There are not very many examples of overnight successes in classical music. Jon Nakamatsu is one of the few.
Photo provided
Jon Nakamatsu's piano career took off when he won the Van Cliburn International competition.
Jon Nakamatsu's piano career took off when he won the Van Cliburn International competition.
In 1997, he was teaching German to high school students in the San Francisco Bay area while doing some “moonlighting” as a pianist. But that same year, he was named the gold medalist of the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.
When performers win the world-renowned competition, which is held every four years, they tour around the country and abroad. Needless to say, Nakamatsu's life immediately changed.
“I was teaching one day, and I was touring overnight,” said Nakamatsu, who lives in San Jose, Calif. “I had always wanted to be a (professional) pianist, but you never know if it is going to happen. I still can't believe it is, actually.”
Nakamatsu has since performed with top-level orchestras in some of the most recognizable venues in the world. On Sunday, he will play a solo recital for the public at Westminster Presbyterian Church.
The concert is part of a series funded by the Adams Foundation, which strives to bring quality musicians to small cities and venues.
This is the second time Nakamatsu will play at Westminster, as he played a date in 2004. He has also played numerous concerts over the years with the Syracuse Symphony and Rochester Philharmonic orchestras.
Despite having played in hundreds of concert halls, Nakamatsu said he specifically remembers the Auburn church.
“I don't remember the cities as much as I remember the halls, and this one has very nice, comfortable piano acoustics,” he said, before continuing in jest. “But I'm sitting in front of the piano. I don't know what it sounds like for you. I'm not sitting in that space.”
As part of his program Sunday, Nakamatsu will play two of Ludwig van Beethoven's most famous piano sonatas - Sonata No. 14, also known as the “Moonlight Sonata,” and Sonata No. 15, which he composed after learning he was losing his hearing.
Nakamatsu will also perform solo pieces by composing giants Haydn and Chopin. But the most interesting piece, he said, is “Papillons” by Robert Schumann.
The work is based on a masquerade ball scene in a novel Schumann read, Nakamatsu said. The composer gives his impression of the party's ups and downs through the music, which brings a visual quality to the piece.
“There are all these little caricatures and all these little scenes he saw (from the novel), which makes for a fun and humorous fetch,” Nakamatsu said. “Some people find it really confusing and a little jarring. But I explain the background before I play it, and it makes the piece far more entertaining.”
Sunday's concert is part of a two-stop east coast tour. Nakamatsu is looking forward to the short stay.
“I love being in upstate New York,” Nakamatsu said. “I just love the whole region, and every chance I get to go up there is going to be fun.”
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
If you go
What: Jon Nakamatsu
When: 2 p.m. Sunday, April 20
Where: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 17 William Street, Auburn
Cost: $15 general admission, $5 students
Info: Call 253-3331, visit www.westminsterauburn.org or www.jonnakamatsu.com
When performers win the world-renowned competition, which is held every four years, they tour around the country and abroad. Needless to say, Nakamatsu's life immediately changed.
“I was teaching one day, and I was touring overnight,” said Nakamatsu, who lives in San Jose, Calif. “I had always wanted to be a (professional) pianist, but you never know if it is going to happen. I still can't believe it is, actually.”
Nakamatsu has since performed with top-level orchestras in some of the most recognizable venues in the world. On Sunday, he will play a solo recital for the public at Westminster Presbyterian Church.
The concert is part of a series funded by the Adams Foundation, which strives to bring quality musicians to small cities and venues.
This is the second time Nakamatsu will play at Westminster, as he played a date in 2004. He has also played numerous concerts over the years with the Syracuse Symphony and Rochester Philharmonic orchestras.
Despite having played in hundreds of concert halls, Nakamatsu said he specifically remembers the Auburn church.
“I don't remember the cities as much as I remember the halls, and this one has very nice, comfortable piano acoustics,” he said, before continuing in jest. “But I'm sitting in front of the piano. I don't know what it sounds like for you. I'm not sitting in that space.”
As part of his program Sunday, Nakamatsu will play two of Ludwig van Beethoven's most famous piano sonatas - Sonata No. 14, also known as the “Moonlight Sonata,” and Sonata No. 15, which he composed after learning he was losing his hearing.
Nakamatsu will also perform solo pieces by composing giants Haydn and Chopin. But the most interesting piece, he said, is “Papillons” by Robert Schumann.
The work is based on a masquerade ball scene in a novel Schumann read, Nakamatsu said. The composer gives his impression of the party's ups and downs through the music, which brings a visual quality to the piece.
“There are all these little caricatures and all these little scenes he saw (from the novel), which makes for a fun and humorous fetch,” Nakamatsu said. “Some people find it really confusing and a little jarring. But I explain the background before I play it, and it makes the piece far more entertaining.”
Sunday's concert is part of a two-stop east coast tour. Nakamatsu is looking forward to the short stay.
“I love being in upstate New York,” Nakamatsu said. “I just love the whole region, and every chance I get to go up there is going to be fun.”
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
If you go
What: Jon Nakamatsu
When: 2 p.m. Sunday, April 20
Where: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 17 William Street, Auburn
Cost: $15 general admission, $5 students
Info: Call 253-3331, visit www.westminsterauburn.org or www.jonnakamatsu.com
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