menahem pressler
Artist-in-Residence

Since his spectacular five-concert debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra and Eugene Ormandy in 1948, the pianist, Menahem Pressler has appeared with almost every major orchestra in the world, including the Royal Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the National Symphony, and the Boston Symphony, under such conductors as Mitropoulos, Szell, Stokowski, Enesco, and Dorati. In addition to his recital and concert appearances, Mr. Pressler has devoted himself to the building of the Beaux Arts Trio into a chamber ensemble of world renown. In August, 2000, Mr. Pressler toured with the Beaux Arts Trio in China, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Vietnam, ending in Australia, the latter appearance as part of the Olympic Festival. Mr. Pressler has made numerous recordings and has served on the jury of the Van Cliburn Competition several times and the jury of the Paloma O’Shea International Competition in Spain.

In addition to his concertizing at the world's top level, his extraordinary commitment to his students is such that he received the President's Teaching Award at Indiana University.  In 1998, Mr. Pressler was awarded GRAMOPHONE'S “Lifetime Achievement Award in Classical Music,”  an honorary doctorate from the University of Nebraska, and an endowed chair at Indiana University named:  “Dean Charles H. Webb Professor of Music.”

Following a successful new record release on Warner Records, last season brought coast to coast concerts in the U.S. with the Beaux Arts Trio, including three concerts at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. Mr. Pressler will again be touring Europe, including concerts in Amsterdam, London, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, Hamburg and Munich.

Mr. Pressler performs the vast solo piano repertoire of the great classical, romantic, impressionistic and contemporary composers.  Few pianists have the grasp of style and the technical command to capture the essence of such a broad spectrum of musical expression.

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