Masterclass

Sunday | November 15 | 2:30pm

Olga Kern is one of the most celebrated pianists of her generation, known around the world for her commanding stage presence, brilliant technique and deeply expressive playing.
Born into a family of musicians, she began playing the piano at five and won First Prize at the Rachmaninoff International Piano Competition at seventeen. In 2001 she won the Gold Medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, a victory that launched an international career. She has since appeared with orchestras including the Czech Philharmonic, the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C., the Royal Philharmonic and the Tokyo NHK Symphony, and her recent seasons include a solo recital at Carnegie Hall.
Her recording of Rachmaninoff's Corelli Variations and transcriptions earned a Grammy nomination, and her discography spans Harmonia Mundi, Sony and Delos. She is a Steinway Artist.
Olga Kern is a devoted teacher and mentor. She has served on the piano faculty of the Manhattan School of Music since 2017, is Artistic Director of the Olga Kern International Piano Competition, and is Director of Chamber Music at the Virginia Arts Festival. She has chaired the jury of the Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition, and in 2012 she founded the Kern Foundation "Aspiration" to support young musicians. She received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2017.