25th Anniversary Festival Showcases Competition Partnership with MSO Musicians

Milwaukee, Wisconsin– May 22, 2024 – The PianoArts Music Festival, May 30 – June 4, shines a spotlight on the prestigious North American Competition. Eight emerging pianists advanced to the semifinal round showcase their artistic excellence in a solo recital on May 31. The following day, June 1, five Milwaukee Symphony violinists and cellists join them as collaborative duo partners. The excitement builds when three pianists are selected by the jury to perform with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor Yaniv Dinur on June 4. The recitals are held in the intimate Rose Room of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, and the grand finale with the MSO is at the Bradley Symphony Center.

“To celebrate our anniversary,” reflected Founder Sue Medford, “we want to highlight our 25-year partnership with Milwaukee Symphony musicians. Our partnership has garnered international acclaim for the competition. As importantly, the collaborative nature of the competition has boosted the professional skills of over 145 pianists. Former competitors now have thriving careers at the top of the classical music field.”

“This season,” she continued, “we are taking collaboration to a new level. Our hand-picked pianists, ages 20-22, will perform a true duo (two equal partners) during the recital on June 1. They are Lucas Amory, Wanqing Jiang, Tanner Jorden, Benjamin Keating, Angeline Ma, Emma Taggart, Taylor Wang, and Vanessa Yu. Performing as duo partners are MSO violinists Ji-Yeon Lee, Dylana Leung, and Kyung Ah Oh, and cellists Madleine Kabat and Adrien Zitoun.”

The Master’s Concert
As a unique twist the distinguished jury will perform a recital with MSO musicians on June 3 as the competitors take their seats in the audience. Opening this concert will be Juror Aaron Wunsch with piano duo partner, Stefanie Jacob, from the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, performing Schubert’s Fantasie in F minor. Beethoven‘s Trio in E-flat major, Opus 70, No. 2 will be performed by MSO Violinist Paul Hauer, Cellist Madeleine Kabat, and Jury Chair Peter Takács. The finale is Trio for Violin, Horn, and Piano by Brahms featuring MSO First Associate Concertmaster Ilana Setapen, Principal Horn Matthew Annin, and Juror Sean Chen.

Other MSO Musicians Involved
Additional MSO musicians will perform with the semifinalists in a Concerto Workshop on June 3, including First Violinist Alex Ayers, Principal Second Violinist Jennifer Startt, Principal Violist Robert Levine, and Associate Principal Emeritus Cellist Scott Tisdel. Steven Ayers will perform the second keyboard and the conductor is Yaniv Dinur.

“Eleven MSO musicians will participate in the competition and festival. When the pianists walk on the Bradley Symphony Center stage on June 4 to perform concertos with the full orchestra, they will already know many of the individual performers. That, too, is unique. We are proud to present such an event In Milwaukee,” added Ms. Medford.

Schedule, the Artists, Details, and Tickets
Details about 2024 North American competitors and their programs are available at 2024 Semifinalists. Tickets to all program in the competition and festival: 2024 Festival and Tickets

About PianoArts
The mission of PianoArts is to foster appreciation and performance of classical music by identifying and mentoring a new generation of pianists with exceptional musical and verbal communication skills and by presenting them to diverse audiences.

A challenging international competition for pianists, ages 17 – 22, the competition has an equal emphasis on offering support to musicians building classical music careers. Competition cash prizes help them to pursue their educational goals. PianoArts Fellowships help them to pursue goals that include engaging diverse audiences and creating concerts of classical music that connect with all people in all settings from concert halls to communities throughout America.

Information: 414-962-3055 or Info@PianoArts.org. Festival events will be updated on a regular basis and posted on the PianoArts Web site: www.PianoArts.org

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.