Pianist Kirill Gerstein Wins Prestigious Gilmore Award Today – Debuts with RPO in April
Rochester, NY – Pianist Kirill Gerstein, performing with the RPO this April, has just been named the recipient of the 2010 Gilmore Artist Award, announced today. According to the press release from the Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival, “the Gilmore Artist Award is presented every four years on a non-competitive basis to an exceptional pianist who, regardless of age or nationality, has the potential to sustain a career as a major international concert artist.” Mr. Gerstein will receive $300,000 in support of his musical and career goals over the next four years.
“I am extremely honored and humbled to have been chosen as the 2010 Gilmore Artist,” said Gerstein. “It feels very gratifying and flattering to have my work recognized and supported by such a distinguished panel of experts in the classical music world. I’m quite overwhelmed by the myriad of projects that this award could make possible.”
RPO President & CEO Charles Owens noted that Gerstein is one of the many “rising stars” featured with the RPO this season. “We are thrilled that Mr. Gerstein has been recognized with such an esteemed award as the Gilmore,” he said. “And we’re doubly excited that our RPO audiences will be able to experience the compelling artistry of this pianist in April. We knew that Mr. Gerstein was a very special talent, and now thanks to the Gilmore Award, so does the rest of the world.”
Read the Gilmore press release here: http://thegilmore.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=198%3A2010-gilmore-artist-announced&catid=1%3Aorganization-news&Itemid=9, and today’s New York Times feature: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/arts/music/07gilmore.html?ref=music.
The 30-year-old Gerstein will be making his RPO debut on Thursday and Saturday, April 8 and 10, performing Leonard Bernstein’s Symphony No. 2 for Piano and Orchestra, with guest conductor James Gaffigan. For tickets, visit www.rpo.org or order by phone at 454-2100.
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