The health and safety of the Pianofest Family — students, staff, teachers, trustees, community partners, and the members of our audience — is our highest priority. COVID-19 is impacting all of us in unprecedented ways, and we share a deep concern for the individuals and communities grappling with its effects. Given this rapidly changing environment, we decided to cancel our 2020 summer season. This was a heart-breaking but necessary decision. Nevertheless, we were confident it was the right thing to do for the general good.

This newsletter comes with some new treats enclosed. In the past newsletters we have provided video highlights of archived performances. This time we have been given the opportunity to show you some newly recorded music. This consists of a recital very creatively recorded by two popular Pianofest alumni, sister and brother, Maddalena and Jacopo Giacopuzzi.

I came across an article I wrote in 1996 that had to do with musical conceptions and performances that did not include the physical presence of an audience. One inspiration for this article was a poem by Robert Browning, a portion of which reads:

Greetings to you, with optimistic hopes for your health and outlook. As the days grow warmer as summer deepens, we of course miss the excitement we all feel as we anticipate the new Pianofest season, with great concerts, new participants from around the world, and a season of musical illumination, learning, and gatherings in the beautiful Hamptons.

As we welcome a festive holiday season ahead, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on our gratitude for your being a part of our musical community that enriches our lives not only during the summer weeks, but reaches across the world in a way that nurtures our blossoming performers and the appreciation of their collective global audiences. Our growing visibility and reach are evidenced by the stature of both our student performers and our distinguished visiting faculty, and the viewership of our live global streaming events.

We are still a little star-struck from our evening with actor Alec Baldwin! The witty and sensational performer is a lover of classical music, and his knowledge and passion shined through while he guided us through the evening performance on July 15. 

With our summer well underway with the summer festival, we are so excited to update you with some of our news. On everybody’s minds is our Monday evening concert at Avram Theater, July 15th, 5pm, with iconic American actor and arts advocate Alec Baldwin as host. It will certainly be one of the most memorable events in Pianofest’s 31-year history. Read the full announcement (in cased you missed it).

SOUTHAMPTON — Pianofest in the Hamptons is delighted to announce critically-acclaimed actor Alec Baldwin will host the July 15th Pianofest concert at Avram Theater, Southampton.

Our season's opening concert is Monday, June 24, 5 PM, at the Southampton Cultural Center! Scroll below or view online to see the complete line-up.

Students are arriving from around the globe to give you some of the most gorgeous interpretations from the piano repertoire. We hope you join us on the East End for another exciting summer with old and new friends, celebrating our 31st season.

Pianofest in the Hamptons Launches 14 Concerts Featuring Highly-Gifted Pianists From Around the World

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED 

Pianofest Concert Featuring the Extraordinary Piece of Theater and Music by Viktor Ullmann, Plus Music by Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copland, Including the West Side Story Suite

Our Winter Newsletter is here featuring many wonderful updates on our past season of live-streamed concerts, an announcement of Pianofest faculty for 2019, an alumnus profile on Michael Brown, and a special interview with Steven Dickman as he looks toward retirement.

As we move from the warmer days of summer and our successful music-filled 30th Pianofest season to the more inward days of autumn, we have time to reflect on the many memories brought to us by Paul, our extended Pianofest family of student performers, and all of our audiences, supporters, and board members.