MANSFIELD, PA— Cellist Evan Drachman and pianist Mary Au will perform in concert on Sunday, November 15, 6 p.m. at Butler Center, Room 163. The concert is free and open to the public.
Drachman has combined artistic talent with great personal compassion and warmth to create a distinctive musical career. He is increasingly sought-after for his solo and chamber music performances. Drachman is the founder and artistic director of The Piatigorsky Foundation. He has become one of the most respected authorities on the presentation of live classical music for diverse audiences everywhere.
In 1999, Drachman recorded his first CD, A Frog He Went a Courting, with pianist Richard Dowling. Following this success, Drachman and Dowling released two more recordings titled, Infinity in 2004 and Romance and Revelation in 2007. Drachman has appeared regularly as soloist with orchestras and in recitals and chamber music performances across the U.S., Europe and Asia.
Heralded as one of the “Outstanding Young Women of America,” Au is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and the University of Southern California.
Known for her impassioned performances, artistry and versatility, Au is particularly noted as a champion of contemporary music. She consistently receives enthusiastic critical reviews for her collaboration with renowned artists such as opera superstar Christine Brewer & Tchaikovsky Competition Gold medalist Nathaniel Rosen, and her premiere of works by noted contemporary composers Lera Auerbach, Chen Yi, Huang Ruo, David Lefkowitz, and Sharon Willis among others.
Her dedication to guiding and nurturing developing musicians has earned her the inaugural Mellon Excellence in Mentoring Award. As a former executive of the GRAMMY Awards, Au continues to dedicate herself to crossing cultural boundaries and sharing her music with audiences worldwide.
The concert is sponsored by The Piatigorsky Foundation, which Drachman founded in 1990 in honor of his grandfather Gregor Piatigorsky. Piatigorsky deeply believed in the healing and inspiration power of classical music. He once said, “Music makes life better. Music is a necessity. It is rich. It is imaginative. It is magnificent. And it is for everyone.”
The Piatigorsky Foundation is committed to carrying on Piatigorsky’s mission by evoking cultural curiosity through educational and accessible live performances.
For more information, go to piatigorskyfoundation.org/
The concert is supported by student activity fees.