15 May 2015

Odeion

19:30

Among his generation of concert artists, pianist Awadagin Pratt is acclaimed for his musical insight and intensely involving performances in recital and with symphony orchestras.

Born in 1966 in Pittsburgh, Awadagin began studying piano at the age of six.  At the age of 16 he entered the University of Illinois where he studied piano, violin, and conducting.  He subsequently enrolled at the Peabody Conservatory of Music where he became the first student in the school's history to receive diplomas in three performance areas (piano, violin and conducting).  Awadagin recently received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Johns Hopkins.  In 1992 he won the Naumburg International Piano Competition and two years later was awarded an Avery Fisher Career Grant.  Since then, he has played numerous recitals throughout the US.  Summer festival engagements include Ravinia, Blossom, Wolf Trap, Caramoor and Aspen, the Hollywood Bowl and the Mostly Mozart Festival (Tokyo.)

Recent appearances include recital engagements at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark and in Baltimore, La Jolla, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and at Duke University, as well as appearances with the orchestras of Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Seattle, Colorado, Portland ME, Utah, Richmond, Grand Rapids, Winston-Salem, Allentown and Mobile.  He played a recital in Carnegie Hall for the Naumburg Foundation in November 2010 and appeared at the 2012 Ravinia Festival in a duo recital with cellist Zuill Bailey.

Internationally, Awadagin has toured Japan, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, Israel, Columbia and South Africa.  He has been the subject of numerous articles in the national press, including Newsweek, People Magazine and New York Newsday.  He was named one of the 50 Leaders of Tomorrow in Ebony Magazine's special 50th anniversary issue. 

In 2009, he was one of four artists selected to perform at a White House classical music event and performing in concert for guests including President Obama.  He has performed two other times at the White House, both at the invitation of the President.  His recordings for Angel/EMI include A Long Way From Normal, an all Beethoven Sonata CD, Live From South Africa, Transformations and an all Bach disc with the St. Lawrence String Quartet.  His most recent recordings are the Brahms Sonatas for cello and piano with Zuill Bailey and a recording of the music of Judith Lang Zaimont with the Harlem Quartet. 

He is currently Professor of Piano and Artist in Residence at the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati.  He is also the Artistic Director of the World Piano Competition as well as the Artistic Director of the Art of the Piano Festival.  Awadagin is a Yamaha artist.

PROGRAMME

Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35

Bach Busoni: Chaconne in D minor, BWV 1004

Liszt: Sonata in B minor

ADMISSION

R130 (adults)

R90 (pensioners)

R70 (UFS staff)

R50 (students and learners)

R50 (group bookings of 10+)

Tickets available at Computicket.

ENQUIRIES

Ninette Pretorius (tel. 051 – 401 2504)