When George Walker was 14 years old, he gave his first public performance on the piano at Howard University. In 1945, George
Walker was presented in a debut recital in Town Hall to became the
first black instrumentalist to perform in that hall. As the winner of
the Philadelphia Youth Auditions, he played the 3rd Piano Concerto of
Rachmaninoff with the Philadelphia Orchestra with Eugene Ormandy
conducting two weeks after his New York debut in November of 1945. He
was the first black instrumentalist to appear with this orchestra. The
following year, he played the 2nd Piano Concerto of Brahms with the
Baltimore Symphony, Reginald Stewart conducting and the 4th Beethoven
Concerto with Dean Dixon and his orchestra. Further piano study in
France helped prepare him for several years as a touring virtuoso in
Europe and America. Numerous piano recordings may be found on Albany
Records including GEORGE WALKER: Sonato No. 2 for Piano. See/hear http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4MXPBKxTG4
John Malveaux
George Walker's composition Overture: In Praise of Folly’s was
chosen by Zubin Mehta and the New York Philharmonic for its 1981
premier in New York at Lincoln Center. The sixth performance was
included in the first concert the New York Philharmonic Orchestra gave
in Harlem. The Lincoln Center concert was televised on PBS Great
Performances and may be viewed at the Paley Center for Media. John
Malveaux, founder/president of MusicUNOTLD was in attendance during the
premiere at Lincoln Center. See http://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=live+from+lincoln+center&p=4&item=T:78661
John Malveaux
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