American Pianists Association

Grand Encounters: Olga Kern

Russian-American classical pianist Olga Kern, born into a family of musicians with direct links to Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff, began studying piano at the age of five. She jumpstarted her U.S. career with her historic Gold Medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition as the first woman to do so in more than thirty years.

Her program features Russian composers in the second half:

Beethoven: Variations on a theme by Salieri

Schumann: Carnaval

Gershwin: Three PreludesEarl

Wild/Gershwin: Fascinating Rhythm

—intermission—

Rachmaninov: Moment Musical Op.16, No.4

Rachmaninov: Etude tableaux Op.33, No.8

Rachmaninov: Polichinelle Op.3 No.4

Tchaikovsky: Meditation

Scriabin: Two Etudes Op.42, No.4 and No.5

Balakirev: Islamey

For more information please visit, americanpianists.org.