and publicity support, professional development opportunities for self-management, and networking opportunities with presenters and artist managers.

Honens searches for musicians whose talent, in the credo of the Competition, "inspires the heart and engages the intellect," whose understanding of his or her art will stem not only from knowledge of a particular composition itself but also from a wide knowledge of related music, of musical literature as a whole, of the other arts, the humanities, and of contemporary culture. Honens is not a series of tests, but rather, a compelling festival of music.

Past Honens Laureates include Maxim Philippov who, in June, 2001, won the Silver Medal at the Van Cliburn Competition; Albert Tiu, who won Juilliard's prestigious William Petschek Award, giving him a debut recital at Alice Tully Hall; Sergei Babayan, appointed Artist-in-Residence at The Cleveland Institute of Music, who founded the Sergei Babayan International Piano Academy in Cleveland and his own chamber music festival in Mexico (Babayan has recorded on the Connoisseur Society, Propiano and Discover International labels); Krzysztof Jablonski, who has recorded two CDs as part of the Polish National Edition of the complete works of Chopin (he has recorded 14 more CDs in Germany, Japan and Poland); Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, who has recorded several CDs of music by Haydn, Schumann, Ohana, Debussy and Chopin, the complete piano works of Ravel, and the recently critically acclaimed complete piano works of Debussy on the Chandos label (he has been nominated Professor-for-Life at the Detmold Hochschule in Germany); 2003 Laureate Winston Choi, Head of Piano Studies at Chicago's Roosevelt University, whose debut CD of the complete piano works of Elliott Carter received rave reviews, and whose CD of the music of Jacques Lenot was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque de l'Académie Charles Cros; Xiang Zou, 2003 First Laureate, who teaches at the Central Conservatory in Beijing; and Honens 2000 First Laureate, Katherine Chi.

The Competition is named for Esther Honens, born in Pittsburgh and educated in Calgary, who became a successful businesswoman. She married John Hillier, who died in the 1970s, then Harold Honens, with whom she developed real estate holdings in Calgary. In 1991, Esther Honens made a capital gift to establish the international piano competition. She died five days after the first competition in 1992. After five competitions, Honens has distinguished itself as one of the most prominent competitions of its kind, worldwide. Additional information is available on-line at www.honens.com.

Honens International Piano Competition

TWENTY-ONE PIANISTS FROM 12 NATIONS TO COMPETE IN THE SIXTH HONENS INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION

CALGARY, AB, June 18, 2009 – Today, Honens announced the names of the 21 Quarterfinalists to compete in the Sixth Honens International Piano Competition, which takes place in Calgary, October 22 to November 6, 2009. The pianists come from 12 nations: Canada, China, Hong Kong, Israel, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the United States.

"Honens continues to attract some of the top young talent from around the world," says Angela Cheng, Chairwoman of the Honens First Jury. "We have selected an incredibly strong group of pianists to advance to the Quarterfinals."

The Honens First Jury selected the 21 Quarterfinalists after a week of deliberations earlier this month at the Banff Centre. Pianists Angela Cheng, Katherine Chi (2000 Honens First Laureate), Matthias Kirschnereit and Ronan O'Hora reviewed 90-videotaped performances from the Competition's first public stage that took place in Calgary, New York and Munich earlier this spring.

"The 21 pianists are musicians one wants to hear again and again," says Stephen McHolm, Honens Executive Director. "They truly represent the kind of complete artist we aim to discover."

The 21 Quarterfinalists include 17 men and 4 women: Michael Brown (from the United States, residing in New York), Michael Bukhman (from Israel, residing in New York), Yunjie Chen (from China, residing in New York), Yue Chu (from China, residing in Chestnut Hill, MA), Ran Dank (from Israel, residing in New York), Jonathan Floril (from Ecuador/Spain, residing in New York), Stanislav Khristenko (from Russia, residing in Oberlin, Ohio), Sangyoung Kim (from South Korea, residing in Boston), Natacha Kudritskaya (from the Ukraine, residing in France), Alexey Lebedev (from Russia, residing in Germany), Ka-ling Colleen Lee (from Hong Kong, residing in Germany) , Soyeon Lee (from South Korea, residing in Princeton, NJ), Misha Namirovsky (from Israel, residing in Germany), Tom Poster (from the United Kingdom, residing in the United Kingdom), Evgeny Starodubtsev from Russia, residing in Russia), Georgy Tchaidze (from Russia, residing in Russia), Gilles Vonsattel (from Switzerland, residing in New York), Daniel Wnukowski (from Canada, residing in the United Kingdom), Chun-Chieh Yen (from Taiwan, residing in Los Angeles), Feng Zhang (from China, residing in China), and Kirill Zwegintsov (from the Ukraine, residing in Switzerland).

