Department of Music

The University of Virginia McIntire Department of Music presents the Jon Nakamatsu Piano Masterclass on Wednesday, April 25th at 1:00pm in Old Cabell Hall.

Jon Nakamatsu, a brilliant pianist who has performed internationally, will be giving a masterclass to pre-selected piano students from the McIntire Department of Music. He earned his degree at Stanford University, working extensively on composition, orchestration, musicology, and education.

Nakamatsu made his mark in 1997 when he earned the Van Cliburn Gold Medal, a competition and festival dedicated to finding the finest young pianists. Since that point, he has collaborated with numerous conductors and taken extensive tours throughout the United States and Europe, performing at Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and more. His touring schedule is full of orchestral performances, chamber music collaborations, and solo recitals, as well as his work with the Manasse/Nakamatsu Duo since 2004.

The New York Times said that "Jon Nakamatsu plays with the calm assurance that comes of having both a solid technique and a gentle, introspective, interpretive spirit." His performance of Brahms was championed as having "soft hues that illuminated the score's complex heart."

Mr. Nakamatsu will be working with UVa student pianists Simon Zhang, performing Rachmaninoff's transcription of Fritz Kreisler's Liebesfreud, and Emily Bang performing the first movement of Beethoven's Tempest Sonata, Op. 31 No.2.

This masterclass is supported by the Eleanor Shea Music Trust and is free and open to the public.

For more information on this free masterclass, call 434.924.3052.