PianoSummer at New Paltz presents its 18th season

NEW PALTZ–The State University of New York at New Paltz presents the 18th season of PianoSummer at New Paltz Festival/Institute. Under the artistic direction of the internationally-renowned maestro, Vladimir Feltsman, concerts, recitals, master classes, lectures and piano competitions, will take place on the college campus from July 14 through August 3.

PianoSummer is an international summer institute and festival dedicated solely to piano music. It features an integrated approach to learning and performance under Feltsman’s direction. This year’s guest artists include Jeremy Denk, Alexander Meinikov and Haesun Paik.

PianoSummer offers a schedule of concerts and events by a variety of musicians of exceptional talents. On July 14, the Faculty Gala will feature Robert Hamilton, Phillip Kawin, Alexander Korsantia, Paul Ostrovsky, Robert Roux, Susan Starr, and Feltsman. The concert program includes Bach, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Haydn, Schumann, Beethoven, Liszt, Brahms and Stravinsky. Melnikov will perform Schubert, Brahms, Scriabin and Prokofiev on July 21 and Denk will play works by Liszt, Ligeti and Brahms on July 28. Paik will give a master class on July 31.

On August 3, the Festival concludes with the Symphony Gala featuring the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, with Feltsman conducting, and the 2012 winner of the Jacob Flier International Piano Competition. The program includes Beethoven’s “Coriolan Overture”, Ives’ “Unanswered Question,” and Schubert’s Symphony No.8 “Unfinished.” The Flier winner will perform a piano concerto.

Feltsman is the founder and artistic director of the PianoSummer at New Paltz. He made his public debut at the age of 12, when he performed as a soloist with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra. He won first prize at the Concertina International Competition in Prague at 15, an award that led him to enroll in the Moscow Conservatory where he studied under the tutelage of Jacob Flier. In the summer of 1987, Feltsman arrived in the United States after receiving permission to leave the Soviet Union. The PBS television documentary “Journey From Home: Vladimir Feltsman in Moscow” recounts his return to Moscow after being banned from the concert halls. Feltsman is a regular guest soloist with leading orchestras in the U.S., and he appears in many concert series and music festivals around the world. His discography includes more than 20 recordings. Feltsman teaches at New Paltz as well as Mannes College of Music in New York City.

All Institute events are open to the public, some free of charge. For a complete schedule of concerts and events, visit www.newpaltz.edu/piano.Tickets for all concerts and events go on sale June 4 at the Box Office located in Parker Theatre. Box office hours are Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased by phone at 845-257-3880.

PianoSummer at New Paltz is sponsored by the School of Fine & Performing Arts at New Paltz.