Pianists compete for more than $100,000 CAN in cash prizes and one of the competition world's most lucrative career development programs valued at more than $500,000.

Each pianist will perform two recitals in the Competition Quarterfinals (October 22 to 28): a 50-minute solo recital that includes a new work by Canadian composer Brian Current; and a second 40-minute concert for violin and piano with violinist Tereza Stanislav. Twelve pianists move on to the Semifinals (October 30 to November 1) to perform 65-minute recitals that include ten minutes of art song / lieder with Canadian contralto Marie-Nicole Lemieux. Five finalists perform with Austrian conductor Christoph Campestrini and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (November 5 and 6). The prizewinners will be announced on November 6, 2009.

Tickets range from $12 to $85 and are available by calling (403) 299-0140 or online at honens.com.

About Honens

Honens International Piano Competition is among the world's most prestigious events of its kind. It searches the world to discover "Complete Artists" – 21^st century musicians for 21^st century audiences. The Sixth International Piano Competition, presented by Nexen Inc., and supported by Steinway & Sons, Irene Besse Keyboards Ltd, Macleod Dixon LLP, TransAlta and Enbridge Inc., takes place in Calgary, October 22 to November 6, 2009. For more information visit www.honens.com.

Monster Concert in Support of SickKids

Mary Kenedi and the North Toronto Institute of Music present

Monster Concert in Support of

SickKids Foundation
Massey Hall, Saturday, October 31, 2009, at 3 p.m.

Tickets $45.00 to $25.00 – Call 416-872-4255 or visit the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office

Mary Kenedi is seeing monsters! The respected Canadian pianist, educator and founder of the North Toronto Institute of Music will present a Monster Concert at Massey Hall at 3:00pm on Halloween, Saturday, October 31^st, 2009. This not-to-be missed concert extravaganza features popular works by Gottschalk, Rossini, Liszt, Saint-Saens and Bizet performed simultaneously on 10 Steinway grand pianos by 20 professional pianists alongside 30 North Toronto Institute of Music students ranging in age from 8 to 16. The always entertaining Luba Goy, star of the much-loved CBC comedy series Royal Canadian Air Farce is slated to host the Halloween themed fundraiser. Tickets for the family-friendly event are now on sale with all proceeds going to support SickKids Foundation.

The North Toronto Institute of Music’s Monster Concert continues the long-standing fundraising tradition begun in the 1830s by the composer Czerny and features multiple pianists performing solos, duets and ensemble works. The first known Monster Concert held in Toronto took place in 1931 and was orchestrated by influential pianist and teacher Mona Bates to raise funds for the underprivileged. The ensemble was comprised of the best-known Bates pupils and was conducted by Bates herself. Mary Kenedi, a noted student of Mona Bates’ famed Jarvis Street music school, is dedicating the concert to the memory of her mentor. The October 31^st tribute also marks the 120^th Anniversary of Bates’ birth in Burlington, Ontario.

“I’ve always been impressed by what Mona Bates accomplished during her lifetime,” explains Mary Kenedi. “As a musician and teacher I understand the unique privilege we are given as educators to not only inspire passion in our students, but also to instill a lasting sense of discipline that will help them to achieve their goals, musical or otherwise”.

Mary Kenedi founded the North Toronto Institute of Music in 1995 as a welcoming environment for students of all ages to explore their creativity and develop an outlet for self-expression. Based on the understanding that an enhanced musical literacy provides an elevated appreciation of the art form, Mary strives to impart to her students the same passion for music that has fuelled her own compelling musical journey.

