Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

 

Orchestral

 

David Allen Wehr is a renowned classical pianist who has made a significant impact on the world of classical music. Born on August 22, 1950, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Wehr grew up in a family that valued music and the arts. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a singer, so it was only natural that Wehr would develop a love for music at a young age. Wehr began playing the piano when he was just five years old, and by the time he was a teenager, he was already performing in public. He attended the Juilliard School in New York City, where he studied with the legendary pianist Rudolf Serkin. After graduating from Juilliard, Wehr continued his studies in Europe, where he worked with some of the most renowned pianists of the time, including Leon Fleisher and Maria João Pires. Wehr's career as a concert pianist began in earnest in the 1970s, when he won several prestigious competitions, including the Young Concert Artists International Auditions and the Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Competition. These victories helped to establish Wehr as a rising star in the classical music world, and he soon began performing with some of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra. Over the years, Wehr has become known for his virtuosic performances and his ability to bring out the emotional depth of the music he plays. He has a particular affinity for the music of Chopin, and has recorded several albums of the composer's works, including a critically acclaimed recording of Chopin's complete Nocturnes. In addition to his work as a performer, Wehr is also a respected educator. He has taught at several prestigious institutions, including the Peabody Conservatory of Music, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He is currently the Jack W. Geltz Distinguished Piano Chair at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, where he has been on the faculty since 1985. Throughout his career, Wehr has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the world of classical music. In 1991, he was awarded the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, which recognizes outstanding young musicians who have the potential for major careers in music. He has also been awarded the Pittsburgh Concert Society Career Grant, the National Endowment for the Arts Solo Recitalist Fellowship, and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Distinguished Achievement Award. Wehr's performances have been praised by critics and audiences alike. The New York Times has called him "a pianist of uncommon sensitivity and intelligence," while the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has described him as "a master of the keyboard." He has performed in some of the world's most prestigious concert halls, including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Royal Albert Hall. In addition to his work as a performer and educator, Wehr is also a dedicated philanthropist. He has been involved with several charitable organizations, including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Opera, and the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. He has also established the David Allen Wehr Piano Scholarship at Duquesne University, which provides financial assistance to talented young pianists. In conclusion, David Allen Wehr is a highly accomplished classical pianist who has made a significant impact on the world of classical music.

More....