Composer

Pianist

Ask any music lover to name an important American orchestral work, and there’s a good chance the answer will be George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Originally written for Paul Whiteman’s jazz orchestra with solo piano in 1924, the piece entered the concert music repertoire in a plush arrangement by Ferde Grofé—but it’s the lean, stripped-down original that best illustrates Gershwin’s groundbreaking synthesis of classical music’s disciplined elegance and the swinging spontaneity of jazz. Countless composers since Gershwin’s day have incorporated elements of jazz in their works: Aaron Copland’s bluesy trumpet in Quiet City, William Bolcom’s buoyant bounce, the brass swagger and driving pulse of John Adams’s Short Ride in a Fast Machine. And the improvising violinist and composer Mads Tolling, formerly of Turtle Island String Quartet, show with his bluesy concerto Yggdrasil that classical music and jazz continue to make a potent pairing.

EPSG:4326

Rhapsody in Blue: Music From The City

Southern Vermont Arts Center

Ismael Perez Ramirez, tenor

Northwestern Bienen School of Music

Small ensembles of Minnesota Orchestra musicians perform chamber music on the Orchestra Hall stage.

Poulenc, Bartók and Ravel

Orchestra Hall Minneapolis

Aryan Avadhanam, saxophone

Seth Alexander, Miguel Flores-Padilla, Boss Lee, and Everest Li, saxophone

Alice Millar Chapel

Gus Bachner, Senior Major Recital, piano

560 Music Center

Subscription Concert

Holzhausen Estate

Konzerthalle, Bad Salzuflen

Detmold University of Music

Stadthalle Gütersloh

Theater Hameln

Schützenhof city park

Itzehoe Theater

Minden City Theater

Paderhalle Paderborn

Winner of a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship and the Avery Fisher Prize, Jeremy Denk is “a pianist you want to hear no matter what he performs” (New York Times). Experience the soulful rhythms of Scott Joplin and Nina Simone, the rich harmonies of William Bolcom, alongside iconic works by Beethoven and Charles Ives.

Jeremy Denk, piano

Segerstrom Center for the Arts

One of the most promising singers of her generation, French soprano Axelle Fanyo has been praised by Renée Fleming for her “charismatic, beautiful voice [of] real star quality.” In her PCMS debut program with the “unfailingly eloquent and supportive” pianist Julius Drake (The Telegraph), Fanyo explores the master and apprentice relationship between two pioneering European composers, Arnold Schoenberg and Olivier Messaien, and their American protegés, John Cage and William Bolcom.

Axelle Fanyo, soprano Julius Drake, piano

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

New York-based Harlem Quartet has been praised for its “panache” by The New York Times and hailed in the Cincinnati Enquirer for “bringing a new attitude to classical music, one that is fresh, bracing and intelligent.” Harlem Quartet advances diversity in classical music while engaging new audiences with varied repertoire that includes works by minority composers. Their mission to share their passion with a wider audience has taken them around the world, including a 2009 performance at The White House and a successful tour of South Africa.

Guest Artists: Resident Quartet: Harlem Quartet presents "Jazz Inspirations"

Arizona State University Tempe Campus

Ghosts: A Classical Evening of Chilling Beauty

Scarritt Bennett Center

Julia Sporsén is one of Sweden’s most acclaimed sopranos today. She was awarded the Svenska Dagbladet Opera Prize in 2023 for her portrayal of the title role in Bellini’s Norma at Folkoperan, with the jury stating: “In the service of artistic expression, she tests all boundaries with beautiful sensitivity and complete vocal mastery.” Equally praised was her performance as Desdemona in Verdi’s Otello at the Gothenburg Opera last season.

Lied Concert with Sporsén and Risberg

Stockholm Concert Hall

Keyboard Friends

Garth Newel Music Center

SPO Museum Concert 2025

Seoul Hanseong Baekje Museum

May concert 2025

Colburn School

The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens

Music Academy of the West

City of Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza

Art of Etude with pianist Olga Vinokur

Bargemusic

From sultry Parisian nightclubs to the biting sophistication of  Berlin’s Weimar era, cabaret had a vibrant history years before it first  appeared in New York. Join Parlando for the first installment of The Cabaret Project,  a two-season collaboration with soprano Measha Brueggergosman-Lee,  exploring the art of cabaret and its journey across the Atlantic. The  program includes Erik Satie’s whimsical Trois petites pieces montées, Franz Schreker’s evocative Chamber Symphony, and William Bolcom’s irreverent Cabaret Songs for Soprano and Chamber Orchestra.

