2nd Annual Frost Chopin Festival and Academy June 23 - July 2 2019

THE FROST SCHOOL OF MUSIC AND THE CHOPIN FOUNDATION OF THE U.S.

 PRESENT THE 2^ND ANNUAL FROST CHOPIN FESTIVAL AND ACADEMY

JUNE 23 – JULY 2, 2019

30 Talented Young Pianists Selected to Participate from All Over the World To Immerse In The Works Of Chopin With The World’s Greatest Chopin Specialists and Musicians Including Dang Thai Son, Katarzyna Popowa-Zydron, Margarita Shevchenko, Dina Yoffe, Ewa Poblocka 

“They might be called student musicians, but many of the pianists already have impressive professional credentials.”—Miami Herald

 Seven All Star Concerts At Gusman Hall Will Be Open To The Public

www.frostchopinfestival.com

Following the initial successful launch of the Frost Chopin Festival & Academy last summer, the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami is pleased to announce the Festival's second edition which will take place June 23 through July 2, 2019.  The announcement was made jointly by the Festival’s artistic director Kevin Kenner, Frost piano professor and top prize winner of the 1990 International Chopin Competition in Warsaw, and Barbara Muze executive director of the Chopin Foundation of the U. S.  This year’s Festival and Academy will expand to include 30 participants and seven concerts open to the public.

Five of the world’s greatest Chopin specialists —  Dang Thai Son, Katarzyna Popowa-Zydron, Margarita Shevchenko, Dina Yoffe, Ewa Poblocka will join Kevin Kenner working intensively with the top 30 talented young pianists selected to participate from all over the world.  Miami’s own famed musicologist Dr. Frank Cooper will return as moderator.  Special workshops offered to the students include an evening of Polish folk dancing, and two performance workshops given by internationally acclaimed Chopin scholar John Rink from the University of Cambridge, who will also offer two public lectures at Festival concert evenings. 

In commenting Kevin Kenner, Frost Chopin Academy and Festival artistic director stated:  “I am truly excited the inaugural program was so successful that we are able to continue and expand this forum in which lovers of Chopin’s music can immerse themselves in concert and in the creative work behind the scenes.   I’m looking forward to being part of this creative experience for both students and our stellar guest artists.”

In commenting, Barbara Muze, executive director Chopin Foundation of the U.S. stated: “Having this type of opportunity for young pianists in Miami is not only invaluable for the participants, it is also a great resource for the community. We have a long history of collaborating with FSOM.   Many of our Chopin Foundation Scholarship recipients are participating again this year, and the program is aligned with our mission to support young American pianists and make Chopin’s music accessible to everyone.”

In commenting Dr. Frank Cooper stated: “Chopin holds a world record: The composer with the highest percent of his total works in standard performance repertoire worldwide, he commands interpreters and listeners as no other.  Those with the luck to attend will discover how much more remarkable Chopin and his music are than what they might otherwise think.”

The Frost Chopin Festival, allows concertgoers to enjoy a weeklong celebration of the music of Chopin and beyond featuring world-class artists from around the globe. Festival events include:

• Recital with Dina Yoffe, winner of the International Chopin and Schumann Competitions, 
• Lincoln Center’s Chamber Music Society season artists, the Escher Quartet, join Kevin Kenner in an evening of Mozart, Barber and Nowakowski, 
• Two concerts featuring some of the most promising stars of the Frost Chopin Academy, plus an additional concert featuring the winners of the Chopin Concerto audition who will also be joined by the Escher Quartet.  
• Poland’s renowned comic mime Ireneusz Krosny will perform a one-man show and give a workshop for Academy students on body language. 
• Festival’s grand finale — a special “Nocturne” concert featuring a number of our master pianists sharing the stage in a 19^th century “Parisian salon” setting, moderated by Frank Cooper.

All concerts will be held at Gusman Hall, 1314 Miller Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146.

A Frost Chopin Festival Pass to all six concerts is $180 for adults and $120 for seniors.  Individual tickets are $35 for adults and $25 for seniors.  A free concert will take place June 25.   For further information and to purchase tickets go to  www.frostchopinfestival.com or call 305-284-2400. 

MEDIA NOTE:  Following please find the Frost Chopin Festival Schedule.  A complete Frost Academy and Festival schedule can be accessed at www.frostchopinfestival.com along with bios and photos of the guest artists.

 We appreciate the support of LOT Polish Airlines, Miami Salon Group and the Pearce Foundation

Frost Chopin Festival Schedule

Sunday, June 23, 2019, 7:00 p.m. (TICKETED)

Frost Chopin Festival Opening Concert

Escher Quartet--Adam Barnett-Hart-violin, Danbi Um-violin, Pierre Lapointe-viola, Brook Speltz- cello

Grzegorz Frankowski, double bass

Kevin Kenner, piano

Frank Cooper, moderator

Program:

W.A. Mozart String Quartet in F Major, K. 590

Samuel Barber String Quartet, Op. 11

Jozef Nowakowski Piano Quintet in E-flat Major, Op. 17

The opening concert of the 2^nd annual Chopin Festival features the renowned Escher Quartet, who currently serve as Season Artist of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. The evening’s program includes the premiere performance of the Nowakowski Quintet.  Both Chopin and Nowakowski studied composition with Jozef Elsner and the similarity is striking. 

