CCM Presents a Plethora of Piano Performances This February

CCM will celebrate the art of the piano with a series of special events this February. The fifth annual Bearcat Piano Festival presents master classes and guest artist concerts from Feb. 6 – 11 in the Robert J. Werner Recital Hall and the Mary Emery Hall Master Classroom, followed by the ninth edition of CCM’s Pianopalooza showcase at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 16, in Corbett Auditorium.

Launched in 2010 by CCM’s Piano Department Chair Awadagin Pratt, the Bearcat Piano Festival has grown into a veritable piano spectacular with several days of master classes and recitals by piano greats. This year’s Festival will feature a “Friends, Family and Favorites” theme:

• Performances by “friends” include Assistant Professor of Piano at the University of Louisville Dror Biran and University of Michigan doctoral student pianists.
• The festival celebrates “family” as Professor Emeritus Frank Weinstock returns to the CCM stage, while Momoro Ono – Juilliard graduate and brother of UC President Santa J. Ono – makes his CCM debut.
• As for “favorites,” CCM presents performances by acclaimed pianist Boris Slutsky and 2013 World Piano Competition Gold Medalist Marianna Prjevalskaya (who also studied with Slutsky). This will mark the first time in the history of the World Piano Competition that the winner is presented in a public recital.

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, Pianopalooza IX, directed by CCM’s Division of Keyboard Studies Head Michael Chertock, will include songs of love and romance. The program showcases spectacular student pianists and features special appearances by CCM faculty artists including Awadagin Pratt, James Tocco and Chertock himself. Pratt will perform music by Rachmaninoff, Tschaikovsky, Schumann and celebrated jazz pianist (and Cincinnati native) Fred Hersch. Tocco and Chertock will present selections from Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story.

Pianopalooza IX and the Bearcat Piano Festival promise to excite audiences with the beautiful sound and versatile styles that this popular and complex instrument has to offer — the perfect listening opportunity for music and keyboard enthusiasts of all ages.

Event Information
Please see individual listings below for additional information. The Boris Slutsky, Marianna Prjevalskaya and Pianopalooza IX concerts require paid admission. All other Bearcat Piano Festival events are free and open to the general public. All dates and programs are subject to change.

CCM’s Bearcat Piano Festival and Pianopalooza Showcase Return Feb. 6 – 16, 2014

Next month, CCM celebrates the art of the piano with a star-studded series of master classes, guest artist concerts and more! Launched in 2010 by Piano Department Chair Awadagin Pratt, the 2014 Bearcat Piano Festival welcomes a plethora of visiting pianists this February, including:

• Professor Emeritus Frank Weinstock on Feb. 6.
• Peabody Conservatory Piano Chair Boris Slutsky on Feb. 7.
• 2013 World Piano Competition Gold Medalist Marianna Prjevalskaya on Feb. 8.
• University of Louisville Piano Professor Dror Biran on Feb. 9
• Juilliard graduate (and brother of UC President Santa J. Ono, PhD) Momoro Ono on Feb. 11.

The celebration culminates with the return of Pianopalooza on Feb. 16. In honor of the Valentine’s Day holiday, this year’s concert celebrates “Keys to Love and Romance!”

For a complete schedule of festival events and additional information, please visit ccm.uc.edu/boxoffice/bearcatpianofestival. Some performances require paid admission.

Stay tuned for even more information about this exciting series of events!

CCM Performances and Collaborations Highlighted on Several “Best of 2013” Lists

As we ring in a new year, several local arts writers have released their “year in review” lists for 2013. Rafael de Acha, Mary Ellyn Hutton, Kirk Sheppard, Rick Pender and Janelle Gelfand help us take a look back at the year that was:

In his “best of” roundup for Music for All Seasons, Rafael de Acha commented, “(CCM) consistently achieves professional level in its numerous productions of operas, musicals and concerts which approached the four-digit mark this past year.” Last spring’s original production of Into a Lamplit Room: The Songs of Kurt Weill and the recent concert production of Verdi’s Don Carlos, along with CCM’s Mainstage Series productions of Singin’ in the Rain and Owen Wingrave, all received special mention in de Acha’s review.

Mary Ellyn Hutton presented her top 16 performances for Music in Cincinnati, which included three CCM productions: Verdi’s Don Carlos, Bach’s St. John Passion and Britten’s Owen Wingrave. Of Verdi’s Don Carlos, Hutton commented, “This gets my vote as perhaps the single finest concert of 2013 in Cincinnati.”

Compiled for The Snappy Critic, Kirk Sheppard‘s list of favorite theatre productions of 2013 included last spring’s Mainstage production of The Threepenny Opera and the Studio production of Parade produced in collaboration with the Carnegie in Covington. This past fall’s CCM productions of Carrie and Singin’ in the Rain also made Sheppard’s list.

Rick Pender included two CCM productions in his 2013 round up of theatre in Cincinnati for CityBeat. Last spring’s co-production of Parade with the Carnegie and the recent Mainstage production of Singin’ in the Rain received special attention.

Janelle Gelfand also included CCM’s massive concert production of Don Carlos in her list of “Top 13 Classical Music Shows in 2013” for the Cincinnati Enquirer. In addition to her performance-specific list, she published a summary of “arts highlights” for the year, which included the work of the MYCincinnati after-school program in East Price Hill (learn more about CCM’s connection to the organization here) and the new partnership between Cincinnati’s World Piano Competition, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and CCM.