The Cabaret Project, Part 1

Kaufman Music Center

From sultry Parisian nightclubs to the biting sophistication of Berlin’s Weimar era, cabaret had a vibrant history years before it first appeared in New York. Join Parlando for the first installment of The Cabaret Project, a two-season collaboration with soprano Measha Brueggergosman-Lee, exploring the art of cabaret and its journey across the Atlantic. The program includes Erik Satie’s whimsical Trois petites pieces montées, Franz Schreker’s evocative Chamber Symphony, and William Bolcom’s irreverent Cabaret Songs for Soprano and Chamber Orchestra.

Parlando: The Cabaret Project, Part 1

Joint Student Recital: Rafaela Doser & Nazmee Kamal

Carnegie Mellon University

Giving performances that are “lithe, persuasive” (The New York Times), “eloquent and enthralling” (The Boston Globe), and described as “the most compelling American group to come on the scene” (The New Yorker), the Horszowski Trio has quickly become a vital force in the international chamber music world. Since their debut performance in New York City in 2011, they have toured extensively throughout North America, Europe, the Far East, and India, traversing the extensive oeuvre of traditional piano trio repertoire and introducing audiences to new music that they have commissioned and premiered.

Horszowski Trio and friends

Noe Valley Ministry

Horszowski Trio

Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute

An award-winning classical pianist of Nigerian-Filipino heritage, Adam Heron is the titleholder of the 2020 Harriet Cohen Bach Prize, and a laureate of multiple British and international competitions. Born in Hong Kong, he rose to prominence following his 2018 television debut as a BBC Young Musician piano finalist. Through his unique artistry, coupled with an innate flair for communication, Adam strives to become a leading ambassador for classical music. 

Piano Recital

Smith Square Hall

Join us for the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra's 24/25 Season Opener, a night of unforgettable music under the baton of Music Director Earl Lee. This spectacular event will take place on Friday, September 27, 2024, at 8 PM in the prestigious Hill Auditorium, with a pre-concert talk scheduled at 7 PM to enrich your experience.

The evening will showcase the extraordinary talents of Yekwon Sunwoo, the first Korean gold medallist of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, renowned for his "unfailingly consistent excellence" (International Piano) and his ability to "thunder without breaking a sweat" (Chicago Tribune). Sunwoo will perform Rachmaninoff’s legendary Piano Concerto No. 2, a piece that signifies the composer's triumphant return to the forefront of classical music.

Also featured in the program is William Bolcom’s "Ann Arbor Saturday," a piece commissioned and premiered by the A2SO in 2018, and Camille Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3, famously known for its grand use of the pipe organ, a piece so dear to Saint-Saëns that he remarked, "I gave everything to it I was able to give. What I have here accomplished, I will never achieve again."

This season opener is not just a concert but a celebration of musical mastery, featuring works that span the emotional spectrum of the human experience. Seats are available now as part of a subscription, with single ticket booking opening on July 18, 2024. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a musical journey that promises to be both exhilarating and deeply moving.

24/25 Season Opener

University of Michigan

Eclectic Series: Bolcom, Schoenberg, Ravel / Horszowski Trio

Winner of a 2013 MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, the 2014 Avery Fisher Prize, and Musical America’s 2014 Instrumentalist of the Year Award, Jeremy Denk has been hailed by The New York Times as “a pianist you want to hear no matter what he performs, in whatever combination – both for his penetrating intellectual engagement with the music and for the generosity of his playing.”

A Recital by Jeremy Denk piano

Aspen Meadows Resort

Winner of a 2013 MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, the 2014 Avery Fisher Prize, and Musical America’s 2014 Instrumentalist of the Year Award, Jeremy Denk has been hailed by The New York Times as “a pianist you want to hear no matter what he performs, in whatever combination – both for his penetrating intellectual engagement with the music and for the generosity of his playing.” Two Beethoven sonatas bookend the first half of the program, creating an American sandwich of sorts, with a potpourri of fillings by Joplin, Gottschalk, Simone, and Bolcom. Experience the brilliant artistry of the one the world’s most insightful and innovative pianists!

