Faculty pianist Cristina Valdés performs works honoring the 100th birthday of 20th century composers Betsy Jolas, Morton Feldman, and Gyorgy Kurtag. Program includes Betsy Jolas's Signets, hommage à Maurice Ravel; Morton Feldman's Palais de Mari; and Gyorgy Kurtag's Eight Piano Pieces, Op. 3, as well as works by Ravel and Haydn.

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Program

Betsy Jolas - Signets, hommage à Maurice Ravel

Maurice Ravel - Menuet sur le nom d'Haydn

Franz Joseph Haydn - Sonata No. 47 in B minor, Hob.XVI:32

-Intermission-

Morton Feldman - Palais de Mari

Gyorgy Kurtag - Eight Piano Pieces, Op. 3

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Biography

Note: This event has been canceled.

Pianist Joanne Polk, faculty member at the Manhattan School of Music, performs a recital of solo piano works by distinguished American composer Amy Beach. 

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Biography

Pianist Joanne Polk was catapulted into the public eye with her recordings of the complete piano works of American composer Amy Beach (1867-1944) on the Arabesque Recordings label.  Ms. Polk celebrated the centennial of Beach’s Piano Concerto by giving the work its London premiere with the English Chamber Orchestra at the Barbican Center under the baton of Paul Goodwin.  A few days later, Ms. Polk performed the Piano Concerto with the Women’s Philharmonic in San Francisco with conductor Apo Hsu in a performance described as “brilliant” by critic Joshua Kosman of the San Francisco Chronicle.  

The first recording in the Beach series, by the still waters, received the 1998 INDIE award for best solo recording.  Empress of Night, the fifth volume of Ms. Polk’s survey of Beach’s piano works, includes the Piano Concerto with the English Chamber Orchestra, Paul Goodwin conducting.  The sixth volume of the series, Morning Glories, joins Ms. Polk with the Lark Quartet in three outstanding chamber music works by Amy Beach.  Two all-Beach performances at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City, which featured Joanne Polk and the Lark Quartet, were applauded by the New York Times, as they deemed Polk’s performances “polished and assured.”  American Record Guide reported, “Polk and the Larks played their hearts out.  We in the audience shouted ourselves hoarse with gratitude.”

Prior to recording the complete piano music of Amy Beach, Ms. Polk recorded Completely Clara: Lieder by Clara Wieck Schumann, her debut CD for Arabesque Recording, featuring Metropolitan Opera soprano Korliss Uecker.  This CD was selected as a “Best of the Year” recording by The Seattle Times and was featured on Performance Today on New York Public Radio.  Ms. Polk’s CD for Albany Records, Callisto, features the solo piano music of Judith Lang Zaimont.  Her CD titled Songs of Amy Beach, recorded with baritone Patrick Mason for Bridge Records, was nominated for a Grammy Award.  Ms. Polk’s two-CD set of solo piano music by Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Songs for Pianoforte, was released on the Newport Classic label.  Ms. Polk’s solo piano CD, titled Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn, was released on the Bridge Records label.

In 2014, Ms. Polk’s CD titled The Flatterer, solo piano music of French Romantic composer Cécile Chaminade, was released on the Steinway & Sons Label.  The CD was a “Pick of the Week” on New York’s classical radio station WQXR and debuted at #1 on the Classical Billboard Chart.  In 2017, Joanne Polk’s CD, Gershwin & Wild, was released on the Steinway & Sons Label and features Earl Wild’s transcriptions of Gershwin songs, as well as Wild’s Piano Sonata.  American Record Guide called Ms. Polk’s playing on this CD, “plush and dreamily attractive…”

In 2014, Joanne Polk was named one of Musical America’s Top 30 Professionals of the Year in an article titled, “Profiles in Courage.”  Ms. Polk’s profile focused on her work promoting the music of women composers.

Ms. Polk received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music Degrees from The Juilliard School, and her Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from Manhattan School of Music.  She has given master classes at many summer festivals and universities across the country, and in 2018 completed a five-city, three-week concert and master class tour of Taiwan and China.  

