International Piano Series
The International Piano Series at the College of Charleston was founded in 1990 to bring to Lowcountry audiences an array of international pianists in recitals and in occasional orchestral and chamber music programs. Through concerts and master classes the artists offer while in Charleston, students are exposed to different approaches of music making, while the Charleston community is provided and inspiring, entertaining, an affordable musical experience.
Twentieth Anniversary Season: 2009-2010
- Hartmut Sauer - Germany • Monday, October 26, 2009
- Works by Schubert, Hoiby, and Chopin
Sauer has been featured in numerous concerts throughout Europe, Russia, and the United States. He has won prizes and diplomas in many competitions including the "Jugend Musiziert" Competition in Germany, the "Anton G. Rubinstein" International Piano Competition, and the "Johannes Brahms" International Piano Competition in Austria. He has appeared in festivals such as “Im Agricoli Festival” in Poland, the "Schubertiaden" and "Dreiklang" festivals in Germany and the Piccolo Spoleto Festival. Sauer received the Artist Certificate from the College of Charleston where he studied with Enrique Graf. He is currently a member of the faculty of the Conservatory of Music in Dresden, Germany. - Roberto Berrocal - Spain • Tuesday, November 10, 2009
- Works by Haydn, Rachmaninoff, Liszt, and de Falla
While a student at the College of Charleston, Berrocal won First Prize in the Henry Janiec Piano Competition, the Southeastern Community College Piano Competition and the Arthur Fraser Piano Competition. He was a soloist with major orchestras in South Carolina including the Greater Spartanburg Philharmonic, the Greenville Symphony, the Charleston Symphony, and the South Carolina Philharmonic. Berrocal was a finalist twice in the Princess Cristina National Piano Competition in Spain and a semifinalist at the Hilton Head International Piano Competition. He has performed in Europe, North and South America and is currently pianist and coach for the Florida Grand Opera, the Music Director at Saint Hugh Catholic Church in Coconut Grove and teaches at the New World School of the Arts in Miami. - Micah McLaurin - USA • Tuesday, February 9, 2010
- Works by Bach,
Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, and Prokofiev
At the age of 14, Charleston native McLaurin has been recognized in several regional and international competitions. In 2008, he won 2nd Prize in the International Institute of Young Musicians Piano Competition and 1st Prize in the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra Youth Concerto Competition performing a concerto with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra in 2009. He also won 4th Prize in the 2009 Blount-Slawson Young Artists Competition in Alabama. He achieved statewide recognition as an annual winner of the South Carolina Music Teachers Association Pre-College Auditions. He also performed twice on SCETV as a representative of the SC Piano Festival Association, received the Critic’s Circle rating five times in the National Guild Auditions, and was the winner of the 2007 SCMTA competition. In addition, he has been a recipient of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra Scholarship for the last four years. He is a student of Enrique Graf at the Charleston Academy of Music. - Enrique Graf - Uruguay/USA • Tuesday, March 16, 2010
- Works by
Haydn, Rachmaninoff, Tosar, and Liszt
College of Charleston Artist in Residence Enrique Graf is an American citizen. After winning all the national competitions in his native Uruguay, he went to the Peabody Conservatory to study with Leon Fleisher. Graf won First Prize in the William Kapell International Piano Competition, the National Ensemble Piano Competition, and the East and West International Competition. Graf has given recitals and has been a soloist with orchestras all over the world. An all Poulenc CD with the Charleston Symphony was a pick of the month by the Sunday London Times. Other recordings of Bach Suites, Mozart Sonatas, the Liszt Sonata, works by Mendelssohn and Mussorgsky, the Grieg Concerto, Edward Hart’s Tidal Concerto, Gershwin’s Concerto in F and two Beethoven Concertos have received such praise as "ideal performances" (Fanfare). - Bach Extravaganza • Tuesday, April 27, 2010
- Concertos for Two,
Three, and Four Pianos and Orchestra
This has been one of the most popular events in the history of the International Piano Series. On this occasion, a string ensemble comprised of members from the College of Charleston Chamber Orchestra and the Charleston Symphony Orchestra will be conducted by Lorenzo Muti. The soloists, all College of Charleston graduates, are Enrique Bernardo (Perú), Fabiana Claure (Bolivia), Giuliana Contreras (Perú), Ciro Foderé (Uruguay), Steven Keniston (USA), Walter Morales (Costa Rica), Sakura Myers (USA), Matthew Parker (USA), Irina Pevzner (Latvia), Ghadi Shayban (Lebanon), William Villaverde (Cuba), and Eunjoo Yun (South Korea).
Ticket Information
- All concerts are at 8 p.m. at the Sottile Theatre, 44 George Street.
- Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. The theatre is wheel-chair accessible.
- There is no admission charge for College of Charleston students or children under age 18.
- Individual admission for each concert is $20. Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling 843.953.6575 or at the Sottile Box Office from 7 p.m. on the night of the performance.
- A season ticket for all 5 concerts is available for $80, a savings of $20.
- Donations to the International Piano Series are tax-deductible and all donors are listed on the programs. Those who contribute $500 will receive one invitation to the post-concert receptions and master classes by the performers. Two invitations will be given for contributions of $750 and up. To hear more about the benefits of being a patron or concert sponsor, please call (843) 953-6575.