Clarion Concerts

EVENTS

Clarion Concerts Gala featuring pianist Zhu Wang

June 10, 2023 • 3:00PM
At a private home among the Berkshire foothills in Ancramdale, NY
Clarion Concerts Gala featuring pianist Zhu Wang

Program

Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)
Sonata in D Minor, L. 108
 
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Piano Sonata in G Major, Op.31, No.1
I. Allegro vivace
II. Adagio grazioso
III. Rondo, allegretto – presto
 
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) Arr. Guido Agosti
The Firebird Suite
I. Infernal Dance
II. Lullaby
III. Finale
 
Intermission
 
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Impromptu in B-flat Major, Op.142, No. 3
 
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Réminiscences de Norma, S.394
 

Biography

Zhu Wang, Pianist
Photo by Kevin Condon

Zhu Wang, piano

Praised as “especially impressive” and “a thoughtful, sensitive performer” who “balanced lyrical warmth and crisp clarity” (Tommasini - The New York Times), pianist Zhu Wang was awarded First Prize in the 2020 Young Concert Artists Susan Wadsworth International Auditions. He is also the first prize winner of the 2nd Zhuhai International Mozart Competition for Young Musicians, 4th Manhattan International Music Competition, Hilton Head Young Artist Piano Competition, and the Juilliard Gina Bachauer International Scholarship Piano Competition, and was a recipient of the Juilliard Mieczyslaw Munz Scholarship. In 2019, Zhu was one of three finalists in the Clara Haskil International Piano Competition, and he has been a featured soloist on WQXR’s Young Artist Showcase and WFMT’s Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts. The world-renowned pianist Fou Ts’ong recognized Zhu as an “excellent pianist with a natural sense of harmony and imagination,” whose sensitive and engaging performances exhibit a remarkable depth of musicianship and poise beyond his age.

Celebrated for his “technical mastery and deep sense of lyricism,” (The Durango Herald), Zhu has appeared in recital and chamber music performances at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall, Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater, Lincoln Center at Alice Tully Hall with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Hayden’s Ferry Chamber Music Series, Salon de Virtuosi, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. His Carnegie Hall debut made The New York Times’ “Best of Classical Music 2021” list. He was a Bravo Vail! Piano Fellow during the summer of 2022.

During the 2022-23 season Zhu will make appearances at the Usedom Music Festival (Germany), Caramoor as part of the Evnin Rising Stars Series, and will perform in recital and chamber music performances with Chamber Music Detroit, Vancouver Recital Society, Hamilton College, Music at Dumbarton Oaks, Howland Chamber Music Series, Chesapeake Music, Buffalo Chamber Music Society, Clarion Concerts, and The Morgan Library & Museum. He will join the Columbus Symphony (OH) in performances of Rachmaninoff’s 2nd piano concerto.

Zhu has performed all over the world in China, Italy, Poland, Japan, and across the US at prestigious venues including the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Kammermusiksaal of Berliner Philharmonie, Warsaw Philharmonic Concert Hall, Shanghai Concert Hall, Chicago Cultural Center, and The Morgan Library & Museum. Since his orchestral debut at age 14 with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, where he performed Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21, Zhu has also appeared as soloist with Salzburg Chamber Soloists, Zermatt Music Festival Orchestra, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Brunensis Virtuosi Orchestra, and the Xiamen Philharmonic.

An active chamber musician and champion of new music, Zhu performed the world premiere of American composer Timo Andres’ Moving Etúdes on his national tour. His festival appearances include the Music Academy of the West, Four Seasons Winter Workshop, Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, International Piano Academy Lake Como, PianoTexas International Festival & Academy, Shanghai International Music Festival, Music Fest Perugia, and Amalfi Coast Music and Arts Festival in Italy.

Zhu has been honored to study with and perform for many influential pianists, including Gary Graffman, Arie Vardi, Fou Ts’ong, Stephen Hough, Murray Perahia, Jerome Lowenthal, Robert Levin, Matti Raekallio, and Jeremy Denk. He is also the recipient of special prizes for the best Waltz, Preludes, and Mazurka in the 5th International Chopin Young Artist Piano Competition and the 16th Asian Chopin International Piano Competition in Japan.

A native of Hunan, China, Zhu started learning piano at the age of five. He is a graduate of the Music Middle School Affiliated to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Zhe Tang, and Fou Ts'ong. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from The Juilliard School, where he was also the recipient of the Gina Bachauer and Mieczyslaw Munz Scholarship. Zhu is currently pursuing his post-baccalaureate diploma at Curtis Institute of Music, under the tutelage of Robert McDonald. He gratefully acknowledges the support of the Bagby Foundation for the Musical Arts.

