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University of Florida to host Steinway Festival

March 1, 2007

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida’s Fifth Annual Steinway Piano Festival brings to campus an assembly of talents for four days of intensive piano study and performances from March 6 to 9.

Participating are young artists from around the world — including current UF students and alumni — and renowned pianists. This year’s festival will feature Boris Berman from Yale University and Thomas Mastroianni, president of American Liszt Society and former dean of School of Music of Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Student concerts will be performed, and master classes with distinguished artists will be given daily. All events are free and open to the public and will take place at the Keene Faculty Center at Dauer Hall and at University Auditorium.

Performances are:

  • Boris Berman, featuring works by Bach, Brahms and Debussy; 7:30 p.m., March 6, University Auditorium
  • Thomas Mastroianni, “Franz List: Art, Literature, Love”; 7:30 p.m., March 7, University Auditorium
  • Thomas Mastroianni, “Franz Liszt: Religion and Death; 7:30 p.m., March 9, University Auditorium

In addition, two recitals will be presented by visiting virtuoso pianists from the Curtis Institute of Music and Central Music School (Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory). They are:

  • Alicia Witarsa and Yoon Jung Han; 11:45 a.m., March 7, Keene Faculty Center (Dauer Hall)
  • Two Russian students from the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory; 7:30 p.m., March 8, University Auditorium

The Steinway Piano Festival coincides with the University of Florida’s Steinway Initiative, a $2 million fund-raising campaign to purchase 64 new pianos, restore three existing pianos and establish an endowment to provide financial resources to maintain this significant investment. To be designated an All-Steinway School, 90 percent or more of the acoustic pianos owned by the institution must be produced by Steinway & Sons. Once the goal is reached, UF will join company with 27 other institutions including the Oberlin Conservatory, the Yale School of Music and the Juilliard School.

To learn more about the UF Steinway Initiative or the festival, contact Boaz Sharon at bsharon7@ufl.edu.