I was thrilled to see Jack Gao perform at a salon concert in New York on January 7th. The concert was a co-presentation by host Robin Shoemaker and the Center for Musical Excellence, Director Min Kwon. Ms. Kwon enthused about how well Jack played at the 2023 Gina Bachauer Piano Competition at Juilliard, where he […] The post Prizewinning Pianist Jack Gao’s Concert of Contrasts appeared first on ROVING PIANIST ..read more

I’ve always liked pianist Evgeny Kissin, but sometimes I feel ambivalent about his interpretations. See my reviews of his Carnegie Hall appearances in May 2018 and November 2015 for more on this. But Kissin’s May 2nd, 2023 Carnegie Hall piano recital was a “must see” for Roving Pianist (RP), because of its program. Many others […] The post Kissin Conquers Carnegie Hall May 2023 appeared first on ROVING PIANIST ..read more

Wynona Wang I first met Chinese pianist Wynona Wang at a house concert in New York in 2021. I was so impressed that when I learned she was to play as a Concert Artists Guild artist in Rhode Island on October 8th 2022, I had to attend. Core Memory Music The Core Memory Music venue […] The post Pianist Wynona Wang in South Kingstown, RI appeared first on ROVING PIANIST ..read more

Stephanie Tang On Saturday August 13th, 2022, I visited Craig Maynard’s Core Memory Music venue in Rhode Island to see London-based Chinese-American pianist Stephanie Tang. Some pianists (Roving Pianist included) prefer to isolate prior to performing. But Ms. Tang’s innate confidence allowed her to mingle with ease, describing her program and fielding questions from us […] The post Stephanie Tang at Core Memory Music appeared first on ROVING PIANIST ..read more

It has been several years since I saw pianist Zhenni Li perform. Back then she partnered with violist Matthew Cohen. In New York on April 23rd 2022 she did so again, this time going by the name Zhenni Li-Cohen. Yes, they are a married couple! The evening’s concert was a hybrid. In the first half […] The post Viola and Piano Duo Matthew and Zhenni Li Cohen appeared first on ROVING PIANIST ..read more

On February 24th, 2022, we saw the most remarkable Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra concert at Carnegie Hall. It was an all-Rachmaninoff program whose conductor and pianist were cancelled the day before the concert, due to current world events. In their place, pianist Seong-Jin Cho flew in from Germany and Yannick Nézet-Séguin of the Metropolitan Opera stepped […] The post Vienna Philharmonic: The Show Must Go On appeared first on ROVING PIANIST ..read more

Grace Park and Joseph Liccardo On December 13th, 2021, 2018 Naumburg Violin Competition winner Grace Park will give a recital at Carnegie Weill in partnership with pianist Joseph Liccardo. On December 4th, Grace and Joseph previewed their all-French Carnegie program at Robin Shoemaker’s New York salon. The program spans from the 17th century to the 20th. […] The post Violinist Grace Park’s All-French Concert appeared first on ROVING PIANIST ..read more

Wynona Yinuo Wang On November 6th 2021, pianist Yinuo (Wynona) Wang entered the Shoemaker Salon with a light step and a radiant smile. A Juillard student with promising credentials, she seemed energized by this intimate setting. Mozart: Sonata No. 13 in B-Flat Major K 333 This sonata opens with a charming allegro, crisply articulated by Ms. Wang. In subsequent movements Wynona surprised us with her lyrical flair and Beethoven-sized passion. Her Mozart appetizer became part of the main course, and we loved it. Rachmaninoff: Prelude in F-Sharp Minor Op. 23 No. 1 The dark, F-Sharp Minor Prelude’s ..read more

Yan Shen in New York Yan Shen’s New York Debut On Friday August 13th, Houston-based pianist Yan Shen made her New York debut at Robin Shoemaker’s NYC salon. Her all-Chopin program consisted of 3 polonaises, 8 mazurkas, and a 25-minute sonata. Chopin: Polonaise Op. 40 No. 1 At first the cultivated pomp of this polonaise seems grandiose. You can hear drums and marching armies, hence its nickname “Military Polonaise”. But the polonaise is not really about glory. Instead, it reflects the dreams of Chopin’s Poland, a nation oppressed by opportunistic adversaries. At times Ms. Shen’s Polonaise hes ..read more

Mitchell Lyon addresses the audience Unmasked Vaccination was required in order to attend the July 2021 Shoemaker salon reopening concert at Central Park West, New York. Once in the Shoemaker residence, we felt liberated enough to unmask and mingle. How long we had waited for this moment, and how grateful we were to our host! Pianist Mika Sasaki told us that this was her first unmasked recital in a very long time. She described how the lack of performance opportunities had given her time to reflect, influencing this evening’s concert. Chopin: Sonata for Piano and Cello op. 65, Allegro Modera ..read more