In 2019, two of Ms. Polk’s CDs, Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn and The Flatterer: Solo Piano Music by Cécile Chaminade, were included on New York City’s classical radio station WQXR’s Essential Piano Recordings.

In February 2020, Ms. Polk’s CD Louise Farrenc Etudes and Variations for Solo Piano, was released on the Steinway & Sons Label.  In December 2020, Ms. Polk’s Farrenc CD was on The New York Times “Best Classical Music of 2020” list:  

'The music of Louise Farrenc, professor of piano at the Paris Conservatory for three decades after 1842, has been taped before, but never quite so well as in Joanne Polk’s sample of her solo piano music...' -- New York Times [Best Classical Music of 2020]

Ms. Polk’s 2023 recording titled The Silence Between the Notes: Louise Farrenc Solo Piano Music Volume 2, was released on September 1, 2023, on the Steinway & Sons Label.

In December 2023 and January 2024, Ms. Polk traveled to China on an 8-city concert and master class tour.  In July 2024, Ms. Polk performed recitals and masterclasses at the University of Guadalajara in Mexico.  

In September 2024, Ms. Polk’s second volume of solo piano music by Cécile Chaminade, titled Nostalgia, was released on the Steinway & Sons Label.

American Record Guide January/February 2025 review of Nostalgia:

“Polk has championed female composers all through her admirable discography. She has brought a wealth of great and enjoyable music to our attention, most of which has lived in relative obscurity since it was written. It would all be for naught if not for the exceptional musical insight and flawless piano technique she brings to these works.
It is so good to hear world-class pianists like Polk choose a recital of Chaminade music and play it with all of the seriousness one would expect if the program were music by European male composers of the time.”
Polk’s third CD of solo piano music by Cécile Chaminade will be released later in 2026.  Upcoming performances include solo and chamber music concerts featuring the music Amy Beach (1867-1944), in celebration of the 250th anniversary of America and the first successful female American composer.

To find out more about Ms. Polk, please visit her website at

Note: This event has been canceled.

Guest pianist Joanne Polk, faculty member at the Manhattan School of Music, leads a master class with UW piano students. 

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Biography

Pianist Joanne Polk was catapulted into the public eye with her recordings of the complete piano works of American composer Amy Beach (1867-1944) on the Arabesque Recordings label.  Ms. Polk celebrated the centennial of Beach’s Piano Concerto by giving the work its London premiere with the English Chamber Orchestra at the Barbican Center under the baton of Paul Goodwin.  A few days later, Ms. Polk performed the Piano Concerto with the Women’s Philharmonic in San Francisco with conductor Apo Hsu in a performance described as “brilliant” by critic Joshua Kosman of the San Francisco Chronicle.  

The first recording in the Beach series, by the still waters, received the 1998 INDIE award for best solo recording.  Empress of Night, the fifth volume of Ms. Polk’s survey of Beach’s piano works, includes the Piano Concerto with the English Chamber Orchestra, Paul Goodwin conducting.  The sixth volume of the series, Morning Glories, joins Ms. Polk with the Lark Quartet in three outstanding chamber music works by Amy Beach.  Two all-Beach performances at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City, which featured Joanne Polk and the Lark Quartet, were applauded by the New York Times, as they deemed Polk’s performances “polished and assured.”  American Record Guide reported, “Polk and the Larks played their hearts out.  We in the audience shouted ourselves hoarse with gratitude.”

Prior to recording the complete piano music of Amy Beach, Ms. Polk recorded Completely Clara: Lieder by Clara Wieck Schumann, her debut CD for Arabesque Recording, featuring Metropolitan Opera soprano Korliss Uecker.  This CD was selected as a “Best of the Year” recording by The Seattle Times and was featured on Performance Today on New York Public Radio.  Ms. Polk’s CD for Albany Records, Callisto, features the solo piano music of Judith Lang Zaimont.  Her CD titled Songs of Amy Beach, recorded with baritone Patrick Mason for Bridge Records, was nominated for a Grammy Award.  Ms. Polk’s two-CD set of solo piano music by Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Songs for Pianoforte, was released on the Newport Classic label.  Ms. Polk’s solo piano CD, titled Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn, was released on the Bridge Records label.

