Starting Monday, July 18: Free Master Classes at IKIF

Over the next two weeks, why not take the time and sit in on a free master class at the International Keyboard Institute and Festival!

Master Class with José Ramos Santana

Master instructors announced thus far include: Alexander Kobrin, Dmitry Rachmanov, Eduard Zilberkant, Emanuel Krasovsky, Geoffrey Burleson, Jeffrey Swann, Jerome Rose, José Ramos Santana (pictured above), Massimiliano Ferrati, Mykola Suk, Nina Lelchuk, Stanislav Khristenko and Victor Rosenbaum. The IKIF schedule is updated frequently, so check it for the latest classes.

Jon Weber Swings, at Piano in Bryant Park

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Jon Weber at Piano in Bryant Park

Jon Weber entertained Tuesday July 12 through Friday July 15, at Piano in Bryant Park

Jon Weber, just having arrived back in New York and direct from the airport, entertained young and old (and in-between) today as the featured performer at Piano in Bryant Park. On the bill were numbers from the American Songbook including by Hoagy Carmichael, George Gershwin, Fats Waller (if my ear was right), whoever wrote Happy Birthday, and many more. What a swinging way to spend my lunchtime! Jon will be playing in the park Wednesday and Friday from 12:30 to 2:30, and Thursday from 2 to 4 with a sing-along.

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July 17-31: Concerts, Lectures and Events at the International Keyboard Institute and Festival at Hunter College

Every day from July 17 through 31, the International Keyboard Institute and Festival will be holding keyboard concerts, afternoon lectures and master classes at the Kaye Playhouse and Lang Recital Hall.

The list of marquee performers includes Alexander Kobrin, Alexander Schimpf, Claire Huangci, Geoffrey Burleson, George Li, Jeffrey Swann, Jerome Rose, Jäger Meisters Chamber Orchestra, Magdalena Baczewska, Massimiliano Ferrati, Philippe Entremont, Stanislav Khristenko and Xiayin Wang.

Concerts at the Kaye by the marquee performers are $20 each. We are very excited about attending those, but also about concerts, lectures and masterclasses that are free and open to the public, including the MacKenzie Award competition rounds!

The Institute maintains a page with links to prior-years’ concerts.

At the conclusion of the Festival are the presentations of the Dorothy MacKenzie Artist Recognition Scholarship Awards, open to full-session participants only.

Romantic Awakening: Jens Barnieck at the German Consulate General

New York City
June 30, 2016

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Stage is set for Jens Barnieck at the German Consulate in New York.

This evening, German pianist Jens Barnieck thrilled a large audience, who were generously invited one and all to a free concert at the German Consulate General, for a masterful performance of a program named Romantic Awakening. Upon first reading the program, the appropriateness of the “Romantic” moniker escaped me, but by the time all the music and applause had subsided, I felt I understood. Continue reading