Pianist Mackenzie Melemed Performs at Weill Recital Hall on December 13, 2019

Program Features Works by Bach, Bartók, Beethoven, Medtner, Mendelssohn, Poulenc, Scarlatti, Shostakovich, and Avner Dorman

NEW YORK –– Juilliard presents pianist Mackenzie Melemed at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall onFriday, December 13, 2019, at 7:30pm performing Juilliard’s eighth annual Leo B. Ruiz Memorial Recital. The program features works by nine composers spanning four centuries: J.S. Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in B-flat Minor, BWV 867; Mendelssohn’s Prelude and Fugue in E Minor, WoO 13; Shostakovich’s Prelude and Fugue No. 21 in B-flat Major, Op. 87; Scarlatti’s Sonata in G Major, K. 55; Beethoven’s Sonata in F Major, Op. 54; Medtner’s Sonata Tragica, Op. 39, No. 5; Bach’s French Suite No. 5 in G Major, BWV 816; Bartók’s Suite, Op. 14; Poulenc’s Trois pièces; and Juilliard alumnus Avner Dorman’s Sonata No. 3, “Dance Suite” (Movement III: Techno).  

Limited tickets will be available on the day of the recital beginning at 6:30pm at the Weill Recital Hall Box Office at Carnegie Hall, 154 West 57th Street.

The Juilliard School is deeply grateful for the gift from the Estate of Leo B. Ruiz, that is making this recital possible. Leo B. Ruiz was founder and executive director of Artists International Presentations, Inc., a nonprofit organization that from 1972 to 2009 promoted talented artists from all over the world, including many musicians from Juilliard. Thanks to Ruiz’s passion for presenting young musicians to the world and to his generous gift, Juilliard is able to award a recital at Weill Recital Hall to a gifted young artist each year. This recital program honors the legacy of Ruiz, a generous individual who had a great impact on the careers of many performing artists.

About Mackenzie Melemed
Winner of Juilliard’s 2019 Leo B. Ruiz Memorial Recital Award and 2018 Arthur Rubinstein Piano Prize as well as the 2018 Paris Recital Prize from Poland's Prix de Tarnów Competition, 24-year-old American pianist Mackenzie Melemed (BM ’17, MM ’18, piano) is studying in Juilliard’s Artist Diploma program with Robert McDonald and Emanuel Ax while also performing on the international stage. Melemed graduated from Juilliard’s accelerated five-year dual-degree program with his BM and MM.

In May, Melemed won third prize at the first China International Music Competition where, in the final round, he performed Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with the Philadelphia Orchestra under the baton of Yannick Nézet-Séguin at Beijing’s National Center for Performing Arts.

Melemed’s 2019-20 season includes appearances in the U.S., Finland, and France. Future performances include San Diego Symphony Chamber Music, the University of Houston International Piano Festival, South Orange Performing Arts Center (New Jersey), and Salle Cortôt in Paris. Melemed is featured on a recent Warner Classics album, Möbius, performing Jeajoon Ryu’s Piano Concerto with Ralf Gothóni and Sinfonia Varsovia.

Melemed began the 2018-19 season with a concert tour in Finland; highlights included his first performance of Barber’s Piano Concerto with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and the European premiere of South Korean composer Jeajoon Ryu’s Piano Concerto with Ralf Gothóni and the Kuopio City Orchestra. Other performances included a solo recital at WQXR’s Greene Space, Grieg’s Piano Concerto with the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra, and Selim Palmgren’s Piano Concerto No. 2, “River,” with Cathrine Winnes and the Tampere Filharmonia (Finland). Melemed toured the Ryu Piano Concerto with Yoel Levi and the KBS Symphony Orchestra at the Beethoven Easter Festival throughout Poland. Competition accolades include first prize and chamber music prize at the 2017 Maj Lind International Piano Competition (Finland), first prize and commissioned work prize at the 2017 Iowa International Piano Competition, and commissioned work prize at the 2012 New York International Piano Competition.

Melemed’s love for the piano began at age 3 when his grandfather bought him a small keyboard from a yard sale. Since then, Melemed has performed at prestigious locations including five times at the White House’s holiday open house (2004-08) and two performances at Carnegie Hall (Weill and Zankel). Melemed owes his successes to a tremendous musical upbringing and the constant support and love from his family. Former teachers include Dean Arvidson, Alexander Korsantia, Olga Rogach, and William Smiddy.

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Program Listing:
Friday, December 13, 2019, 7:30pm, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall
Juilliard’s 8th Annual Leo B. Ruiz Memorial Recital
Mackenzie Melemed, Piano

J.S. BACH Prelude and Fugue in B-flat Minor, BWV 867 (From The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1)
Felix MENDELSSOHN Prelude and Fugue in E Minor, WoO 13
Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH Prelude and Fugue No. 21 in B-flat Major, Op. 87
Domenico SCARLATTI Sonata in G Major, K. 55
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN Sonata in F Major, Op. 54
Nikolai MEDTNER Sonata Tragica, Op. 39, No. 5
J.S. BACH French Suite No. 5 in G Major, BWV 816
Béla BARTÓK Suite, Op. 14
Francis POULENC Trois pièces
Avner DORMAN From Sonata No. 3, “Dance Suite”
                        III. Techno

Limited tickets will be available on the day of the recital beginning at 6:30pm at the Weill Recital Hall Box Office at Carnegie Hall, 154 West 57th Street.