2010 Piano Celebration Guest Artists

Ksenia Nosikova

Professor, University of Iowa

http://www.ksenia-nosikova.com/

Called a pianist of "impressive musicianship" and "refined sensibility and exquisite pianism, fascinating to watch and hear" by the Boston Globe and New York Concert Reviews, Ksenia Nosikova has performed extensively as a solo pianist and chamber musician in Europe, Russia, and both Americas. In the United States she appeared at numerous concert venues including Merkin Hall, Jordan Hall, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Dame Myra Hess concert series in Chicago, and Los Angeles Museum of Arts concert series. Among her recordings are the complete Years of Pilgrimage by Franz Liszt and released by Centaur Records to critical acclaim. Her recording of the Italie volume was called a 'super disc' and chosen as one of six recommendable recordings, along with recordings of Brendel, Berman, and Bolet by International Piano magazine (London, UK). This set of 3 cds was called an 'outstanding achievement' by ClassicsToday (USA). Ksenia Nosikova's collaboration with an American composer, Lera Auerbach, led to her latest release by Profil/Hänssler of Flight and Fire (2007), a world-premiere recording of Ms. Auerbach's solo piano music.

In addition to her active performing, recording and teaching schedule, she is in high demand as an adjudicator. Ksenia Nosikova is a graduate of Moscow Conservatory, where she received her Undergraduate and Masters' (with highest honors) degrees. She earned her Doctoral degree from the University of Colorado. Presently, Ksenia Nosikova is an Associate Professor of Piano at the University of Iowa, where she devotedly teaches an international studio of graduate and undergraduate students She is listed in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in American Teachers, and Who's Who in American Women. She is one of the founders and an Artistic Director of Piano Sundays at Old Capitol concert series (Iowa). Ksenia Nosikova is a Steinway Artist.

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David Friend

Concert Pianist, New and Experimental Music

New York-based pianist David Friend is a champion of new and experimental music. As a founding member of the TRANSIT collective, Mr. Friend works with young composers from around the world and performs the latest music from emerging composers. He has also worked with more established voices such as Pulitzer prizewinners Charles Wuorinen and David Lang. Mr. Friend is active with other solo, chamber, and educational projects as well. Recent highlights include concerts in the United States and abroad with the Bang on a Can All- Stars; chamber music in alternative New York venues such as the Players Theatre, Issue Project room, and the World Financial Center’s Winter Garden; and the creation of an intensive hands-on workshop for college piano majors that focuses on the avant-garde tradition of American pianism. Mr. Friend also enjoys projects that expand the boundaries of classical music, and he has performed with artists from other traditions including jazz great Don Byron, ground-breaking guitarist Bill Frisell, and Japanese icon Ryuichi Sakamoto.

Mr. Friend has spent the summer of 2009 performing regularly in the chamber music series at the Aspen Music Festival as the pianist for the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble. This Fall, he will tour a new project with composer Julia Wolfe with the final concert in November at Carnegie’s Zankel Hall. He will also continue to perform frequently in the TRANSIT DoubleBill series in New York, among other projects.

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Pas de Duo

Stephen Varney & Naomi Sanchez, Piano Duo

http://www.pasdeduo.net/

Stephen Varney and Naomi Sanchez have been performing as Pas de Duo since 2005 when they captured First Prize at the National Federation of Music Club’s Ellis Duo-Piano Competition. They are the recipients of the Abild American Music Award, the Charles & Francis Christmann Award, and First Prize at the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition. In 2006 they made their highly acclaimed New York City recital debut at Carnegie Hall. The New York Concert Review Magazine proclaimed the concert was “like a profusion of Roman Candles…on a New Year’s Eve celebration: the audience simply loved it.” Pas de Duo is a favorite in concert series programs, and has appeared in numerous venues across the United States. They have been guest artists at the Chautauqua Institution, the New York Philomusica, the San Francisco International Music Festival, and the Kurosawa Piano Music Festival. Pas de Duo can be heard on the New York Philomusica label in a live performance of Bartok’s Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion.

Mr. Varney and Ms. Sanchez have extensive backgrounds as music teachers, and are the founders and directors of the Berkeley Academy of Music. They share a passion for working with young musicians, and have conducted master classes at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, San Francisco State University, San Jose State University, Converse College, Holy Names University, the National Federation of Music Clubs, Ouachita Baptist University, the South Carolina Governor’s School, the Colorado Federation of Music Clubs, and the Suzuki Music Association of California.

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Nancy Reese

Piano Techniques

Nancy Reese is widely recognized for her work with piano technique and piano-related repetitive stress issues.  She has performed as an award-winning soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States and Asia. Ms. Reese studied for 11 years with Edna Golandsky in New York City and at the Taubman Institute of Piano at Amherst College and Williams College in Massachusetts.  Her success in enabling every pianist to reach his/her full technical and artistic potential draws students to her studios from points throughout the US. 

With Bachelor and Master’s Degrees in Piano Performance, Ms. Reese frequently judges competitions and festivals, including Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), Guild, National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC), NC Young Artists Competition, and Boulder International Festival for Young Artists.  Her lectures, master classes and workshops on piano technique have been presented to MTNA, NFMC, Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts, University of Colorado, Transylvania University, University of KY, Marshall University, University of NC, BYU-Idaho, and Idaho State University.  

Ms. Reese teaches near Jackson, Wyoming and in Boulder, Colorado.  She enjoys skate-skiing, running, and especially snowboarding at Grand Targhee (with wrist protectors, of course).

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Brenna Berman

Adjunct Faculty, Golandsky Institute

http://brennaberman.com

Brenna Berman began her piano studies at the age of five. An avid performer since the age of seven and competitor since the age of eight, Ms. Berman has now performed in Italy and in more than a dozen states, including multiple solo concerts in major cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Berkeley, Portland, Boston, Coeur d'Alene, Boulder, Albuquerque, and on live radio broadcasts in Philadelphia and Spokane. As an Artists International New York Debut Award winner, she gave her debut at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall in March, 2008. Other recent recitals have taken place at such venues as The Berkeley Piano Club in Berkeley, The Nicholas Roerich Museum in New York, The Philadelphia Art Alliance, The Ethical Society Building of Philadelphia, The Mandell Theater of Philadelphia, the Slought Foundation in Philadelphia, Gonzaga University in Spokane, and Warner Concert Hall in Oberlin. Ms. Berman's playing has been described as "visceral," "dynamic and expressive," "sparkling," and "on fire." Her programs exhibit a wide variety of styles from Baroque to Contemporary, with a special emphasis on New Music. In 2009, Ms. Berman collaborated with modern composer, Neil Rolnick (neilrolnick.com) in several East Coast concerts, performing his work "Digits" (2005) for piano and computer. She was also recently featured in two articles on Boesendorfer.com: A Wonderful Piano Evening and An Aston Martin Roar.

Ms. Berman earned her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Master of Arts in Piano Performance from Hunter College. Since 2001, she has been studeying wti Robert Durso, Senior Director of the Golandsky Institute. She has also studied with other renowned and expert pianists and teachers including Robert Shannon, Edna Golandsky, Ilya Itin, Judit Jaimes, Dorothy Taubman, and Nancy Weems. She has also participated in Master Classes with artists such as Christopher Taylor, Paul Robers, Edna Golandsky, Stephen Drury, Sergei Babayan, and Jerome Rose.

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