Music lovers looking for some summer harmony need look no further than the fourth annual Flagstaff Piano Festival taking place between June 21-28. Hosted by NAU’s Kitt School of Music, this weeklong experience will bring together celebrated artists, young pianists, educators and music lovers.
This year’s festival offers 21 piano events that include public concerts and masterclasses by nine faculty and guest artists, as well as the festival’s Piano Academy and Competition with 24 young artists. The lineup of outstanding guest pianists includes John O’Conor, Steven Spooner, Angela Cheng, Alvin Chow and Sofya Gulyak playing masterpieces spanning from the baroque to the modern.
Silvan Negruțiu, festival founder and artistic director, said that given the popularity of this event, he’s expecting more than 1,500 audience members throughout the week.
“Those attending the events, regardless of musical background and expertise, can expect to experience the transformative power of immersion in the most elevated form of pianistic artistry and pedagogy,” Negruțiu said. “It often happens that someone would decide to attend one concert or masterclass, only to be inspired to return to Kitt Recital Hall every day throughout the week.”
Most events are scheduled to take place in Kitt Recital Hall, but two special events will happen off campus: a “Starry Night”-themed young artist concert at Lowell Observatory on June 22 and “Mountaintop,” the young artists’ open-air grand finale concert at Arizona Snowbowl on June 28.
“It is really a blessing to have a musical event of this caliber accessible to the larger community, and we hope that many will take the opportunity to join us in Kitt Recital Hall and beyond,” Negruțiu said. “This year, the audience will enjoy performances that span many eras, trends and styles, featuring diverse repertoire that will enchant the audience with timeless emotional charge in the hands of our outstanding artists.”
All Flagstaff Piano Festival concerts and masterclasses are open to the public, and admission is free for most concerts. Affordable tickets to the guest artist concerts are available at www.nau.edu/cto/music, including free tickets for youth and students.
