Oberlin's Artist Recital Series Opens Sep. 27 With Lake Como Pianists

Three outstanding pianists representing the International Piano Academy Lake Como will make their way to Oberlin for the initial concert of the 2015-16 Artist Recital Series.

The Lake Como pianists take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, September 27, at Oberlin’s historic Finney Chapel.

The performance serves as the official launch of a groundbreaking partnership that makes Oberlin the North American home of the esteemed piano academy. Following the concert, a reception will be held in Peters Hall, adjacent to Finney Chapel.

A professor at the Niccolò Piccinni Conservatory of Bari, Italy, Alessandro Deljavan (pictured, top) was one of the youngest students in Lake Como history; he has been a top prize winner at the Gina Bachauer Young Artist Competition and the Van Cliburn Competition, among numerous other honors. Deljavan will play Chopin’s 12 Études, Op. 25.

A student of maestro William Naboré at Lake Como, Ran Jia (pictured, center) of China has drawn effusive praise for her performances around the world over the past decade. She will perform Schubert’s Sonata in C Minor, Op. Post. D958.

Marcos Madrigal (pictured, bottom) of Cuba has performed in many of the world’s most renowned recital halls and in 2012 was awarded the International Award Gold Medal "Maison des Artistes," granted by the Association for Culture, Arts, Science and Social Commitment of Rome. He will perform selections from Scriabin’s Preludes, Op. 11 and Prokofiev’s Sonata No. 7 in B-flat Major, Op. 83.

The International Piano Academy Lake Como is located in an historic waterfront palazzo amid Italy’s breathtaking Lake Como region. Beginning this fall, three students worldwide will be selected each year to undertake studies toward an artist diploma at Oberlin. For more information about the Oberlin-Como program, please visit oberlin.edu.

TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE NOW: Tickets for the Lake Como Pianists are $30; $25 for seniors, alumni, and Oberlin College staff; and just $10 for all students. Get your tickets by calling 800-371-0178, visit Oberlin's ticketing site, or stop by the Hall Auditorium box office Monday through Friday from noon-5 p.m.

DON'T MISS AN INCREDIBLE SEASON: The 138th season of the Artist Recital Series continues with violinist Christian Tetzlaff (October 30), bass-baritone John Relyea and pianist Warren Jones (February 3), pianist András Schiff (February 12), the Miró Quartet (March 10), Oberlin's own jazz trombone faculty Robin Eubanks and the Mass Line Big Band (March 13), and the Cleveland Orchestra's annual visit to close the season (April 17).

Full-season subscriptions and Pick 3 packages are available now. Individual tickets for all Oberlin events go on sale Monday, September 14. Through September 11, new subscribers to the Artist Recital Series are eligible to buy one subscription and get one free (not available for student subscriptions).

For more information about the Artist Recital Series and all the arts at Oberlin, please visit our online arts guide.