Evening Recitals

(Information Subject to Change)

Tuesday, March 28, 8:00 p.m.
Yefim Bronfman

Internationally recognized as one of today’s most acclaimed and admired pianists, Yefim Bronfman stands among a handful of artists regularly sought by festivals, orchestras, conductors and recital series. His commanding technique, power and exceptional lyrical gifts are consistently acknowledged by the press and audiences alike.

In the wake of world-wide cancellations beginning in spring 2020 his 2020–2021 season began in January 2021 with the Concertgebouworkest, followed by Bayerischer Rundfunk Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic and London’s Philharmonia in special programs recorded for streaming. Concerts in North America continued with Dallas, Philadelphia, New York, Atlanta, Houston and Pittsburgh orchestras despite restrictions imposed by COVID-19, followed by summer in Vail (Philadelphia Orchestra), Aspen, Tanglewood (Boston Symphony) and the Grand Tetons. As 2021–2022 artist-in-residence with the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, the season began on tour with the orchestra in Europe and will conclude with the world premiere of a concerto commissioned for him from Elena Firsova. The fall continues with the Enescu Festival, Bucharest and return visits to the New York and Los Angeles philharmonics and symphonies of Boston, Houston, St. Louis, San Francisco, Montreal, San Diego, Pittsburgh, Oregon, San Antonio, Cincinnati and Palm Beach. In recital he can be heard in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Chicago and Carnegie Hall, New York, in addition to Italy, Russia, Spain and Germany. With the Munich Philharmonic he will visit Vienna and Frankfurt; Luxembourg and Paris with the Concertgebouw; London with the Philharmonia and Israel with the Israel Philharmonic.

Born in Tashkent in the Soviet Union, Yefim Bronfman immigrated to Israel with his family in 1973, where he studied with pianist Arie Vardi, head of the Rubin Academy of Music at Tel Aviv University. In the United States, he studied at the Juilliard School, Marlboro School of Music and the Curtis Institute of Music, under Rudolf Firkusny, Leon Fleisher and Rudolf Serkin. A recipient of the prestigious Avery Fisher Prize, one of the highest honors given to American instrumentalists, in 2010 he was further honored as the recipient of the Jean Gimbel Lane prize in piano performance from Northwestern University and in 2015 with an honorary doctorate from the Manhattan School of Music.

Saturday, March 25, 7:00 p.m.
Opening Session Collaborative Concert

Cann Sisters Piano Duo

Sisters Kimberly and Michelle Cann, “the newest darlings of duo pianists,” are consummate musicians passionate about performing a wide range of multi-cultural repertoire and to fostering greater appreciation for the arts both locally and internationally.

Kimberly received a master’s degree from the Eastman School of Music. Michelle received both BM and MM degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music and an artist diploma from the Curtis Institute of Music.

A resident of Ashville, North Carolina, Kimberly is the founding director of Piano Lab & Music Lab Studios, whose faculty contain fellow concert artists committed to providing a unique, well-rounded music education for students from all backgrounds. She has served as vice president of the Asheville Symphony and president of the Asheville Piano Forum. Kimberly is also the founding director of Keys for Kidz, a program that provides group piano lessons to under-served children in the area and partners with local universities to mentor young teachers. She performs as both a soloist and chamber musician. Kimberly previously was visiting professor of music and artist-in-residence at Northern Caribbean University.

Michelle maintains an active performance schedule throughout the U.S., China and South Korea. A champion of the music of Florence Price, Michelle performed the New York City and Philadelphia premieres of the composer’s Concerto in One Movement. She has also performed Price’s works for solo piano and chamber ensemble for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Music Society of Detroit, and the New World Symphony, among others. Michelle has served as a collaborative staff pianist at the Curtis Institute of Music for several years, and in 2020, she joined the faculty as the inaugural Eleanor Sokoloff Chair in Piano Studies.

Formosan Violin-Piano Duo

Founded in 1986, the Formosan Violin-Piano Duo formed by Shi-Hwa Wang and Yu-Jane Yang has performed in Austria, Poland, Norway, Spain, Italy, Germany, Singapore, China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Canada and the U. S. The Duo plays rich duet repertoire for violin and piano ranging from composers such as J. S. Bach to George Gershwin, William Bolcom and John Williams. The Formosan Duo’s Romantic Album CD has received critical acclaim.

Shi-Hwa Wang’s outstanding reputation as a violinist has earned him the post of concertmaster for several professional orchestras, including the Taipei Symphony Orchestra, the Ballet West and Utah Chamber Orchestras, and the Classical Music Festival Orchestra in Austria. Wang appears frequently as a soloist, chamber musician and guest concertmaster in the U.S., China, Taiwan, Singapore, Canada, and Europe. Wang is a Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor and the director of strings studies at Weber State University. He also served as a visiting violin professor at the Haydn Conservatory in Austria. Wang serves as a clinician, adjudicator, and master class teacher nationally and internationally.

Yu-Jane Yang is a Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor, Endowed Scholar/Artist of the College of Arts & Humanities, and the director of keyboard studies at Weber State University. She was named the 2020 MTNA Teacher of the Year, received the Outstanding Service Award by NCKP in 2019, was named an MTNA Foundation Fellow in 2011, and bestowed with Utah MTA Legacy Award in 2010. A presenter, performer, adjudicator, and master class teacher, Yang has given numerous piano workshops, master classes and concert performances. Her piano students have been top prizewinners in both collegiate and pre-college divisions in numerous state, national, and international piano competitions.