As a refugee of the Hungarian Revolution, Mary Kenedi credits her own mother’s strength and resilience for inspiring her to surmount obstacles in both her performance and teaching careers. Whether launching her own teaching academy or embarking on remarkable projects, such as single-handedly staging the upcoming Monster Concert at Massey Hall, Mary Kenedi does so with a survivor’s instinct. This extraordinary talent and drive has earned Mary a renowned reputation as an interpreter of the music of fellow Hungarians, Béla Bartók and Zoltan Kodály, as well as a respected interpreter of contemporary Canadian music. She last appeared at Massey Hall as an ensemble performer during the Royal Conservatory of Music’s 1990 Monster Concert and made her Carnegie Hall debut in 1983. She holds a Licentiate Diploma, Bachelor of Music in Performance and Master of Music in Music Education from the University of Toronto, and a Diploma from the Liszt Academy in Budapest, Hungary. In addition to her 30+ years experience teaching at such noted establishments as the Royal Conservatory and McMaster University, Kenedi maintains a busy international performance and recording schedule in solo and concerto appearances.

North Toronto Institute of Music’s Monster Concert is sponsored in-part by Remenyi House of Music with media sponsorship provided by Classical FM. For more information about Mary Kenedi and the North Toronto Institute of Music or to learn more about sponsorship opportunities please visit www.ntimusic.com or call 416-488-2588.

Tickets for the North Toronto Institute of Music’s Monster Concert are $45.00 to $25.00 and are available in person at the Roy Thomson Hall box office, 60 Simcoe St., by calling 416.872.4255 or online at www.masseyhall.com.

Two RCM Students Win at The TSO National Piano Competition

Alexander Seredenko and Samuel Deason, two students of The Royal Conservatory's Glenn Gould School, won prizes at The Toronto Symphony Orchestra National Piano Competition, held at The Royal Conservatory between May 22 and 24, 2009. This prestigious piano competition is a biennial event and attracts Canada's finest young pianists between the ages of 16 and 25. Created to foster young talent, the competition has been a project of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra Volunteer Committee for over 20 years. Previous winners include acclaimed virtuoso Stewart Goodyear and rising star Todd Yaniw, both of whom are alumni of The Royal Conservatory.

Alexander Seredenko, currently pursuing his performance diploma in piano at The Royal Conservatory's Glenn Gould School in Toronto, under the instruction of Dean James Anagnoson, won The Roy Thomson Hall First Prize of $8,000 and a future performance with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. No stranger to competitions, Alexander received first place at the annual Canadian National Competition in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Following these awards, and many local competitions in and around Ontario, he obtained first standing in several international piano competitions, including most recently the 2008 Hamamatsu Piano Academy Competition. On February 20, 2009, he appeared in concert with the Royal Conservatory Orchestra under TSO Music Director Peter Oundjian, in a progamme of Ravel, Tchaikovsky, and Elgar.

Samuel Deason, a piano student of Marc Durand, also at The Royal Conservatory's Glenn Gould School, won The Victor Feldbrill Prize of $500 for best performance of a Canadian work. Most recently, Samuel also won the $500 Mary Winston Smail Piano award as well as a $3,500 scholarship to the Madeline Island Music Camp at the 53rd annual WAMSO (Minnesota Orchestra Volunteer Association) Young Artist Competition.

The Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory is an internationally recognized centre for professional training in music performance and pedagogy at the post-secondary and post-bachelor levels. The School provides an intimate training environment with a curriculum designed to prepare the most gifted young musicians for all aspects of a professional career. An enrolment of 130 students keeps classes small, students receive more private lesson time, and are offered more than 150 master classes, in addition to between 80 and 100 performance opportunities throughout the year. The faculty consists of world-renowned performers, teachers, and scholars, each bringing expertise and knowledge of the highest standards to Glenn Gould students. Famous alumni include Isabel Bayrakdarian, Naida Cole, and the St. Lawrence String Quartet. The Glenn Gould School has been designated a National Training Institute by the Department of Canadian Heritage.

www.tsvc.on.ca/piano_competition

The VSO debut of pianist Benjamin Hochman

Pianist Benjamin Hochman plays Mozart’s rarely heard Piano Concerto No.9 in his VSO debut. This is followed up by the huge, exciting, passionate music of Russian master Sergei Prokofiev. Conductor Laureate Kazuyoshi Akiyama returns to conduct the final PricewaterhouseCoopers Masterworks Silver concerts of the season, which take place on Saturday, May 30^th and Monday, June 1^st at 8pm at the Orpheum Theatre.

