AUBURN - The audience of about 200 listened in amazement Sunday afternoon as world class pianist Jon Nakamatsu's fingers danced across the ivory keys, releasing a breathtaking array of music inside Auburn's Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Whispers of disbelief could constantly be heard spreading through the church as Nakamatsu's piano continued to pour out music during his two-hour concert.
“Unbelievable is the best description,” said Auburn native Barbara Moody. “The speed and the strength with which he plays is just amazing.”
The 39-year-old Nakamatsu, who made an appearance at the church in April 2004, was a high school German teacher in San Francisco before he was catapulted to the world stage after winning the 10th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 1997, an event which is held every four years.
“I was rejected at the last one during the application process in 1993,” Nakamatsu said. “To get there this time was great. And winning was unexpected and unbelievable.”
After winning, Nakamatsu began a world tour playing in venues across Asia, Europe and the North and South American continents.
Nakamatsu, who received a bachelors degree in education and a masters degree in German, had played piano since he was 6 years old, but never attended a music conservatory or took a college music class. Instead, he received lessons over the span of 20 years from a private teacher as he grew up and entered as many concerts as he could.
It was his alternative route to becoming a pianist that makes Nakamatsu unique.
“A lot of musicians are closed-minded and just practice all day,” Nakamatsu said, “That doesn't make you a better musician. They don't read or do other things. You have to bring life into the music. The more diversified and open you are, the more human your music becomes. It's just showing who you are that's the most important thing.”
It was his well-rounded experience that made him a huge success with fans when he won the Van Cliburn competition.
“He just has the right balance of talent, musical arrangements and a mastery for the feeling of (the music),” said Syracuse resident Carol Smith. “It's not just his technique. I don't know if it's the wonderful acoustics in the church, but even an orchestra couldn't do some of the things he does. He is definitely at the top of the list for all the concerts I have seen.”
Tom Hussey, a volunteer for the Cayuga County Arts Council, said the church, which was picked to host pianists participating in the Adams Foundation Piano Series, was chosen for its acoustics. Now hosting its seventh season, Auburn is one of nearly 23 cities across the nation putting on the tiny recitals.
Two brothers, Auburn natives Richard and John Contiguglia along with Yale University classmate Stephen Adams, created the series to bring world-class pianists to small-town venues. The group wanted to bring pianists back to smaller scale concerts where they felt the full sound of the piano could be enjoyed.
But it was not just the church's acoustics that drew fans to Nakamatsu's concert, it was also the passion and energy with which he played. Nakamatsu's facial expressions would change with the mood of the music as he swayed back and forth making elaborate and exuberant hand gestures to add an extra breath of life to each note.
Three times, the audience rose to its feet to give a standing ovation complete with cheers.
“I would definitely drive to San Francisco to hear him play if he was there,” Smith said. “Just watching him in front of that Tiffany window, the music just seems to rise up. It was amazing”
It was these kind of reactions that made Nakamatsu's trip to Auburn so memorable.
“It was a really warm and kind welcoming the last time I was here,” Nakamatsu said. “The people who came wanted to hear the music. Sometimes in a big city the people who come just want to be seen or feel like they have to come. (In Auburn) they are really friendly people who came out because they wanted to do something new and exciting. I hope I can come back to Auburn, I've met a lot of nice people in this area. It really just feels homey here.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
“Unbelievable is the best description,” said Auburn native Barbara Moody. “The speed and the strength with which he plays is just amazing.”
The 39-year-old Nakamatsu, who made an appearance at the church in April 2004, was a high school German teacher in San Francisco before he was catapulted to the world stage after winning the 10th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 1997, an event which is held every four years.
“I was rejected at the last one during the application process in 1993,” Nakamatsu said. “To get there this time was great. And winning was unexpected and unbelievable.”
After winning, Nakamatsu began a world tour playing in venues across Asia, Europe and the North and South American continents.
Nakamatsu, who received a bachelors degree in education and a masters degree in German, had played piano since he was 6 years old, but never attended a music conservatory or took a college music class. Instead, he received lessons over the span of 20 years from a private teacher as he grew up and entered as many concerts as he could.
It was his alternative route to becoming a pianist that makes Nakamatsu unique.
“A lot of musicians are closed-minded and just practice all day,” Nakamatsu said, “That doesn't make you a better musician. They don't read or do other things. You have to bring life into the music. The more diversified and open you are, the more human your music becomes. It's just showing who you are that's the most important thing.”
It was his well-rounded experience that made him a huge success with fans when he won the Van Cliburn competition.
“He just has the right balance of talent, musical arrangements and a mastery for the feeling of (the music),” said Syracuse resident Carol Smith. “It's not just his technique. I don't know if it's the wonderful acoustics in the church, but even an orchestra couldn't do some of the things he does. He is definitely at the top of the list for all the concerts I have seen.”
Tom Hussey, a volunteer for the Cayuga County Arts Council, said the church, which was picked to host pianists participating in the Adams Foundation Piano Series, was chosen for its acoustics. Now hosting its seventh season, Auburn is one of nearly 23 cities across the nation putting on the tiny recitals.
Two brothers, Auburn natives Richard and John Contiguglia along with Yale University classmate Stephen Adams, created the series to bring world-class pianists to small-town venues. The group wanted to bring pianists back to smaller scale concerts where they felt the full sound of the piano could be enjoyed.
But it was not just the church's acoustics that drew fans to Nakamatsu's concert, it was also the passion and energy with which he played. Nakamatsu's facial expressions would change with the mood of the music as he swayed back and forth making elaborate and exuberant hand gestures to add an extra breath of life to each note.
Three times, the audience rose to its feet to give a standing ovation complete with cheers.
“I would definitely drive to San Francisco to hear him play if he was there,” Smith said. “Just watching him in front of that Tiffany window, the music just seems to rise up. It was amazing”
It was these kind of reactions that made Nakamatsu's trip to Auburn so memorable.
“It was a really warm and kind welcoming the last time I was here,” Nakamatsu said. “The people who came wanted to hear the music. Sometimes in a big city the people who come just want to be seen or feel like they have to come. (In Auburn) they are really friendly people who came out because they wanted to do something new and exciting. I hope I can come back to Auburn, I've met a lot of nice people in this area. It really just feels homey here.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
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