2024 COMPETITION & FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
_{with Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra}

WISCONSIN CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC • BRADLEY SYMPHONY CENTER
Competition Recitals • Concerts by PianoArts Winners and the Jury Panel
MAY 30 – JUNE 4
Tickets available on May 1

CONCERTS AT THE WISCONSIN CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC

PRELUDE CONCERT
Contemporary Connections to the Classics
Thursday, May 30, 7:30 pm

Two PianoArts winning pianists, Godwin Friesen and Solomon Ge, again perform in Milwaukee to commemorate our 25th anniversary competition. Solomon performs and speaks about the connections of Arnold Schoenberg’s Opus 11, No. 1 (Three Piano Pieces) with Franz Schubert’s music. Godwin will perform his own competition, Prelude and Fugue, and connect it with fugues by Ludwig van Beethoven. Opening with solo works, the concert will culminate with a duo that bridges the classics and contemporary music.  Adults: $20, Students $15

SOLO RECITALS – SEMIFINAL ROUND
Friday, May 31, 1:00 pm – 9:30 pm

Eight pianists from the next generation of concert artists and educators take the stage to present 45-minute recitals. Carefully selected by a jury as competition semifinalists, they will perform solo repertoire that reflects their personalities and communicates with audiences.
All day pass: $15

DUO RECITALS – SEMIFINAL ROUND
Saturday, June 1, 9:30 am – 6:00 pm

Returning to the stage are the semifinalists showcasing their collaborative skills paired with professionals from the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. MSO artistic collaborators include violinists Paul Hauer, Ji-Jeon Lee, Dylana Leung, and Kyungah Oh along with cellists Madeleine Kabat and Adrien Zitoun. All day pass: $15

CONCERT BY THE MASTERS
Monday, June 3, 7:30 pm

The 2024 competition jury –– the pinnacle of artistic mastery –– performs with musicians from the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Artists include Jury Chair Peter Takács performing Beethoven’s Trio in E-flat major, Opus 70, No. 2 with MSO’s violinist Paul Hauer and cellist Madeleine Kabat. Also included in the program will be jury member Sean Chen performing Brahms’s Horn Trio in E-flat major, Opus 40 with MSO musicians; and Aaron Wunsch performing piano duos with Stefanie Jacob of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. Adults: $20, Students: $15

FINALE FESTIVAL AT THE BRADLEY SYMPHONY CENTER
Tuesday, June 4, 4:30 pm – 11:00 pm 

4:30 pm, CONCERTO CONVERSATIONS
Meaghan Heinrich, well known for her extensive insights about music and her presentation skills, will present an overview of the concertos to be performed during the competition’s Final Round featuring three finalists and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.

5:00 pm, MEET THE NORTH AMERICAN COMPETITION FINALISTS
Meaghan Heinrich introduces and interviews the finalists.

5:30 pm. PIANO PROMENADES
Semifinalists perform their favorite piano solos prior to the Final Round & Awards Ceremony.

7:30 pm, THE GRAND FINALE
Finalists perform concertos with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Conductor Yaniv Dinur.

9:00 pm (approximately(, REWARDING EXCELLENCE
At the conclusion of the performances and their deliberation, the jury presents the 2024 prizes, awards, and fellowships for Milwaukee residencies that lead to significant music careers.

10:00 pm, 25th ANNIVERSARY CHAMPAGNE TOAST