Benjamin Hochman came into prominence when he made his New York solo recital debut at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2006. Since then, he has achieved widespread acclaim for his performances. Mr. Hochman has performed with several prominent orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, Chicago, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestras, Seattle Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, Portland Symphony and the National Arts Centre Orchestra.

"Hochman's demeanor is poised, and quietly confident. His playing is beautiful to hear. From the first moment, his crisp, articulated touch was noticeable, clear but not forceful, even with pedal, and he shaped the phrases in the long cadenza with grace."

- Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Hochman recently appeared at the Bard Music Festival, Bridgehampton Music Festival and Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival. Just prior to travelling to Vancouver, Hochman returned to his native Israel for a special series of concerts and masterclasses. He will also be performing in London, Barcelona, and Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw later in the year.

Born in Jerusalem, Benjamin Hochman is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and the Mannes College of Music where his principal teachers were Claude Frank and Richard Goode. His studies were supported by the America-Israel Cultural Foundation.

Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.9 in E flat Major was a groundbreaking, revolutionary work in its time, helping to “raise the bar” for the piano concerto as a genre and leaving its mark on later concertos by Beethoven and other Romantic composers. Certainly the greatest of the concertos written by Mozart in his time in Salzburg, Classical music author and commentator Charles Rosen also called it “the first unqualified masterpiece in any genre,” and legendary pianist Alfred Brendel characterized the work as “one of the greatest wonders of the world.” The relationship between soloist and orchestra is given unprecedented depth in this concerto, the dialogue and juxtaposition of ideas heightened to a remarkable degree compared to earlier piano concertos. The very opening of the concerto itself is a strong statement for change in the way in which piano concertos were previously written: the soloist is introduced right away after a short heraldic statement by the orchestra; afterword, the orchestra is given a typical, though brief, opening exposition, but it is on the piano’s terms. Later, Mozart goes so far as to turn this dialogue on its head, with the orchestra answering the piano. The second movement is one of utterly poignant expressive brilliance. The C minor atmosphere holds the listener in its thrall as the solo parts, written with such a highly personal and expressive voice, weave their way in and out of discourse with the orchestra in a dreamy, almost tragic manner. And though the finale – one of Mozart’s greatest Rondo finales – is one of virtuosic energy and joy, there is a serious undercurrent at play which keeps the concerto grounded, as if Mozart knew he was creating a work that would lasting impact through generations of composers.

CONCERT INFO

PricewaterhouseCoopers Masterworks Silver Series:

Melody and Power: Mozart and Prokofiev

Saturday & Monday, May 30 & June 1, 8pm, Orpheum Theatre

Kazuyoshi Akiyama, conductor

Benjamin Hochman, piano

Kabalevsky Colas Breugnon: Overture, Op. 24

Mozart Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-flat Major, Jeunehomme

Prokofiev Symphony No. 5 in B-flat Major, Op. 100

Tickets $25 to $78.50 (Student, Senior and Subscriber discounts available)

Tickets available by phone at 604.876.3434 or online at www.vancouversymphony.ca

Generously Supported By:

Series Sponsor: PricewaterhouseCoopers

Video Screen Sponsor: TELUS

Video screen presentations created and produced by students and staff of digital video productions at Columbia Academy.

Anne-Marie McDermott Two Premieres

"FREE FOR ALL AT TOWN HALL" OPENS ITS SEVENTH SEASON

WITH A PERFORMANCE BY PIANIST ANNE-MARIE McDERMOTT

SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 AT 5PM

PROGRAM INCLUDES THE WORLD PREMIERE OF CHARLES WUORINEN'S FOURTH PIANO SONATA AND THE NEW YORK PREMIERE

OF CLARICE ASSAD'S "WHEN ART SHOWED UP"

SERIES FILLS TWO GAPS, BEGINNING JUST WHEN OTHERS ARE ENDING, AND BEING FREE TO THE PUBLIC

The 2009 "Free For All at Town Hall" series will open on Sunday, May 31, 2009, at 5 p.m. with pianist Anne-Marie McDermott performing a solo recital that includes the

world premiere of Charles Wuorinen's Fourth Piano Sonata, which was written for Ms. McDermott; the New York premiere of Clarice Assad's "When Art Showed Up;" and three Haydn piano sonatas, in honor of the 200^th anniversary of the death of the composer.

