Chicago Duo Piano Festival
Evanston East & Nichols Concert Hall
1490 Chicago Avenue, Evanston
Directors: Claire Aebersold & Ralph Neiweem
For more information: contact Ralph Neiweem or call 847.905.1500, ext. 127
Enrollment Deadline: May 25, 2012 (students registered by May 1 will have better consideration of repertoire requests)
Cost: $495 | Auditor $265 (this includes attendance at master classes, group lessons and concerts, but no lessons or participation in student recitals)
Schedule Highlights
Friday, July 13 at 7:30 pm: Gala Opening Concert
Tuesday, July 17 at 7:30 pm: Faculty Extravaganza Concert
Friday, July 20 at 7:30 pm: Guest Artist Concert
About the Chicago Duo Piano Festival
Called a “duo piano mecca” by Pioneer Press, the Chicago Duo Piano Festival was founded in 1988 by Music Institute of Chicago faculty members Claire Aebersold and Ralph Neiweem. Its mission is to foster a deeper interest in the repertoire, performance, and teaching of music for piano, four hands and two pianos, in a fun and supportive atmosphere.
Students participants will have daily coachings on selected repertoire for both two pianos and piano, four hands. Coaching will be in private and group settings. All student particiants will have the opportunity to perform in the final recitals, and certain student may be selected to perform in the guest master class. Studnets are placed in appropriate age divisions, which include youth, high school, college and adult. The festival also features faculty and guest artist recitals. morning practice sessions may be arranged for out of town students and students in need of a two piano practice room.
About Claire Aebersold and Ralph Neiweem, artists in residence and faculty members at the Music Institute, enjoy an international career as proponents of music for both piano duet and two keyboards. The duo has appeared with orchestras internationally, including the Chicago Philharmonic and the Vienna Tonkünstler. They have performed in recitals throughout the U.S. and Europe. Recent concerts include a 25th anniversary celebration concert at Merkin Hall in New York, an appearance at the Gina Bachauer Festival in Salt Lake City, and two recitals in Odessa, Ukraine. Aebersold and Neiweem have commissioned significant new works for the piano duo, including pieces by Joseph Turrin and Patrick Byers. The duo’s CDs on the Summit label include Four Hand Reflections and music of Brahms and Schubert.