AMFS: A Recital by Jeremy Denk piano 

Join us for an enchanting evening of vocal performance as Audrey Neace, a talented mezzo-soprano and Bachelor of Music student at the Northwestern Bienen School of Music, takes the stage. Under the guidance of Patrice Michaels, Audrey will perform a captivating recital featuring a diverse repertoire that spans the breadth of classical music. The program includes Charles Gounod's "Faites-lui mes aveux" from Faust, selections from Gustav Mahler's Lieder und Gesänge, Gabriel Fauré's Cinq mélodies de Venise, Op. 58, and more, showcasing the depth and versatility of Audrey's vocal talent.

Accompanied by Julia Frodyma, soprano, and Jason Carlson on piano, the evening promises to be a showcase of exceptional musicality and a celebration of the human voice. The recital will also feature works by Vincenzo Bellini, Pauline Viardot, Libby Larsen, Jocelyn Hagen, William Bolcom, and Victor Herbert, offering a rich tapestry of musical expressions.

This special event is scheduled for Sunday, June 2, 2024, at 8:30pm CDT, in the Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall. Located in the Ryan Center for the Musical Arts, the Galvin Recital Hall is renowned for its stunning acoustics and breathtaking views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline, providing the perfect backdrop for an evening of exquisite music.

Admission to this event is free, and tickets are not required. For those unable to attend in person, a live stream will be available, ensuring that no one misses out on this remarkable performance. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the artistry of Audrey Neace and her fellow musicians in one of the most beautiful concert venues in the country.

Audrey Neace, mezzo-soprano

Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall

Join us for an enchanting evening of vocal performance as Lillian Lansdell, a talented mezzo-soprano and Master of Music student at the Northwestern Bienen School of Music, takes the stage. Under the guidance of Theresa Brancaccio, Lillian will perform a captivating selection of pieces accompanied by the skilled pianist Olga Sklyanskaya. The program includes Jake Heggie's evocative "Of Gods and Cats" and "Statuesque," alongside William Bolcom's engaging "Cabaret Songs."

This special recital is scheduled for Sunday, May 19, 2024, at 8:30pm CDT, in the intimate setting of the McClintock Choral and Recital Room. Located within the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Center for the Musical Arts, the venue offers a cozy atmosphere perfect for the dynamic and expressive range of vocal music. With seating for 120, it provides a flexible space that enhances the connection between the performers and their audience.

Admission to this event is free, and tickets are not required, making it an accessible opportunity for all music lovers. For those unable to attend in person, a live stream will be available, ensuring no one misses out on this remarkable display of musical talent.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience the artistry of Lillian Lansdell and Olga Sklyanskaya in a program that promises to be as diverse as it is delightful. Mark your calendars and join us for a memorable night of music and emotion.

Lillian Lansdell, mezzo-soprano

Ryan Center for the Musical Arts

Student Recital: Thomas Fong

Join us for our first ever Spring concert of four-hand piano music from Canadian piano stars Duo Fortin-Poirier combined with an illuminating presentation from Artistic Director, Michael Adams taking a close look at the importance of four-hand piano music before the age of recording. A fascinating musical event for all the family.

Spring Concert

Napa Methodist Church

University Of Illinois Wind Orchestra And Hindsley Band

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

Marianna Vartikian, Collaborative Piano

The Juilliard School

Music at Kohl Mansion’s international chamber music season continues on Sunday, November 19 with the Kohl Mansion debut of the nationally acclaimed Jupiter String Quartet. For their auspicious engagement, the ensemble will present Upheaval, a thoughtful program of music reflective of great social political upheaval from the past to the present.

Jupiter String Quartet

Kohl Mansion

Please note: San Francisco will be hosting the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit this week. Street and highway closures will cause delays in transit into and out of the SFCM area. Please plan accordingly in attending our concerts this week, as we do hope to see you in the audience! For those of you who cannot make it to the concerts, SFCM will be livestreaming most concerts for the week.

Kristin Pankonin American Art Song Award Showcase

Bowes Center

The Stanford Philharmonia, conducted by Paul Phillips, presents their 2023 Fall Concert program, "California Festival: A Celebration of New Music," from the main stage of Bing Concert Hall

Stanford Philharmonia – California Festival: A Celebration Of New Music

Stanford University

For CA Festival, we are presenting Stanford alumnus and a very prominent composer of our time, William Bolcom (b. 1938) in "Celebration of New Music". Especially, we are honored to west-coast premiere the piece, Dedication (2022), by William Bolcom during our Stanford Philharmonia Fall Concert, conducted by Paul Phillips, as part of the CA Festival this year. Along with Bolcom, we have Mozart Symphony No.34 in C Major, K. 338 and Charles Griffes on our program, which Griffes’s piece, Poem for Flute and Orchestra, will be performed by Laura Futamura, a 2023 Concerto Competition Winner at Stanford University.