In 2014, Ms. Polk’s CD titled The Flatterer, solo piano music of French Romantic composer Cécile Chaminade, was released on the Steinway & Sons Label.  The CD was a “Pick of the Week” on New York’s classical radio station WQXR and debuted at #1 on the Classical Billboard Chart.  In 2017, Joanne Polk’s CD, Gershwin & Wild, was released on the Steinway & Sons Label and features Earl Wild’s transcriptions of Gershwin songs, as well as Wild’s Piano Sonata.  American Record Guide called Ms. Polk’s playing on this CD, “plush and dreamily attractive…”

In 2014, Joanne Polk was named one of Musical America’s Top 30 Professionals of the Year in an article titled, “Profiles in Courage.”  Ms. Polk’s profile focused on her work promoting the music of women composers.

Ms. Polk received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music Degrees from The Juilliard School, and her Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from Manhattan School of Music.  She has given master classes at many summer festivals and universities across the country, and in 2018 completed a five-city, three-week concert and master class tour of Taiwan and China.  

In 2019, two of Ms. Polk’s CDs, Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn and The Flatterer: Solo Piano Music by Cécile Chaminade, were included on New York City’s classical radio station WQXR’s Essential Piano Recordings.

In February 2020, Ms. Polk’s CD Louise Farrenc Etudes and Variations for Solo Piano, was released on the Steinway & Sons Label.  In December 2020, Ms. Polk’s Farrenc CD was on The New York Times “Best Classical Music of 2020” list:  

'The music of Louise Farrenc, professor of piano at the Paris Conservatory for three decades after 1842, has been taped before, but never quite so well as in Joanne Polk’s sample of her solo piano music...' -- New York Times [Best Classical Music of 2020]

Ms. Polk’s 2023 recording titled The Silence Between the Notes: Louise Farrenc Solo Piano Music Volume 2, was released on September 1, 2023, on the Steinway & Sons Label.

In December 2023 and January 2024, Ms. Polk traveled to China on an 8-city concert and master class tour.  In July 2024, Ms. Polk performed recitals and masterclasses at the University of Guadalajara in Mexico.  

In September 2024, Ms. Polk’s second volume of solo piano music by Cécile Chaminade, titled Nostalgia, was released on the Steinway & Sons Label.

American Record Guide January/February 2025 review of Nostalgia:

“Polk has championed female composers all through her admirable discography. She has brought a wealth of great and enjoyable music to our attention, most of which has lived in relative obscurity since it was written. It would all be for naught if not for the exceptional musical insight and flawless piano technique she brings to these works.
It is so good to hear world-class pianists like Polk choose a recital of Chaminade music and play it with all of the seriousness one would expect if the program were music by European male composers of the time.”
Polk’s third CD of solo piano music by Cécile Chaminade will be released later in 2026.  Upcoming performances include solo and chamber music concerts featuring the music Amy Beach (1867-1944), in celebration of the 250th anniversary of America and the first successful female American composer.

To find out more about Ms. Polk, please visit her website at

Celebrated Russian pianist Mikhail Voskresensky leads a master class with UW piano students.

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Artist Biography

The last celebrated pianist representing the old Russian school in the 20th century, Mikhail Voskresensky “proved an imposing, magnetic presence” as noted by Los Angeles Times. He has given hundreds of recitals on stages of Salzburg Mozarteum, St. Petersburg Grand Philharmonic Hall, Prague Rudolfinum, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Hall, Beijing Forbidden City Hall, Moscow Conservatory Grand Hall, Mexico City Palacio de Bellas Artes, Budapest Franz Liszt Academy, Rio de Janeiro Theatro Municipal, just to name a few.

