The Art of Piano: PianoSummer begins July 6th

NEW PALTZ – The State University of New York at New Paltz presents the 19th 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 6-26. All concerts and events are open to the public.

PianoSummer, an international summer institute and festival dedicated solely to piano music, features an integrated approach to learning and performance under Feltsman’s direction. This year’s guest artists include Jonathan Biss and Alexander Korsantia.

PianoSummer offers a schedule of concerts and events by a variety of musicians of exceptional talents. On July 6, the Faculty Gala will feature Robert Hamilton, Phillip Kawin, Alexander Korsantia, Paul Ostrovsky, Robert Roux, Susan Starr, and Vladimir Feltsman. The concert program includes Brahms, Chopin, Ravel, Scarlatti, Schubert and Sciabin. Biss will perform an all-Beethoven program on July 13 and give a Master Class on July 11. Korsantia will play works by Mussorgsky and Beethoven on July 20. Kawin will give a master class on July 23, and Feltsman and Leslie Gerber will give a lecture on the Russian Piano School on July 19.

On July 26, the Festival concludes with the Symphony Gala featuring the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, with Feltsman conducting. The program includes Mozart’s Overture to “Impresario,” a piano concerto (TBA) performed by the 2013 winner of the Jacob Flier Piano Competition, and Brahms Symphony #1.

Feltsman is the founder and artistic director of 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 are on sale now 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 or online at www.newpaltz.edu/piano

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