Flagstaff Piano Festival
Silvan Negruțiu, Artistic Director
June 24 – July 1, 2023
Academy | Concerts | Competition
Flagstaff Piano Festival is an immersive experience bringing young pianists, dedicated educators, celebrated artists, and enthusiastic music lovers together at the base of the inspirational San Francisco peaks on the campus of Northern Arizona University.
The Festival invites high-school and undergraduate students, piano teachers, and auditors of all ages to a week-long Academy in order to immerse themselves in practice and performance through lessons, masterclasses, performance classes, young artist concerts, and the FPF Competition. Academy Tuition includes access to daily concerts and masterclasses with distinguished guest artists.
Academy Application Deadline:
May 1 – for partial tuition scholarship consideration
June 4 – final deadline
In addition to performance preparation with NAU piano faculty and guest artists, the Academy offers seminars on topics ranging from career goals to piano technique, performance anxiety, to competition and audition best practices. Drawing from Flagstaff’s unique history and geographical setting, the FPF Academy promotes the outdoors in a healthy living and learning environment that goes beyond piano, including hiking and yoga sessions as well as tours of local attractions.
Piano teachers who have students attending the FPF Academy will be invited to collaborate with FPF faculty in identifying relevant piano pedagogy topics for Piano Immersion Day on Thursday, June 29, 2023. Teachers’ attendance and contribution to Piano Immersion Day is free and includes an invitation to design and participate in a round-table panel at the academy along with a stage program in state-of-the-art Kitt Recital Hall.
Flagstaff Piano Festival Concerts
Please note:
We have free parking for all weekend events this summer
in the large lot behind Cline Library and Kitt Recital Hall
FACULTY RECITAL & OPENING CEREMONY
June 24, 2023
7:00 PM
Kitt Recital Hall
Free and Open to the Public.
Flagstaff Piano Festival presents Flagstaff piano Festival & Northern Arizona University piano faculty-artists: Silvan Negruțiu, Samuel Gingher, Michelle Wachter, and Aimee Fincher in solo and multi-piano works.
JEFFREY SWANN, Piano
June 25, 2023
3:00 PM
Kitt Recital Hall
PROGRAM Accordion Closed
R. SCHUMANN – Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp Minor, Op. 11
SCHUBERT/LISZT – Soirées de Vienne, S. 427, Nos. 1 & 3
LISZT – Valse Oubliée, S. 215, No. 1
BARTÓK – Six Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56/BB 68
STRAVINSKY – Tango
CHOPIN – Waltz in A Minor, Op. 34, No. 2
CHOPIN – Waltz in A-flat Major, Op. 42
CHOPIN – Mazurka in A Minor, Op. 17, No. 4
CHOPIN – Polonaise in A-flat Major, Op. 53
About Jeffrey Swann Accordion Closed
Flagstaff Piano Festival and the Horizons Summer Concert Series present JEFFREY SWANN, “a virtuoso with a soul” (The Guardian) enjoying a long-standing international performing career on four continents, in a solo recital featuring works by R. Schumann, Liszt, Bartók, Stravinsky, and Chopin. In addition to presenting lecture-recitals worldwide, Swann has performed with the symphonies of Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Indiana, Dallas, Saint Louis, Phoenix, Houston, Lexington, Baltimore, and Minneapolis; and in Europe with the orchestras of Rotterdam, The Hague, Belgian National and Radio, Santa Cecilia, La Scala, Maggio Fiorentino (Florence), RAI Turin and Rome, Südwest Rundfunk, Bayerischer Rundfunk, the Prague Philharmonic, Radio France de Montpellier, and the London Philharmonia. He serves as Professor of Piano at New York University and the President’s Distinguished Artist-in-Residence at Northern Arizona University.
During his residency at Flagstaff Piano Festival, Jeffrey Swann will also teach a public piano masterclass on Monday, June 26, 2023 at 10:00AM-12:00PM in Kitt Recital Hall. Admission to the masterclass is free.
JOYCE YANG, Piano
June 26, 2023
7:00 PM
Kitt Recital Hall
PROGRAM Accordion Closed
TCHAIKOVSKY – The Seasons, Op. 37a (selections)
RACHMANINOFF – Preludes, Op. 32 (selections)
J.S. BACH/PETRI – “Sheep May Safely Graze” from Cantata BWV 208
KERNIS – Un Bacio-A Kiss (Romance & Transfiguration) on Themes by John Corigliano and Mark Adamo
STRAVINSKY/AGOSTI – Three Movements from The Firebird Suite
About Joyce Yang Accordion Closed
Flagstaff Piano Festival presents grammy-nominated pianist and 2005 acclaimed silver medalist at the 12th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, JOYCE YANG, in a solo recital featuring works by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Bach, Aaron Jay Kernis, and Stravinsky. Blessed with “poetic and sensitive pianism” (Washington Post) and a “wondrous sense of color” (San Francisco Classical Voice), pianist Joyce Yang captivates audiences with her virtuosity, lyricism, and interpretive sensitivity.