Mr. Voskresensky has soloed with some finest orchestras like Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchester, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, China Philharmonic, Bolshoi Theater Orchestra, Warsaw National Philharmonic, Russian National Orchestra, Shanghai Philharmonic, Moscow Philharmonic, Hungarian Radio Symphony, Mariinsky Orchestra, Christchurch Symphony and many others.

He enjoyed performing with more than 100 conductors including extraordinary Franz Konwitschny, Yevgeny Svetlanov, Kurt Mazur, Kirill Kondrashin, Charles Dutoit, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, John Pritchard, Arvīds Jansons and Yury Temirkanov.

The memorable moment of Mr. Voskresensky’s artistic life was a study with Dmitry Shostakovich on his Second Piano Concerto which received its European Premiere at the Prague Spring Festival in the presence of the composer. He also championed contemporary works dedicated to him by Edison Denisov and Yuri Butsko, and presented World Premieres of newly discovered Sonata E flat minor by Scriabin and Piano Concerto by Taneev. He distinguished himself with the feats like All Chopin in 9 recitals, All Beethoven’s Sonatas in 7 recitals, All 27 Mozart Concertos in 4 seasons and recordings, All Scriabin Sonatas in recordings. His other numerous discs were released by labels Melodia, Triton, Victor, Classical Records, Aquarius and Supraphon.

Mr. Voskresensky has graduated from Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and since his early successes at competitions including top prizes at the First Schumann International Competition and First Van Cliburn International Competition, he has reached the artistic heights and earned accolades like the title of National Artist of Russia, Order of the Rising Sun by The Emperor of Japan and Nikolai Rubinstein Gold Medal. Following the steps of his teacher Lev Oborin, he rose to become one of the most influential professors in the history of his alma mater. His preeminent teaching is in demand in many world’s major conservatories and universities. This success can be measured by the fact that his students have won 120 top prizes at world’s major international competitions.

Born in Berdiansk, Ukraine, Mr. Voskresensky protested the unjust war waged by Russia in 2022 and left the country. Upon the arrival in the USA he has seen an overwhelming support and interest in the media and the music community. The Atlantic welcomed him with the article and CNN featured him in Amanpour show. His recent and future engagements include concerts and masterclasses at Aspen, PianoTexas and Northern Lights Festivals, Eastman School of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, Bard College, Georgia University, Rowan University, John Perry Academy of Music, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia.

UW voice students of Thomas Harper and Carrie Shaw perform works from the vocal repertoire. 

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Director Biographies

The faculty colleagues perform the complete Beethoven sonatas for piano and violin over two evening performances, the first on the composer’s birthday. 

Wed. Dec. 16: Beethoven Sonatas, Part I: Sonatas #1-#5 
Fri. Feb. 19: Beethoven Sonatas, Part II: Sonatas #6-#10

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Biographies

Cellist John Popham curates a program inspired by musical strings, their roots in ancient cordage, and their cultural and conceptual power as artistic tools, sounding objects, and symbols of social connection. The program features works by Giovanni Gabrieli, Giacinto Scelsi, Alvin Lucier, Isabel Mundry, and Liza Lim.

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Biography

New York City-based pianist Lisa Moore has performed hundreds of commissioned works and world premieres – having worked with more than two hundred living composers while residing and collaborating in the vibrant new music scene of New York City since 1985. The New York Times has described her as “brilliant and searching… beautiful and impassioned…lustrous at the keyboard.”

