The State University of New York at New Paltz presents the 18th season of PianoSummer at New Paltz Festival/Institute. Under the artistic direction of the internationally-renowned maestro, Vladimir Feltsman, concerts, recitals, master classes, lectures and piano competitions, will take place on the college campus from July 14 through August 3.

Jeremy Denk
PianoSummer is an international summer institute and festival dedicated solely to piano music. It features an integrated approach to learning and performance under Feltsman’s direction.
This year’s guest artists include Jeremy Denk, Alexander Melnikov and Haesun Paik.

Alexander Melnikov

Haesun Paik
PianoSummer offers a schedule of concerts and events by a variety of musicians of exceptional talents.
On July 14, the Faculty Gala will feature Robert Hamilton, Phillip Kawin, Alexander Korsantia, Paul Ostrovsky, Robert Roux, Susan Starr, and Feltsman. The concert program includes works by Bach, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Haydn, Schumann, Beethoven, Liszt, Brahms and Stravinsky.
Melnikov will perform Schubert, Brahms, Scriabin and Prokofiev on July 21 and Denk will play works by Liszt, Ligeti and Brahms on July 28. Paik will give a master class on July 31.
The Jacob Flier Piano Competition
This is a thrilling event not to be missed. The Jacob Flier Piano Competition was established to honor this distinguished Russian pianist who taught for many years at the Moscow Conservatory and who brought up generations of prominent musicians including Vladimir Feltsman. The winner performs a piano concerto with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic conducted by Maestro Feltsman in the Symphony Gala, which concludes the three-week program.
Participants will be required to play:
First Round — Monday, July 23, 3:00 PM McKenna Theatre
J.S. Bach: One prelude and fugue from The Well Tempered Clavier and two major works of different composers and style.
Final Round — Wednesday, July 25, 3: PM McKenna Theatre
Any concerto by one of the following composers (accompanist will be provided): Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Schumann, Liszt, Chopin, Grieg, Barber; or one of the following: Mendelssohn G minor; Saint-Saens No. 2; Franck Symphonic Variations; Tchaikovsky No. 1; Rachmaninoff No. 1, No. 2 or Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini; Prokofiev No. 1 or No. 3; MacDowell No. 2; Gershwin Concerto or Rhapsody in Blue; Shostakovich No. 1 or No. 2.
Symphony Gala Featuring The Hudson Valley Philharmonic
On August 3, the Festival concludes with the Symphony Gala featuring the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, with Feltsman conducting, and the 2012 winner of the Jacob Flier International Piano Competition. The program includes Beethoven’s “Coriolan Overture,” Ives’ “Unanswered Question,” and Schubert’s Symphony No.8 “Unfinished.” The Flier winner will perform a piano concerto.
Feltsman is the founder and artistic director of the PianoSummer at New Paltz. He made his public debut at the age of 12, when he performed as a soloist with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra. He won first prize at the Concertina International Competition in Prague at 15, an award that led him to enroll in the Moscow Conservatory where he studied under the tutelage of Jacob Flier. In the summer of 1987, Feltsman arrived in the United States after receiving permission to leave the Soviet Union.The PBS television documentary “Journey From Home: Vladimir Feltsman in Moscow” recounts his return to Moscow after being banned from the concert halls. Feltsman is a regular guest soloist with leading orchestras in the U.S., and he appears in many concert series and music festivals around the world. His discography includes more than 20 recordings. Feltsman teaches at New Paltz as well as Mannes College of Music in New York City.
All Institute events are open to the public, some free of charge. For a complete schedule of concerts and events, visit www.newpaltz.edu/piano. Tickets for all concerts and events go on sale June 4 at the Box Office located in Parker Theatre. Box office hours are Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased by phone at 845 – 257-3880. PianoSummer Schedule
PianoSummer at New Paltz is sponsored by the School of Fine & Performing Arts at New Paltz. For more about SUNY New Paltz visit www.newpaltz.edu/