LOMAZOV-RACKERS PIANO DUO
June 27, 2023
7:00 PM
Kitt Recital Hall
PROGRAM Accordion Closed
MOZART – Sonata in C Major for Piano Four-Hands, K. 521
BRAHMS – Variations on a Theme by Haydn for Two Pianos, Op. 56b
J.S. BACH – Prelude & Fugue in E Major, BWV 878 (Rackers)
KAPUSTIN – Variations, Op. 41 (Lomazov)
STRAVINSKY – Three Movements from Petrushka for Piano Four-Hands
About Marina Lomazov and Joseph Rackers Accordion Closed
Flagstaff Piano Festival presents The LOMAZOV-RACKERS PIANO DUO, costarring acclaimed pianists Marina Lomazov and Joseph Rackers in a piano duo recital featuring works by Mozart, Brahms, Bach, Kapustin, and Stravinsky. Praised for “demon precision and complete dedication” (Audio Society), the Lomazov/Rackers Piano Duo garnered wide attention as the Second Prize Winners of the Sixth Biennial Ellis Duo Piano Competition. Fanfare praises the duo for “a superb demonstration of piano playing” and American Record Guides writes “the ensemble between Lomazov and Rackers is dead on”.
During their residency at Flagstaff Piano Festival, Rackers and Lomazov will also teach public masterclasses on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 (Rackers) and Wednesday, June 28, 2023 (Lomazov) at 10:00AM-12:00PM in Kitt Recital Hall. Admission to the masterclasses is free.
ANN SCHEIN, Piano
June 28, 2023
7:00 PM
Kitt Recital Hall
PROGRAM Accordion Closed
CHOPIN – Sonata No. 2 in B-flat Minor, Op. 35
CARTER – Sonata (1945/1946)
CHOPIN – Sonata No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 58
About Ann Schein Accordion Closed
Flagstaff Piano Festival presents ANN SCHEIN in a solo recital featuring works by Chopin and Elliott Carter. Schein has received many distinguished honors for her Chopin performances, beginning with her first recordings in 1958 for Kapp Records. In a special survey of outstanding Chopin recorded performances during the bicentennial of Chopin’s birth in 2010, entitled “A Century of Romantic Music,” Gregor Benko and Ward Marston cited her performances of Chopin, stating that “Ann Schein was trained in her native United States, where she studied with both Mieczyslaw Munz and Arthur Rubinstein. Her first recordings, made when she was 18 and 19, established her as one of the premiere Chopin pianists of our time.”
During her residency at Flagstaff Piano Festival, Ann Schein will also teach a public piano masterclass on Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 10:00AM-12:00PM in Kitt Recital Hall. Admission to the masterclass is free.
JOHN O’CONOR, Piano
June 29, 2023
7:00 PM
Kitt Recital Hall
PROGRAM Accordion Closed
HAYDN – Sonata in B Minor, Hob. XVI:32
SCHUBERT – Four Impromptus, D. 899/Op. 90
FIELD – Nocturnes (selections)
SCRIABIN – Prelude & Nocturne for the Left Hand, Op. 9
BEETHOVEN – Sonata in C Minor, Op. 13 “Pathetique”
About John O’Connor Accordion Closed
Flagstaff Piano Festival presents acclaimed Irish pianist JOHN O’CONOR in a solo recital featuring works by Haydn, Schubert, John Field, Scriabin, and Beethoven. O’Conor has been gathering wonderful reviews for his masterly playing for over forty years, following his studies with Dieter Weber and Wilhelm Kempff, and his success as the 1st Prize winner at the Beethoven International Piano Competition in Vienna in 1973, which opened the door to a career that has taken him all around the world. “A pianist of unbounding sensitivity” (Gramophone) ; “He represents a vanishing tradition that favors inner expression and atmosphere over showmanship and bravura” (Chicago Tribune) ; “Impeccable technique and musicality … it would be hard to imagine better performances” (Sunday Times – London) ; “This artist has the kind of flawless touch that makes an audience gasp” (Washington Post) ; “Exquisite playing” (New York Times).
