American Pianist and Bachauer Laureate Kevin Kenner Performs at USU
LOGAN — The third performer in 2018 Wassermann Festival at Utah State University is award-winning pianist, Kevin Kenner, Wednesday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the Russell/Wanlass Performance Hall on the USU campus.
Kenner started studying piano with Krzysztof Brzuza. He competed in the 1980 International Chopin Competition where he was the youngest competitor and received a special award from the jury. In 1990, Kenner was recognized throughout the world with three prestigious awards: the top prize at the aforementioned International Chopin Competition in Warsaw, the International Terrence Judd Award in London and third prize at the Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow.
“The first time I heard Kevin Kenner perform was during the 2012 Wassermann Festival, and it was a truly unforgettable experience,” Emily Ezola, head of the USU Youth Conservatory program, said. “His technique and artistry is on a completely different level and our current students and community members will be hugely inspired by the incredibly high level of mastery that Kenner has achieved.”
Kenner will perform Polonaise in F-sharp minor, Op. 44, 3 Mazurkas, Op. 63 and Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58 by Chopin for the first half of the program. For the second half, he’ll perform three pieces by Paderewski—Nocturne in B-flat, Op. 16, No. 4, Cracovienne fantastique, Op. 14, No. 6 and Sonata in E-flat minor, Op. 21.
“Kenner is widely regarded as one of the top Chopin pianists in the world,” Dennis Hirst, festival director, said. “This has been recognized through his success at the Chopin International Piano Competition and by Gramophone Magazine, which named his recent CD, ‘Chopin Resonances,’ as one of the top 50 Chopin discs ever recorded.”
In addition to Wednesday night’s concert, Kenner will host a masterclass on Monday, April 9, at 7:30 p.m. in the Russell/Wanlass Performance Hall.
“This will be Kevin Kenner’s third appearance at the Wassermann Festival,” Hirst said. “An audience favorite, the festival looks forward to welcoming him back to Logan for a teaching residency and solo performance this April.”
Tickets for the concert are $24 for adults, $20 for USU faculty and staff and $10 for students ages 8 and older. Tickets are available through the Caine College of the Arts Box Office located in room L101 in the Chase Fine Arts center or online via a link on the Wassermann website (http://www.usu.edu/wassermann/).
