Want to learn more about classical music but aren’t sure where to start?

Most of us are familiar with the piano from home or school or childhood music lessons, but how much do you really know about this amazing instrument and the range of sounds it can create? Cleveland Institute of Music faculty member Marshall Griffith will give a brief history of this most versatile of instruments as well as a demonstration of ranges and textures.

Marshall Griffith is a jazz and classical pianist, composer and music educator. He has also been a soloist with numerous orchestras, chamber groups and jazz ensembles. He is on the Music Theory faculty at the Cleveland Institute of Music and is a Resident Artist for the Music and Arts Program at The Cleveland Clinic and an artist for Piano Cleveland’s community outreach program. His compositions include chamber, opera and symphonic works and music for jazz ensembles. His music is published by Theodore Presser, Pleasing Dog Music and Belle Press. In 2014, he was presented the Distinguished Alumni Award from CIM in the Composer-Virtuoso category. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in composition from Indiana University.

Have you ever wondered what makes Baroque music, well… Baroque? What are the colors, sounds, rhythms, and pulses unique to the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Impressionist/Modern eras of music? Caroline Oltmanns, Head of the Piano Department at the Dana School of Music, Youngstown State University, will be your guide to putting the piano into the context of different time periods and styles. Whether this is your first-time exploring music history, or you just want a quick, fun refresher course, this session is sure to enhance your understanding and knowledge.

Caroline Oltmanns is an International Steinway Artist, Steinway Spirio Recording Artist, Fulbright Scholar, and recipient of the Stipendium der deutschen Wirtschaft. She is Professor of Piano at Youngstown State University and holds degrees from the Staatliche Musikhochschule Freiburg and the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Her playing has been broadcast globally on radio and television stations, and she was featured on the documentary series Living the Classical Life. She earned her Diploma at the Staatliche Musikhochschule Freiburg and her master’s and doctoral degrees at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

As you can imagine, musicians that are selected to compete in the Cleveland International Piano Competition are among the best in the world. Because they are all outstanding artists, there are measures that jurors in a music competition use to rank contestants to determine a winner. President of Piano Cleveland and 2007 CIPC medalist Yaron Kohlberg, will give you an insider’s view on what makes some playing rise above the rest. From technique and touch to interpretation, Yaron will take you through all the elements that make piano playing go from good to great.

A native of Israel, President of Piano Cleveland Yaron Kohlberg has played in major halls in forty countries spanning five continents and has more than ten international prizes, including the Second Prize at the 2007 CIPC. In recent years Mr. Kohlberg, who speaks six languages, has teamed up with his friend Bishara Haroni to form the highly successful Duo Amal piano duo. He also cooperates regularly with top musicians and ensembles around the globe. He holds a graduate degree (with distinction) from the Buchmann-Mehta school of music of Tel Aviv University. In concert, he often combines classical music with new arrangements of popular and world music.