Pierre’s Piano News May 2025
May 29, 2025
Dear friends,
As (the hope of!) summer unfolds in Michigan, I find myself reflecting with gratitude and joy on a truly remarkable 2024–25 season at The Gilmore. From the spellbinding performances in our Rising Stars Series to the unforgettable moments shared throughout our concert season, this past year has been a testament to the profound impact of music and the strength of the community that surrounds it.
Among this season’s many highlights was the return of our 2024 Gilmore Artist, Alexandre Kantorow, with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and Julian Kuerti conducting. Their artistry and vision captivated audiences and reaffirmed our mission to support and celebrate pianists of extraordinary promise. It has been a joy to witness this artist flourish on our stages—and beyond.
We were equally inspired by the continued growth of our education and community engagement programs, which reached hundreds of piano students and families across the region. Programs such as our Piano Labs, KeysFest, and the Gilmore Piano Camp at Sherman Lake are at the heart of The Gilmore, and we’re so proud of the young musicians and learners who bring them to life.
Looking ahead, I’m excited for a very special summer performance: on June 18, legendary pianist Richard Goode will be joined by the radiant soprano Sarah Shafer in an intimate and powerful program that promises to be a true highlight of the season. It’s an honor to welcome these two outstanding artists to our stage.
Summer is also a season of travel and triumph for our Gilmore Artists, who will appear at festivals and venues around the world in the coming months. We’ll be sharing updates and highlights so you can follow along with their journeys.
And just beyond the horizon: the 2026 Gilmore International Piano Festival. We’re deep in planning and excited to bring you an expanded and reimagined Festival experience that remains rooted in artistic excellence while exploring bold new ideas. Expect thrilling premieres such as American Sputnik, the new monodrama for baritone, piano, and orchestra centered around the pianist Van Cliburn, innovative partnerships such as a co-production with University Musical Society, and opportunities to connect more deeply with the music and artists you love.
Thank you, as always, for being part of The Gilmore family. Your belief in our mission and your presence in our audience makes everything we do possible. Here’s to a summer filled with music, inspiration, and community.
Best to you,
Where to find The Gilmore Artists this summer
Leif Ove Andsnes (1998)
- JUNE 3: Grieghallen – Bergen, Norway
- JUNE 13: Alte Oper – Frankfurt, Germany
- JUNE 15-20: SPANNUNGEN – Heimbach, Germany
Piotr Anderszewski (2002)
- JUNE 12: Grande Salle – Lyon, France
- JULY 27: Konzertsaal Arena Doggilochstrasse 51 – Klosters, Switzerland
Kirill Gerstein (2010)
- JUNE 15: Grosses Festspielhaus (Internationale Stiftung Mozarteum) – Salzburg, Austria
- JUNE 18-21: Charles Bronfman Auditorium – Tel Aviv, Israel
- JUNE 25: Kulturpalast – Dresden, Germany
- JULY 16: Wigmore Hall – London, England
Rafał Blechacz (2014)
- JUNE 13: Théâtre des Champs-Elysées – Paris, France
- JUNE 18: Anneliese Brost Musikforum Ruhr – Bochum, Germany
- JULY 15: National Theater & Concert Hall – Taipei, Taiwan
Igor Levit (2018)
- JUNE 8: Los Angeles Philharmonic – Los Angeles, United States
- JUNE 19-21: Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks – Munich, Germany
- JULY 8: Historic Town Hall (Klavier-Festival Ruhr) – Ruhr, Germany
- JULY 24: Stiftung Mozarteum – Grosser Saal (Salzburger Festspiele) – Salzburg, Austria
Alexandre Kantorow (2024)
- JUNE 24: Philharmonie de Paris – Paris, France
- JUNE 25: The Konzerthaus – Vienna, Austria
- JULY 25: Royal Albert Hall (BBC Proms) – London, England
- JULY 31: Salle des Combins (Verbier Festival) – Val de Bagnes, Switzerland
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Alexandre Kantorow (2024 Gilmore Artist) & Rafał Blechacz (2014 Gilmore Artist)
Both Alexandre Kantorow and Rafał Blechacz are set to perform at the 53rd edition of the Istanbul Music Festival, taking place from June 11 to 26. Alexandre will join Cellist Gautier Capuçon for a special concert on June 12 at the Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall (CRR). Additionally, the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, conducted by its Grammy-winning principal conductor Alan Gilbert, will accompany Rafał Blechacz on June 20.
Ingrid Fliter – 2006 Gilmore Artist
2006 Gilmore Artist Ingrid Fliter is set to make her Kings Place debut at The London Piano Festival on October 10 with a compelling programme of musical masterpieces by Beethoven and Chopin. The evening will begin with a pre-concert Q&A with festival curators and performers Charles Owen and Katya Apekisheva in conversation with Classical podcaster Ella Lee.
David Owen Norris – 1991 Gilmore Artist
1991 Gilmore Artist David Owen Norris’s Organ Symphony transforms deeply personal stories into a groundbreaking symphonic work. Based on five individuals’ stories with their vital organs, Norris composed individual classical scores for each organ. He assigned them orchestral sections: heart as vocals, lungs as brass, brain as percussion, kidneys as woodwind, and liver as strings. He wove these into a powerful, unified symphony performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra and BBC Singers in March 2025.
Clayton Stephenson –2022 Gilmore Young Artist
This summer, 2022 Gilmore Young Artist Clayton Stephenson will join Giancarlo Guerrero and the Grant Park Orchestra at the Grant Park Music Festival for a performance featuring Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1. The program also includes Chelsea Komschlies’ Mycelialore and Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony, renowned for its thrilling finale. The concert takes place on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago, IL.
Events This Summer
Summer Piano Labs
- Registration is now open for The Gilmore’s Summer Piano Labs! Classes will take place from June 16 to August 1, 2025. Register online here.
- We’re also proud to partner with El Concilio, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering Latinx families and celebrating cultural heritage. Piano Lab Instructor Monica Washington Padula will lead bilingual piano classes at El Concilio over a six-week session.
Battle Creek Juneteenth Family Day
- Celebrate Juneteenth with us and other community organizations on Saturday, June 21 at Claude Evans Park. Join us for a day of music, community, and cultural celebration!
Piano Camp
- Gilmore Piano Camp returns to Sherman Lake YMCA from June 22-27, 2025! The Midwest’s only piano-specific summer camp offers an intensive, week-long experience designed for students with at least one year of piano lessons. Both overnight and day camp options are available.