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Note: Lisa Moore also leads a master class with UW piano students
Master Class: Thursday, Feb. 4, 4:30 pm, HUB Lyceum 

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Biography

New York-based Australian musician Lisa Moore is a multifaceted pianist, recording artist, and avid collaborator. Named “la leggenda” by La Repubblica (Italy) her playing combines lyricism and virtuosity with expressive and emotional power – whether in the delivery of the simplest song, a solo recital, a concerto, or a fiendish chamber score. Given a special passion for the music of our time, Moore won the silver medal in the 1981 Carnegie Hall International American Music Competition. She has performed hundreds of commissioned works and world premieres – having worked with more than two hundred living composers while residing and collaborating in the vibrant new music scene of New York City since 1985. The New Yorker describes her as both “visionary” and “New York’s queen of the avant-garde piano”. Her playing has been singled out by The New York Times for its “life and freshness” and “fragility and tenderness”.

Moore has performed throughout Europe, the UK, USA, and Asia on some of the world’s great stages – Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Hamer Hall and Recital Center, Milan’s La Scala, Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw, London’s Royal Albert Hall, and Vienna’s Musikverein. She has released twelve solo albums, and more than thirty collaborative ensemble discs. Gramophone writes about her 2015 Mad Rush Philip Glass disc: “what becomes abundantly clear is Moore’s highly developed, intuitive and nuanced approach to this music”. Moore’s 2016 album The Stone People was selected as one of The New York Times Top Classical Albums 2016 and as a Naxos Critics’ Choice 2017. In June 2022, Moore released no place to go but around – her second album of music by Frederic Rzewski – to compelling notice. The New York Times remarked that the album is “meticulous…clever…hits the gas with controlled force”  and has “a greater range of emotion than other interpreters”.

For sixteen years (1992–2008) Moore was the founding pianist for the award-winning electro-acoustic sextet Bang On A Can All-Stars. She has collaborated with leading artists, composers, ensembles and dance companies – The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Philip Glass, Meredith Monk, Ornette Coleman, Thurston Moore, Iva Bittova, Bryce Dessner, London Sinfonietta, Steve Reich Ensemble, New York City Ballet, American Composers Orchestra, and Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance.

As a concerto soloist, Moore has performed with the London Sinfonietta, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Albany Symphony, Farifax Symphony, Fargo-Moorhead Symphony, La Jolla Symphony, Sydney Symphony, Tasmania Symphony, Thai National, Monash Academy Orchestra, Canberra Symphony, Philharmonia Virtuosi, Wesleyan University Orchestra-Sumarsam Gamelan, Clocked Out, and the Queensland Philharmonic. She has worked under the batons of Leonard Bernstein, David Robertson, Brett Dean, Bradley Lubman, Steven Schick, Christopher Zimmerman, Benjamin Northey, Richard Mills, Roger Benedict, Reinbert de Leeuw, Jorge Mester, Leonard Dommett, Dobbs Franks, and Angel Gil-Ordonez.

Moore’s festival guest appearances include Lincoln Center, BAM Next Wave, Banff, Tanglewood, Aspen, Chautauqua, Gilmore, Piano Spheres, Chamber Music Northwest, Huddersfield, Vale of Glamorgan (Wales), Liquid Music, Holland, Graz, Hamburg, Taormina, Paris d’Automne, Rome, Bari Piano Festival, Milan, Turin, Hong Kong, BBC Proms, Southbank, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne Metropolis, Israel, and Warsaw.

Lisa Moore is a Steinway artist. Please visit  

New York City-based pianist Lisa Moore leads a master class with UW piano students. Moore has worked with more than two hundred living composers while residing and collaborating in the vibrant new music scene of New York City since 1985. The New York Times has described her as “brilliant and searching… beautiful and impassioned…lustrous at the keyboard.”

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Note: Lisa Moore performs a solo recital on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 7:30 pm, at the HUB Lyceum 

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Biography

New York-based Australian musician Lisa Moore is a multifaceted pianist, recording artist, and avid collaborator. Named “la leggenda” by La Repubblica (Italy) her playing combines lyricism and virtuosity with expressive and emotional power – whether in the delivery of the simplest song, a solo recital, a concerto, or a fiendish chamber score. Given a special passion for the music of our time, Moore won the silver medal in the 1981 Carnegie Hall International American Music Competition. She has performed hundreds of commissioned works and world premieres – having worked with more than two hundred living composers while residing and collaborating in the vibrant new music scene of New York City since 1985. The New Yorker describes her as both “visionary” and “New York’s queen of the avant-garde piano”. Her playing has been singled out by The New York Times for its “life and freshness” and “fragility and tenderness”.