What were your favorite performances of 2013? What are you looking forward to most in 2014? Get a first look at what’s coming up at CCM in 2014 here!

CCM Announces Spring 2014 Calendar of Major Events

Download CCM’s Spring 2014 Calendar Booklet today.

UPDATED March 7, 2014: CCM is delighted to announce its spring 2014 schedule of major events. The largest single source of performing arts events in the state of Ohio, CCM presents nearly 150 major public performances from Jan. 12 through May 18, ranging from faculty and guest artist concerts to fully supported opera, musical theatre, drama and dance productions.

Highlights of CCM’s spring concert series include the return of Cincinnati’s premiere fundraiser “A Moveable Feast” on Jan. 17, the Ariel Quartet’s Beethoven Cycle running Jan. 23 – March 29, a performance of Schubert’s Winterreise song cycle by guest artists Gerald Finley and Julius Drake on Feb. 5, the fifth annual Bearcat Piano Festival running Feb. 6 – 11, the 17th annual PRISM concert on Feb. 23, a performance of John Adams’ El Niño on March 2 and a celebration of the music of jazz legend Thelonius Monk on March 9.

CCM’s Mainstage Series also continues in early 2014 with a production of Mary Zimmerman’s Metamorphoses, directed by guest artist D. Lynn Meyers, running Feb. 5 – 9; the CCM debut of the iconic musical Les Misérables, running Feb. 27 – March 9;  Donizett’s comedic opera Don Pasquale, running April 3–6; and the quintessential romantic ballet Giselle, running April 17–19.

Learn more about these and dozens of other performing and media-arts events by referring to the list below. You can also view a digital copy of CCM’s Spring 2014 Calendar Booklet here.

CCM’s Art of the Piano Master Class and Recital Series Continues July 20 – 24

Although the winner of the 2013 World Piano Competition’s Artist Division may have already been crowned, the world-class piano activities continue at CCM Village this summer!

24 talented young pianists join 10 of today’s most sought-after artists and teachers for the Art of the Piano Master Class and Recital Series at CCM. Experience the artistry yourself during the following upcoming concerts:

Marianna Prjevalskaya Wins Gold Medal at 2013 World Piano Competition

World Piano Competition Gold winner Marianna Prjevalskaya of Spain. Courtesy of Enquirer Media.

Congratulations to Marianna Prjevalskaya, Gold Medalist in the Artist Division of the 2013 World Piano Competition. Prjevalskaya receives $20,000, a recording deal with Fanfare Cincinnati and a debut recital in New York.

The Cincinnati Enquirer‘s Janelle Gelfand attended the sold-out Artist Division Finals concert on Saturday, July 13, and provides a full recap here.

The entire finals concert was taped for future broadcast on CET Cincinnati Public Television. Stay tuned to this site for more information on the broadcast date!

Catch the Action of the World Piano Competition Finals on Saturday, July 13!

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The 2013 World Piano Competition Finals may be sold out, but you can still witness the three finalists in the Competition’s Artist Division perform with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra to become this year’s gold medalist on Saturday, July 13!

Stream the action LIVE from UC’s College-Conservatory of Music beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 13!

CCM Welcomes Renowned Guest Artists for Art of the Piano Concert Series July 14 – 24

After you’ve experienced the excitement of the World Piano Competition’s Artist Division at CCM next week, mark your calendars for CCM’s Art of the Piano Guest Artist Series, July 14 – 24!

World Piano Competition Artistic Committee Chair and CCM Artist-in-Residence Awadagin Pratt will be joined by Stephen Prutsman, Ory Shihor, Myong-joo Lee, Russell Sherman, Ning An, Mayron Tsong and Yoshikazu Nagai for a special series of guest artist performances. A complete schedule of performances is listed below. Tickets and subscriptions available through the CCM Box Office.

Cincinnati Enquirer and WMKV FM Preview World Piano Competition

New leaders of the World Piano Competition, left to right: Awadagin Pratt, Peter Landgren, Trey Devey and Mark Ernster Provided/David Rafie.

Excitement continues to build for the debut of Cincinnati’s re-energized World Piano Competition, which kicks off next Monday, July 8!

If you want to learn more about this unique collaboration between CCM and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, be sure to check out the Cincinnati Enquirer‘s in-depth preview.

• Learn more about the significance of the World Piano Competition here.

• Get to know the leadership behind the Competition (including CCM Dean Peter Landgren and CCM Artist-in-Residence Awadagin Pratt) here.

• Read Janelle Gelfand’s guide to having the ideal World Piano competition experience here.

CCM Video: Introducing the 2013 World Piano Competition

The world will be watching this July as today’s most sought-after piano teachers and artists come together with up-and-coming international performers for the 2013 World Piano Competition!

CCM Village will serve as the home of this year’s Competition, and finalists in the Competition’s Artist Division will have the distinct honor of performing with the world-renowned Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, July 13! Don’t miss a moment of the excitement: order your tickets or all access passes today!

A complete schedule for the Artist Division Competition is listed below. Learn more about the 2013 World Piano Competition here.

Event Information
All events listed below take place on the campus of the University of Cincinnati unless otherwise indicated. Please see individual event information for single ticket and subscription prices, along with ordering information.

Tickets to World Piano Competition events are available through the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Box Office.