Ms. McDermott, with Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, performed the inaugural concert of "Free For All at Town Hall" in 2003. The series, described in The New Yorker as "the price-is-right concert series," is now in its seventh year of providing New York audiences with high quality, free concerts.

The May 31 program is as follows:

Haydn: Piano Sonata Hob. XVI: 40, in G Major

Haydn: Piano Sonata Hob. XVI: 20, in c minor

Charles Wuorinen: Fourth Piano Sonata (World Premiere)

Intermission

Haydn: Piano Sonata Hob. XVI: 52, in E-Flat Major

Clarice Assad: "When Art Showed Up" (New York Premiere)

Rounding out the 2009 "Free For All at Town Hall" series of concerts on Sunday, June 14, at 2 p.m. will be Hilary Hahn in her only New York recital this season. Ms. Hahn will perform works by Brahms, Bartók, Ives and Ysaÿe.

"Free For All at Town Hall" concludes the series with an all-Schubert program performed by the esteemed Emerson String Quartet on Sunday, June 21, at 5 p.m.

The Town Hall is located near Times Square at 123 West 43^rd Street (between 6^th Avenue and Broadway). Tickets to all "Free for All" concerts are available only on the day of the concert, at the Town Hall Box Office, starting at noon. Tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, limit two to a customer, no reservations.

About Anne-Marie McDermott

A fearless elegance surrounds pianist Anne-Marie McDermott as she has proven to be a force to reckon with, exuding an approachable confidence that showcases her versatility and sophistication seen in her solo performances as well as chamber music ensembles. She has a versatile career encompassing over 100 concerts each year in a combination of solo recitals, concerti and chamber music performances. Her repertoire choices are eclectic, spanning works from Bach and Haydn to Prokofiev and Scriabin, to Kernis, Hartke, Tower and Wuorinen.

McDermott debuted with the New York Philharmonic in 1997 under Christian Thielemann and has since appeared with the orchestras of Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Pittsburgh, and Seattle. In the 2008-2009 season, McDermott will perform with The Philadelphia Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic, North Carolina Symphony, Alabama Symphony, San Diego Symphony, the Oregon Mozart Players, and tour with the New Century Chamber Orchestra.

McDermott was named an Artist Member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in 1995. She continues her long standing collaboration with violinist, Nadja Salerno- Sonnenberg, including a CD titled "LIVE" released on the NSS label. McDermott also continues her collaboration with Opus One, a piano quartet with Ida Kavafian, Peter Wiley and Steven Tenenbom.

McDermott is the Artistic Director of the Avila Chamber Music Celebration in Curacao, Dutch Antilles, as well as the Ocean Reef Chamber Music Festival.

A winner of the Young Concert Artists Auditions, McDermott was also the recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Development Award, the Andrew Wolf Memorial Chamber Music Award, the Joseph Kalichstein Piano Prize, the Paul A. Fish Memorial Prize, the Bruce Hungerford Memorial Prize, and the Mortimer Levitt Career Development Award for Women Artists.

McDermott has recorded the complete Prokofiev Piano Sonatas, which has just been released in a 3-CD set by Bridge Records. She has also recorded Bach's English Suites and Partitas (named Gramophone Magazine's Editor's Choice), and Gershwin's Complete Works for Piano and Orchestra with the Dallas Symphony and Justin Brown (also named Gramophone Magazine's Editor's Choice).

McDermott began playing the piano at age 5. By 12 she had performed the Mendelssohn Concerto in g minor with the National Orchestral Association at Carnegie Hall. She studied at the Manhattan School of Music as a scholarship student with Dalmo Carra, Constance Keene and John Browning..

