Awadagin Pratt
Steinway Piano Series
Presented in collaboration with the Adams Foundation
March 24, 2013
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 Pittsburgh, Awadagin Pratt began studying piano at the age of six.
Three years later, having moved to Normal, Illinois with his family, he
also began studying violin. 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. In
recognition of this achievement and for his work in the field of
classical music, Mr. Pratt recently received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Johns Hopkins.
In 1992 Mr. Pratt won the Naumburg International Piano Competition and two years later was awarded an Avery Fisher Career Grant.
He has played numerous recitals throughout the US including
performances at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Dorothy Chandler
Pavilion in Los Angeles and Chicago's Orchestra Hall. His many
orchestral performances include appearances with the New York
Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra and the Pittsburgh, Atlanta,
Baltimore, St. Louis, National, Detroit and New Jersey symphonies among
many others. Summer festival engagements include Ravinia, Blossom,
Wolftrap, Caramoor and Aspen, the Hollywood Bowl and the Mostly Mozart
Festival in Tokyo. Mr. Pratt is also the Artistic Director of the Next
Generation Festival, a two-week chamber music festival in Lancaster, PA
and appears with cellist Zuill Bailey in duo recitals throughout the US.
1 comment:
It has been some years now since I last attended a recital given by this phenomenal pianist. I still have fond memories of some memorable performances given by this distinguished gent in the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut areas. I hope that it wont be too long before Mr. Pratt honor us with his captivating, enthralling, and fascinating renditions at the piano.
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