Studio Recitals feature students who all study with the same faculty instructor. These young artists represent their studio with a program curated by their teacher.

Voice Students of Susanne Mentzer

Masterworks Series: Chopin, Scriabin, Rachmaninoff-Kreisler, Bolcom / Olga Vinokur, piano

Imagine as an aspiring tennis pro, you get an hour on the court with Venus Williams or Rafael Nadal. Or, as an emerging golf talent, hitting the links with Tiger Woods? x2 is the classical music version of this dream – realized before a live audience. This unique series features our Academy Artists paired with the brilliant 2023 fellows – the energy is explosive as emerging talents dance with legends.

x2: Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 3

This intimate and unconventional pas de deux follows the arc of a relationship, exploring the moments of tension and companionship that make two into one.

Some Assembly Required

Roosevelt University

Stony Brook University

Our concert season opener is a musicological journey through the history of American music featuring composers from the late 1900s to present day. Come to hear your favorite works by American composers and support our 2022 Charles F. Davis concerto competition winner, Karlie Thomas, performing Scaramouch for alto saxophone and orchestra.

Aspects of America

Great Lakes Center for the Arts

The Music Academy of the West Marilyn Horne Song Competition Recital is generously supported by Linda Seltzer Yawitz. 
Wise Moon was commissioned by Music Academy of the West with the generous support of Stephen Schaible and Daron Builta.

Marilyn Horne Song Competition Winners Recital

Granada Theatre

The Monterey Symphony presents Love Letter to New York September 15 and 16 at 6:30 PM at the outdoor Forest Theater in Carmel with Brad Hogarth, Associate Conductor, vocalists Malinda DeRouen and Bernard Holcomb, and pianist Tammy L. Hall. The concerts this year will not disappoint! Featuring music from Bernstein's On the Town, as well as music from popular films such as The Avengers and Spiderman; soaring hits from Duke Ellington and Shirley Horn, AND SO MUCH MORE!

Love Letter to New York

Forest Theater

From ragtime to music for ballet and film, this program showcases American music in a wide range of styles from four of its greatest composers: William Bolcom, an American icon as prolific as Mozart; Amy Beach, who broke the gender barrier with works of genius; Bernard Herrmann, a New York City wunderkind who took Hollywood by storm; and Aaron Copland, whose music personified the American spirit.

Atlanta, GA American Soundscapes

Emory University

Copland's Appalachian Spring

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

The evening opens with music from John Kander and Fred Ebb’s Cabaret, bringing the sound of the theatre straight into the hall, lively, a little cheeky, and sometimes quietly reflective. Songs by William Bolcom follow, continuing that cabaret tradition with music that feels close,personal, and directly connected to the words.

A Night at the Cabaret

Memorial University School of Music

Rachmaninoff’s third and final symphony is sumptuous, expressive, and melancholic. You’ll hear the power and beauty you expect from this beloved composer—but this symphony also has secrets to unlock. Listen for folk-inspired melodies, moments of spareness and restraint, and even a hint of modernism from an otherwise devoted Romanticist.

Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 3

Salt Palace Convention Center

Welcome to Berlin. Inside the Kit Kat Club, the Emcee promises a night of music, laughter, and decadence. But outside the club’s doors, a darker reality is taking hold as the world begins to change.

Featuring unforgettable songs like “Willkommen,” “Maybe This Time,” and the title number “Cabaret,” this Tony Award–winning musical is by turns dazzling, provocative, and deeply moving. As love stories unfold and tensions rise, the party keeps going… even as the future grows uncertain.

Composer, Pianist

William Bolcom

Events

Upcoming events

15 - 16 Sep, 2026

Love Letter to New York · Monterey Symphony

Oct 2, 2026

Atlanta, GA American Soundscapes · Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center

Oct 13, 2026

Copland's Appalachian Spring · Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center

Oct 17, 2026

A Night at the Cabaret · Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra

8 - 9 Jan, 2027

Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 3 · Utah Symphony

Past events

Aug 6, 2026

Rhapsody in Blue: Music From The City · Manchester Music Festival

Jun 10, 2026

Ismael Perez Ramirez, tenor · Northwestern Bienen School of Music

About

William Bolcom hasn't added a bio