Episode 4: Scherzos
October 25
Garrick Ohlsson and Ben Laude explore Chopin’s scintillating Scherzos.
Featuring
Kevin Kenner
2nd Prize (Top Prize), 1990 International Chopin Competition
Recognized as one of the top Chopin interpreters of our time, Kevin Kenner was the top prize winner in the 1990 Chopin Competition in Warsaw, as well as top prizes in the Tchaikovsky Competition and the Terrance Judd Competition, among others. He has frequently been invited to appear at the Verbier Festival and Warsaw’s “Chopin and His Europe” Festival. A distinguished recording artist, Kenner’s interpretations of works by Paderewski and Chopin were each picked as recordings of the month by Gramophone magazine. Kenner is piano professor at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, where he continues to prepare many young talented pianists for international performance careers. He has served as juror at the Chopin International Competition in Warsaw and will chair the jury at the US National Chopin Competition in Miami in 2025.
Josh Wright
5th Prize, 2015 National Chopin Competition & Renowned Music Educator
Concert pianist Josh Wright has delighted audiences across the United States and in Europe. The Washington Post described him as a pianist possessing “rarer gifts – touch, intelligence and the ability to surprise.” He performed his debut recitals at Carnegie Hall (Zankel Hall) and the Kennedy Center (Terrace Theater) in 2014. Josh was a prizewinner at the 2015 National Chopin Competition, and also won the Mazurka prize. In addition to performing, Josh is passionate about teaching. He has created numerous online video courses to help students of all ages and abilities improve their technique and musicality.
Critic’s Corner
Jed Distler on Great Recordings of Chopin’s Scherzos
Jed Distler is a composer, pianist, music writer, and arts presenter based in New York. He is the official Gramophone blogger for the International Chopin Competition.