During his residency at Flagstaff Piano Festival, John O’Conor will also teach a public piano masterclass on Friday, June 30, 2023 at 10:00AM-12:00PM in Kitt Recital Hall. Admission to the masterclass is free.
YOUNG ARTIST CONCERTS I & II
Flagstaff Piano Festival presents the 2023 FPF Competition Winners and various FPF Academy participants in an inspiring piano soirée program on Friday night, and in a matinee on Saturday morning. Free admission to both concerts. Different Young Artists will perform at each, so you should come to both!
Young Artist Concert I (including competition awards)
June 30, 2023
7:00PM
Kitt Recital Hall
Young Artist Concert II (including closing ceremony)
July 1, 2023
11:00 AM
Kitt Recital Hall
PIANO IMMERSION DAY
June 29, 2023
Kitt School of Music
Flagstaff Piano Festival presents the 2023 Piano Immersion Day. In keeping with Flagstaff Piano Festival’s mission to create equitable access and to engage the larger community, Piano Immersion Day (PID) events are free and open to all music and non-music teachers and students with an interest in learning more about music, the piano, and their pedagogy. Piano teachers whose students are attending the FPF Academy are invited to be an integral part of Flagstaff Piano Festival, by collaborating with FPF Faculty in identifying relevant piano pedagogy topics for a roundtable panel and a stage program, focused on engaging both music and non-music students and teachers. Free admission.
PIANO IMMERSION DAY SCHEDULE
10:00 AM – Ann Schein, Piano Masterclass (Kitt Recital Hall)
1:00PM – Teachers’ Roundtable Panel (PFA 144)
3:00PM – Teachers’ Stage Program (Kitt Recital Hall)
5:00PM – Teachers’ Happy Hour with FPF Faculty
7:00PM – John O’Conor, Piano Recital (Kitt Recital Hall)
Flagstaff Piano Festival Masterclasses
All masterclasses are Free and Open to the Public
JOYCE YANG, Piano Masterclass
June 25, 2023
10:00 AM– 12:00 PM
Kitt Recital Hall
Flagstaff Piano Festival presents pianist Joyce Yang in a public masterclass with FPF Academy participants. Joyce Yang is the 2005 silver medalist at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and a Grammy-nominated artist. Free admission.
JEFFREY SWANN, Piano Masterclass
June 26, 2023
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Kitt Recital Hall
Flagstaff Piano Festival presents pianist Jeffrey Swann in a public masterclass with FPF Academy participants. Jeffrey Swann serves as Professor of Piano at New York University and the President’s Distinguished Artist-in-Residence at Northern Arizona University. Free admission.
JOSEPH RACKERS, Piano Masterclass
June 27, 2023
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Kitt Recital Hall
Flagstaff Piano Festival presents pianist Joseph Rackers in a public masterclass with FPF Academy participants. Joseph Rackers serves as Professor of Piano at Eastman School of Music, Co-Founder of the Southeastern Piano Festival, and Artistic Director of the Vivace Music Foundation. Free admission.
MARINA LOMAZOV, Piano Masterclass
June 28, 2023
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Kitt Recital Hall
Flagstaff Piano Festival presents pianist Marina Lomazov in a public masterclass with FPF Academy participants. Marina Lomazov serves as Professor of Piano at Eastman School of Music, Co-Founder of the Southeastern Piano Festival, and Artistic Director of the Vivace Music Foundation. Free admission.
ANN SCHEIN, Piano Masterclass
June 29, 2023
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Kitt Recital Hall
Flagstaff Piano Festival presents pianist Ann Schein in a public masterclass with FPF Academy participants. Ann Schein is Professor of Piano at the Peabody Institute and Mannes School of Music. Free admission.
JOHN O’CONOR, Piano Masterclass
June 30, 2023
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Kitt Recital Hall
Flagstaff Piano Festival presents pianist John O’Conor in a public masterclass with FPF Academy participants. John O’Conor is Professor of Piano at the Glenn Gould School in Toronto, Distinguished Artist-in-Residence and Chair of Piano Division at Shenandoah Conservatory, and Distinguished Visiting Professor at TU Dublin Conservatoire of Music. Free admission.
Flagstaff Piano Festival Competition
June 30, 2023
1:00PM – 5:00PM
Kitt Recital Hall
Flagstaff Piano Festival presents the 2023 Young Artist Piano Competition, featuring FPF Academy participants. Free admission.