Please Donate

Donors

We thank the following foundations, businesses and individuals who have supported us in 2021 and 2022.

Benefactors ($5,000+)
Saida Baxt, MD
Jason Subotky & Anne Akiko Meyers / AYCO Charitable Foundation
 
Sponsors ($1000–$4999)
Alice Platt
Ross A. Garon & Hong K. Suh — In honor of Dave Hall, whose leadership we respect & admire
Bronwyn Bevan
HRBT Foundation
The Feigenbaum Foundation, Inc.
The Bay & Paul Foundations, Inc
The Alexander & Marjorie Hover Foundation Inc.
The Wallace Foundation
 
Patrons ($500–$999)
Steve & Barbara Smith
Emily Daughtry
Matthew Deming
Tricia & John Bevan
Irene & John Banning
Richard Collens
Price Chopper/ Market 32
Stewart's Shops Corp
TKG Real Estate
Robin Goldstein — in memory of Ann Kirschner
Joe Romano & Dave Hall
 
Supporters ($250–$499)
Alyssa & V. W. Dodson
Leslie Lassiter
Carsten Otto & DeWayne A. Powell
Matthew Naclerio
Pamela Abernathy — In honor of the Bevan Family
Richard Novik
George & Lorraine Faison
Rosemary Lyons-Chase
Karen Zier
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundations, Inc
Network for Good
Red House Design
The White Hart Inn
Herrington's Hardware
Lance Vermeulen Real Estate Inc.
Harney & Sons Teas
The Inn at Pine Plains
 
Donors: ($100–$249)
Carol Saginaw
Tambra L Dillon
Michael Hofmann
Marybeth Ketz
Monica Sinclair
Michaela Nonis
Rita Jakubowski
Nokuthula Ngwenyama
Patti Rohrlich
Ruth Seidler
Rosemary Werrett
Doris Gitzy — In honor of Matt Deming
J.P. Levelthal
Bonnie Regendahl
Jay & Patricia Rohrlich
Ann & Mal Barasch
Copake General Store
Hylton Hundt Salon, Inc.
Guido's Fresh Marketplace
Hillsdale Super Market, Inc.
Oblong Books & Music, LLC
Ward's Nursery
Copake Wine Works
Hammertown Barn
Salisbury Wines LLC
The Farmer's Wife Foods, LLC
Hudson Wine Merchants
Herrington Fuels Inc.
Berkshire Food Co-op
Metzwood Insurance
Frames on Wheels, Inc.
Salisbury Bank
The Old Mill
Sprig & Social
GioBatta Alimentari
Houlihan Lawrence

And we thank the following generous foundations, businesses and individuals who helped us bring you our concerts in 2020.

Columbia County Arts Fund, a project of the J.M. Kaplan Fund
Price Chopper
Stewarts Shops
The Wallace Fund
 
The Farmer’s Wife
Guido’s Supermarket
Harney & Sons
Herrington’s Hardware
The Kinderhook Group
Kinderhook Toyota
Lance Vermeulen Real Estate, Inc.
MetzWood Insurance
Prairie Whale Restaurant
Red House Design
 
Ann Beckley Barasch
Sherwood & Saida Baxt
Bronwyn Bevan
John & Tricia Bevan
Myron & Harriet Bussel
Edwin Chinery
Agi Clark
Richard Collens
Alfred Daiboch
Emily & Martin Daughtry
Matthew Deming
Vicki Dodson*
George Faison
Amy Goldin
Dave Hall & Joe Romano
Rita Jakubowski
Laraine Lippe*
Benjamin Lipton
Virginia Martin
Belinda Mello & Michael McDonnell*
Michael Mollenkamp
Richard Mousseau
Carol Saginaw
James Sciales & Jennifer Kim*
Monica Sinclair & Brian Hailes*
Sharon Smullen
Claudia Summers
Margareta & Edward Thaute
Eugenia Zukerman

* In memory of Josh Lipton

Members of the Clarion Concerts Board
Artistic Director Emerita: Eugenia Zukerman
President: Dave Hall
Vice Presidet: Elizabeth Davis
Treasurer: Michael Hofmann
Secretary: Alice Platt
Kamilla Arku
Richard Collens
George Faison
Amy Goldin
Dede Rothenberg
Michael Rothenberg
 
Website and Graphic Design
Julian Bevan