Moore has performed throughout Europe, the UK, USA, and Asia on some of the world’s great stages – Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Hamer Hall and Recital Center, Milan’s La Scala, Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw, London’s Royal Albert Hall, and Vienna’s Musikverein. She has released twelve solo albums, and more than thirty collaborative ensemble discs. Gramophone writes about her 2015 Mad Rush Philip Glass disc: “what becomes abundantly clear is Moore’s highly developed, intuitive and nuanced approach to this music”. Moore’s 2016 album The Stone People was selected as one of The New York Times Top Classical Albums 2016 and as a Naxos Critics’ Choice 2017. In June 2022, Moore released no place to go but around – her second album of music by Frederic Rzewski – to compelling notice. The New York Times remarked that the album is “meticulous…clever…hits the gas with controlled force”  and has “a greater range of emotion than other interpreters”.

For sixteen years (1992–2008) Moore was the founding pianist for the award-winning electro-acoustic sextet Bang On A Can All-Stars. She has collaborated with leading artists, composers, ensembles and dance companies – The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Philip Glass, Meredith Monk, Ornette Coleman, Thurston Moore, Iva Bittova, Bryce Dessner, London Sinfonietta, Steve Reich Ensemble, New York City Ballet, American Composers Orchestra, and Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance.

As a concerto soloist, Moore has performed with the London Sinfonietta, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Albany Symphony, Farifax Symphony, Fargo-Moorhead Symphony, La Jolla Symphony, Sydney Symphony, Tasmania Symphony, Thai National, Monash Academy Orchestra, Canberra Symphony, Philharmonia Virtuosi, Wesleyan University Orchestra-Sumarsam Gamelan, Clocked Out, and the Queensland Philharmonic. She has worked under the batons of Leonard Bernstein, David Robertson, Brett Dean, Bradley Lubman, Steven Schick, Christopher Zimmerman, Benjamin Northey, Richard Mills, Roger Benedict, Reinbert de Leeuw, Jorge Mester, Leonard Dommett, Dobbs Franks, and Angel Gil-Ordonez.

Moore’s festival guest appearances include Lincoln Center, BAM Next Wave, Banff, Tanglewood, Aspen, Chautauqua, Gilmore, Piano Spheres, Chamber Music Northwest, Huddersfield, Vale of Glamorgan (Wales), Liquid Music, Holland, Graz, Hamburg, Taormina, Paris d’Automne, Rome, Bari Piano Festival, Milan, Turin, Hong Kong, BBC Proms, Southbank, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne Metropolis, Israel, and Warsaw.

Lisa Moore is a Steinway artist. Please visit  

Guitar students of Michael Partington perform guitar works for solo, duo, and group arrangements.

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Director Biography

UW voice students of Thomas Harper and Carrie Shaw perform works from the vocal repertoire. 

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Director Biographies

The faculty colleagues perform the complete Beethoven sonatas for piano and violin over two evening performances. Part II features Sonatas #6-#10.

Wed. Dec. 16: Beethoven Sonatas, Part I: Sonatas #1-#5 
Fri. Feb. 26: Beethoven Sonatas, Part II: Sonatas #6-#10

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Biographies

Pianist Craig Sheppard performs a concert of Beethoven variations in this solo performance commemorating the 200th anniversary of the composer’s death. 

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Program

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Opus 34 in F Major
Opus 35 in E flat, ‘Eroica’
Opus 120 in C, ‘Diabelli

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Biography

UW voice students of Thomas Harper and Carrie Shaw perform works from the vocal repertoire. 

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Director Biographies

Guitar students of Michael Partington perform guitar works for solo, duo, and group arrangements.

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Director Biography