The Cayman Arts Festival is set to deliver a 10-day celebration of world-class piano music, featuring a lineup of international pianists from Latvia, China, and Jamaica/US.
Marius Gaina, Cayman Arts Festival executive director told the Compass this year’s festival strengthens what was started last year.
“We’re spreading our wings and finding performers from across the world to have this common goal to entertain, educate and inspire our local audience with music through piano,” he said.
Daumants Liepiņš
The festival features Daumants Liepiņš, who be performing works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Maurice Ravel and Franz Liszt on Thursday, 5 Oct, 6-7pm at the George Town Public Library.
“Liepiņš hails as one of the most exciting new talents in the piano universe,” a CAF release said. Topping Pianist magazine’s list of ‘Pianists to Look Out For in 2020’, critics describe him as “sensitive, imaginative, in full command of his instrument’s resources, effortlessly keeping the listener transfixed” after his first solo album release in 2020.
In 2019, he was awarded the Vendome Prize at the Verbier Festival in Switzerland and first prize at Maria Canals Piano Competition in Barcelona.
Already firmly established in his home country by winning the Grand National Music Award (Lielā mūzikas balva), Daumants’ appearances beyond his home shores include the biggest Spanish orchestras, the Royal Liverpool Symphony Orchestra, Helsingborg Symphony orchestra and Belgian National Symphony Orchestra among others.
In the 22/23 season, Daumants is looking forward to debut recitals at the prestigious Verbier Festival and Palau de la Musica, Barcelona, and publishing a new album with Soler sonatas for Naxos.
Currently, he is artist in residence at Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Brussels and Ingesund Piano Center in Sweden. He is represented by Nordic Artists Management.
Hannah Shen
Hannah Shen will grace the CAF stage on Thursday, 12 Oct, 6-7pm at George Town Public Library. Her performance will feature works from Johann Sebastian Bach, Frédéric Chopin, and Ludwig van Beethoven.
A Chinese-Canadian pianist and educator, Shen brings a wealth of musical expertise to her role. She holds a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance from the University of Toronto and is an alumna of the Phil and Eli Taylor Academy of the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Shen’s remarkable talent has been highlighted at prestigious concert venues across North America, including Carnegie Hall, Koerner Hall, and Massey Hall. She has showcased her skills as both a soloist and chamber musician in Canada, the USA, France, Italy, and Switzerland.
Her dedication to music has earned her recognition, including being a prize winner at the Canadian Music Competition (CMC) in 2012 and 2014. She was also featured in an interview by WNED 94.5, a New York radio station, which led to a recording session at Koerner Hall. At the Orford Music Festival in Montreal, she had the privilege of studying under the guidance of Yoheved Kaplinsky, Head of the Piano Department at Juilliard.
Paul Shaw
Paul Shaw takes center stage on Saturday, 14 Oct, 6-7pm at the George Town Public Library. Shaw will present works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Robert Schumann and Cleophas R. E. Adderley.
Shaw has appeared as soloist with the Brooklyn Philharmonic, Rochester Philharmonic, Dayton Philharmonic, Richmond Symphony, Shreveport Symphony, Cape Cod Symphony, Kenwood Symphony and Minnesota orchestras and collaborated with conductors William Eddins, Lukas Foss, Yuri Ivan, George Manahan, Pamela Mayorga, Jorge Mester, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, Mark Russell Smith and others. As a chamber musician, he has appeared at the Marlboro Music Festival and performed with members of the Minnesota and Saint Paul Chamber orchestras.
Since 2010, Shaw and musician friends from Japan, China, South Korea, France, Great Britain, Russia, and the United States of America have been engaged in a series of collaborative concerts to promote world peace and discourage the proliferation of nuclear weapons – in New York (2010), Hiroshima (2013), Paris (2014), Tokyo (2015), and again in Hiroshima (2016) and Paris (2018).
Shaw earned Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Piano Performance from The Juilliard School and has been a Steinway artist since legendary pianist Vladimir Horowitz recommended him to join the piano company roster in 1987. He currently serves as Chair of the Keyboard Division at the University of Minnesota School of Music in Minneapolis.
School Masterclasses
Gaina said in true CAF fashion, all performers will participate in Masterclasses and mini concerts at local schools.
“We also have one-to-one lessons with advanced young pianists. The piano will be the king of instruments for the next few days. Last year, we featured mini concerts with least 150 students. It’s such a good vibe to see all these kids being exposed and inspired by local and international artists,” he said.
Daumants Liepiņš’s Programme
Ludwig van Beethoven – Sonata no. 8 in C minor, Op. 13
- Grave – Allegro di molto e con brio
- Adagio cantabile
III. Rondo: Allegro
Maurice Ravel – Sonatine
- Modéré
- Mouvement de menuet
III. Animé
Franz Liszt – Sposalizio (Marriage)
Franz Liszt – Mephisto Waltz no. 1
Hannah Shen’s Programme
Johann Sebastian Bach – Italian Concerto BWV 971
- Allegro
- Andante
Frédéric Chopin – Ballade No. 3 in A Flat Major Op. 47
Johannes Brahms – Klavierstücke Op. 118
No. 2 Intermezzo in A major – Andante teneramente
Ludwig van Beethoven – Sonata Op. 57
- Allegro assai
- Andante con moto
III. Allegro ma non troppo
Paul Shaw’s Programme
Ludwig van Beethoven – Piano Sonata No. 24 in F-sharp Major, Op. 78
- Adagio cantabile – Allegro ma non troppo
- Allegro vivace
Robert Schumann – Kreisleriana, Op. 16
- Äußerst bewegt
- Sehr innig und nicht zu rasch
- Sehr aufgeregt
- Sehr langsam
- Sehr lebhaft
- Sehr langsam
- Sehr rasch
- Schnell und spielend
Cleophas R. E. Adderley – Variations on a Theme by E. Clement Bethel
Alberto Ginastera – DanzasArgentinas, Op. 2
- Danza del viejo boyero
- Danza de la moza donosa
III. Danza del gaucho matrero
Tickets are US$42 for adults and US$18 for students. Tickets are available to purchase online and at the door. For more information about upcoming events, call 922-5550 or visit www.caymanartsfestival.com.
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