Tuesday, June 25, 2019, 7:00 p.m. (FREE)

Frost Chopin Academy Showcase Concert 1

Selected participants of the Frost Chopin Academy

Program: 

Solo Piano Music of Chopin

This is the first of two concerts which will feature performances by some of the most talented young pianists attending the Frost Chopin Academy.  The performers and program TBA.

Wednesday, June 26, 2019, 7:00 p.m. (TICKETED)

Frost Chopin Academy Winners of the Concerto Audition Concert

The Escher Quartet: Adam Barnett-Hart, violin, Danbi Um, violin,  Pierre Lapointe, viola, Brook Speltz, cello, Grzegorz Frankowski, double bass,

Frank Cooper, moderator

Winners of the Frost Chopin Academy Concerto Audition, the Escher Quartet and Grzegorz Fankowski will perform Chopin Piano Concertos arranged for piano and string quintet by Kevin Kenner.

Friday, June 28, 2019, 7:00 p.m. (Ticketed)

Violin Piano Duo Recital 

Ji Young Lim, violin

Kevin Kenner, piano

Frank Cooper, concert introduction

Program:

W.A. Mozart Sonata in E minor for Violin and Piano, K. 304

Eugene Ysaÿe Sonata for Solo Violin, Op. 27 No. 2

Brahms Sonata No. 3 for Violin and Piano in D minor , Op. 108

This concert marks the Florida debut of Ji Young Lim, the 24 –year old violinist from Seoul, Korea who won top prize in the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels in 2015.  She has also won the Ishikawa Music Award in Japan, the Concerto Competition at the International Great Mountains Music Festival in Korea and the Eurasia Music Competition in Japan, among others.

 Saturday, June 29, 2019, 7:00 p.m. (TICKETED)

Distinguished Artist Recital:  Dina Yoffe

Dina Yoffe, piano

Michael Vaiman, violin

Program: 

Schubert and Beethoven solo piano selections

Chopin Sonata in G minor for Cello and Piano, Op. 65 arranged by Michael Vaiman for violin and piano

Dina Yoffe, top prize winner at the Schumann International competition in Germany and prize winner of the prestigious Chopin Competition in Warsaw is the featured performer for this very special evening.  She will be joined in the second half by master violinist Michael Vaiman performing his arrangement of the Chopin Cello Sonata for violin and piano. 

Sunday, June 30, 2019, 6:00 p.m. (TICKETED)

Double Header: Frost Chopin Academy Showcase Concert II

An Evening of Body Language with Comic/Mime Ireneusz Krosny

Students of the Chopin Academy

Ireneusz Krosny,  comic/mime

Program: 

Solo Music of Fryderyk Chopin

Various skits by Ireneusz Krosny

This is the second of two concerts featuring performances by the top students of this year’s Chopin Academy.  The evening will also feature Poland’s most famous comic mime in skits, many of which relate to the piano.

Tuesday, July 2, 2019, 7:0 p.m. (TICKETED)

Nocturne: The Salon Concert

Sponsored by the Miami Salon Group

Special Guest Artists of the Festival and Academy

Frank Cooper, moderator

In grand style, Frank Cooper moderates the finale of the Chopin Festival which will re-enact a typical soiree of a 19^th century Parisian salon. Specially selected guest artists of the Festival will perform a variety of works in a relaxed setting on stage.  Frank Cooper will introduce the performances and read interesting readings and excerpts. 

About the Frost School of Music of Miami

The Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music is one of the largest and highly acclaimed music schools located in a private university in the U.S., and one of the most comprehensive and relevant in all of higher education.  With over 700 students and 100 faculty members it a top choice for instrumental, keyboard and vocal performance as well as composition, music business, music education, music engineering technology, music therapy, songwriting, jazz, studio music, and more. It is one of two schools created in 1926 when the University of Miami was founded. The naming gift from Dr. Phillip and Patricia Frost in 2003 was a historic occasion.

 The Frost School of Music seeks to transform lives through the study and performance of music, and to enhance music’s future as the result of the most innovative and relevant curricula in higher education. The Frost School of Music is devoted to excellence and a culture of collegiality, in which a diversity of people, musical styles, and careers are valued. The Frost School of Music is a community of musicians committed to advanced musicianship for all Frost students across a broad array of majors and programs. The Frost School of Music seeks to elevate the community through intensive, sustained outreach to underserved populations. The Frost School of music strives to enhance the cultural richness of the University of Miami, South Florida and throughout the world as the result of world-class performance, scholarship and research.

About The Chopin Foundation of the U.S.

Founded in 1977 by Blanka A. Rosenstiel as a national non-profit organization headquartered in Miami, the Chopin Foundation aims to help young, talented American artists in their career development, and to make classical music accessible for all.

The Chopin Foundation’s flagship event is the National Chopin Piano Competition, which is open exclusively to American pianists and held in Miami every five years. The next Competition will be held in February of 2020. In addition to receiving substantial cash prizes, the top winners are sent, all expenses paid, to the prestigious International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, Poland, the oldest music competition in the world. The winner also receives a national concert tour arranged by the Foundation. The Foundation also offers performance opportunities, masterclasses, international exchange programs, an annual scholarship program and grants to young pianists. The Chopin Foundation’s mission is carried out nationally by Councils in San Francisco, Seattle, and Barboursville, Virginia.

The Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits’ Chopin For All FREE Concert Series is a unique program of free classical music concerts presented monthly in South Florida from November through May at two locations: the Broward County Main Library in Fort Lauderdale on Saturdays and the Granada Presbyterian Church in Coral Gables on Sundays.  More at www.chopin.org