YEFIM BRONFMAN NAMED MASTER ARTIST IN RESIDENCE AT MANNES
New York City, November 1, 2006—Mannes College The New School for Music has announced that renowned pianist Yefim Bronfman has been named the Alexis Gregory Master Artist in Residence at Mannes. The name of the residency acknowledges long-time Mannes supporter Alexis Gregory, whose generous gift made the residency possible.
“This is the first time that Mr. Bronfman has been affiliated with any school in this capacity,” said Joel Lester, Dean of Mannes. “As Master Artist in Residence, he will assist the piano program at Mannes in several ways. This fall and spring, for instance, he will work with several top piano students from various Mannes teaching studios. He will also lead master classes, one of which will be open to the public.”
Mr. Bronfman joins a prestigious piano program renowned for the quality of its faculty, which includes Vladimir Feltsman, Richard Goode, Jacob Lateiner, Jerome Rose, Diane Walsh, and department chair Pavlina Dokovska, among others. This faculty teaches within a small conservatory (300 total students at Mannes, and 50 in the piano program), that pays an extraordinarily high level of individual attention to its students. Students additionally gain professional-level performance experience through yearlong festivals such as Bach and the Baroque Legacy, presented in venues throughout New York City.
Many Mannes piano students—such as Natasha Paremski (a 2006 Gilmore Young Artist represented by IMG worldwide), Ying Feng (semifinalist in the 2005 Van Cliburn Competition represented by Thea Dispeker Inc.), Matei Varga (who records on the AIX label), and Ilya Yakushev (represented by Bill Capone of Arts Management Group)—are already generating buzz in the classical music world as young artists to watch.
About Yefim Bronfman
Born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Bronfman emigrated to Israel in 1973 and later became an American citizen. He auditioned for the Israel Philharmonic at the age of 15 and the following year made his debut with the Orchestra conducted by Kostelanetz. Two years later he toured America with the Israel Philharmonic conducted by Leonard Bernstein and Zubin Mehta and, in 1976, with support from Isaac Stern and the America-Israel Foundation, Bronfman immigrated to the United States, where he studied with Rudolf Serkin, Rudolf Firkusny, William Masselos, and Leon Fleisher at the Curtis Institute and the Juilliard School.
Today, Mr. Bronfman is known around the globe as one of the world’s leading pianists. Most recently, he was soloist with The New York Philharmonic in the opening concerts of their 2006-07 subscription season. As an exclusive Sony Classical artist, Bronfman has recorded the nine Prokofiev piano sonatas as well as the five piano concertos with Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. His recording of Bartók’s three piano concertos with Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic (SK 66718) garnered him the 1997 “Best Instrumental Soloist” Grammy. His chamber recordings include the Mozart sonatas with Isaac Stern. Bronfman’s recording of Tchaikovsky’s The Seasons (SK 60689) was released internationally in October 1998. His recording of Shostakovich Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 with Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic (SK 60677) was released at the end of 1999.
More information about Mr. Bronfman can be found on his website, www.yefimbronfman.com.
About Mannes College The New School for Music
Mannes College The New School for Music is one of the world’s leading conservatories. Founded in 1916, Mannes nurtures tomorrow’s musical leaders in an intimate, supportive community true to the values of classical music. Its eminent faculty and comprehensive curriculum teach musical artistry and impart deep knowledge of music and its structures. Mannes College’s connection to The New School and its location in New York City—just minutes from the world's great concert halls and museums—offer a unique setting for musicians to grow into great artists. For nearly 90 years, the artistic ideals of David and Clara Mannes, the college’s founders, have sustained a vibrant international community of musicians whose diversity stretches across races, cultures, and ethnicities. For more information, please visit www.mannes.newschool.edu.