About Charles Wourinen

Charles Wuorinen (b. 1938, New York) is one of the world's leading composers. His many honors include a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship and the Pulitzer Prize (the youngest composer to receive the award). His compositions encompass every form and medium, including works for orchestra, chamber ensemble, soloists, ballet, and stage. His newest works include "Time Regained," a fantasy for piano and orchestra for Peter Serkin, James Levine and the MET Opera Orchestra; Second Piano Quintet for Peter Serkin and the Brentano Quartet; Eighth Symphony for the Boston Symphony Orchestra; and the Fourth Piano Sonata, a 17-minute work in four movements, commissioned by Anne-Marie McDermott for premiere on "Free for All at Town Hall." His earlier piano sonatas are the Third written for Alan Feinberg in 1986; the Second written for Jeffrey Swann in 1976; and Sonata (1969) written for Robert Miller. His next project is an opera on Annie Proulx's "Brokeback Mountain."

About Clarice Assad

Clarice Assad is a classical and jazz composer, arranger, pianist, and vocalist.

A native of Rio de Janeiro, Clarice Assad was born into one of Brazil's most famous musical families (she is the daughter of Sergio Assad, one of today's preeminent guitarists and composers), and has performed professionally since the age of seven. Formal piano studies began with Sheila Zagury in Brazil; she then studied with Natalie Fortin and had additional instruction in jazz and Brazilian piano under the tutelage of Leandro Braga.

As a composer, her works have been published in France (Editions Lemoine), Germany (Trekel), and in the United States (Virtual Artists Collective Publishing), and have been performed in Europe, South America, the United States and Japan. Miss Assad's works often have a thematic core, and explore the physical and psychological elements of the chosen story, object or concept.

About "Free For All at Town Hall"
"Free For All at Town Hall" is a production of Twin Lions, Inc., a non-profit concert production company founded by Omus Hirshbein and Jacqueline Taylor. Their goal is to present great musicians in concerts that are free to the public in spaces that are good for both the music and the audience.

The inspiration for this venture came from Ms. Taylor's experience directing a project at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center called "Beethoven 2000." To celebrate the year 2000, the Chamber Music Society presented the Orion String Quartet performing all of Beethoven's string quartets in six concerts. As a gift to the City of New York, the concerts were free. "People thought I was crazy," commented Ms. Taylor. "After all, it is relatively easy to sell the Beethoven String Quartets at Lincoln Center in New York City, so why give them away?" The answer came when the public arrived to pick up their tickets. Four thousand tickets were given away in under two hours, with the line at Alice Tully Hall stretching from Broadway to Amsterdam Avenue.

Twin Lions, Inc. chose to begin in New York's Town Hall - a McKim, Mead and White building completed in 1921 - for several reasons: one, because they believe it to be one of New York City's finest acoustical spaces; and second, the size of the hall (1,500 seats) would allow them to have large audiences. But, perhaps most important, is Town Hall's history. For a long time it was the place for an important young musician to make their New York debut. The list of people who have performed there is staggering, including Marian Anderson, Leonard Bernstein, Isaac Stern, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Igor Stravinsky, to name only a few.

For listings

"FREE FOR ALL AT TOWN HALL"

ANNE-MARIE McDERMOTT, piano

Sunday, May 31 at 5 p.m.

The Town Hall

123 West 43^rd Street (between 6^th Avenue and Broadway)

New York, NY 10036

Tickets to all "Free for All" concerts are available only on the day of the concert, at the Town Hall Box Office, starting at noon. Tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, limit two to a customer; no reservations.

"FREE FOR ALL AT TOWN HALL"

HILARY HAHN, violin

Sunday, June 14 at 2 p.m.

The Town Hall

123 West 43rd Street (between 6^th Avenue and Broadway)

New York, NY 10036

Tickets to all "Free for All" concerts are available only on the day of the concert, at the Town Hall Box Office, starting at noon. Tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, limit two to a customer; no reservations.

"FREE FOR ALL AT TOWN HALL"

EMERSON STRING QUARTET

Sunday, June 21 at 5 p.m.

The Town Hall

123 West 43rd Street (between 6^th Avenue and Broadway)

New York, NY 10036

Tickets to all Free for All concerts are available only on the day of the concert, at the Town Hall Box Office, starting at noon. Tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, limit two to a customer; no reservations.