Chopin Specialist Appears at USU's Wassermann Festival

The next artist to perform at Utah State University’s Wassermann Festival has earned laurels for his interpretation of Chopin.

At age 17, American pianist Kevin Kenner participated in the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw and was awarded the 10th prize and a special prize from the jury for promising talent. Ten years later he returned to the Chopin Competition, this time to win the top prize, the People’s Prize and the Polonaise Prize.

 

Kenner is featured in a solo recital in Logan Tuesday, March 24, and Chopin is on the program. Kenner’s Wassermann Festival recital begins at 7:30 p.m. in the USU Performance Hall (approximately 1090 E. 675 North, Logan).

 

Tickets for all Wassermann Festival recitals are available through the Caine School of the Arts Box Office, (435) 797-8022, or online. Reserved seating (per concert) is $15, and student tickets are $7.50.

 

The same year Kenner took top honors in Warsaw, he won the Bronze Medal at the International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow, together with a special prize for his interpretation of Russian music. Other awards include the International Terence Judd Award and awards at the Van Cliburn and Gina Bachauer International Piano competitions.

 

“We are delighted that Mr. Kenner will join us in Logan for the Wassermann Festival,” festival director Dennis Hirst said. “His program is substantial.”

 

The recital program opens with Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major, Op. 110, followed by a selection by Liszt, Annees de Pelerinage, from “Premiere Annee: Suisse.” Following intermission, Kenner presents Chopin’s Ballade No. 4, a selection of Preludes and Mazurkas, and Andante spianato et Grande Polonaise brillante.

 

The pianist has recorded the Chopin Scherzos and Preludes, the latter highly recommended by BBC Music Magazine. His CD recordings include piano works by Maurice Ravel and Robert Schumann and the Chopin Piano Concertos with the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Poland under the direction of Antoni Wit.

 

The Wassermann Festival at USU is named in honor of Irving Wassermann, former music department head and pianist who established Music West, a program that eventually grew to become the Wasserman Festival.

 

“Mr. Kenner’s specialty in Chopin — a national hero in Poland — and his appearance in Logan provides a unique connection and tribute to Irving Wassermann, who is a native of Poland,” Hirst said.

 

The concluding Wassermann Festival recital features Stephen Beus Tuesday, April 7. For information on the festival, contact Hirst at (435) 797-3257.

 

 

Writer: Patrick Williams (435) 797-1354, patrick.williams@usu.edu
Contact: R. Dennis Hirst (435) 797-3257, dennis.hirst@usu.edu