Breen’s performances have been described as “truly show-stopping” by Gramophone UK. She will perform works by Bach, Medtner, Schoenberg and Mozart.American pianist Rachel Breen will perform March 26 as part of the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Piano Series.
The UAB Piano Series, which brings the world’s finest pianists to Birmingham, is presented by the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Music. Distinguished Professor of Piano and Artist-in-Residence Yakov Kasman, DMA, a Van Cliburn medalist, directs the series.
The 4 p.m. performance will be in UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $15, $5 for students through grade 12 and UAB employees, and free to UAB students. Call 205-975-2787 or visit AlysStephens.org.
On the program are Bach’s “The Art of Fugue” Contrapunctus 1, Medtner’s Sonata Op. 22, Schoenberg’s Op. 19 No. 2, Mozart’s Sonata K 330 and Bach’s Goldberg Variations.
Breen’s performances have been described as “truly show-stopping” (Gramophone UK), having “a beautiful piano sound and original detail.” She is a student of the late Lars Vogt at Hannover’s Hochschule für Musik; previously, she completed degrees at Yale University and the Juilliard School under Boris Slutsky and Julian Martin, according to her artist’s statement.
Breen, 26, was self-taught until age 10, when she began lessons with Sharon Mann at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Breen has enjoyed an active competition career, having been awarded top prizes at the Bösendorfer International Competition (2023), the Honens International Piano Competition (2022), Concorso Internazionale Palma D’Oro (2022), the Beethoven International Competition in Vienna (2021), the Livorno International Piano Competition (2020), the Georges Cziffra International Competition (2019), the Nuova Coppa Pianisti International Competition (2019), the Gallinari International Competition (2019), Premio Melini (2019) and Concurso Internacional de Piano Compositores de España (2018), among others. She was selected as the 2021-2023 National Federation of Music Clubs’ Young Artist in the United States and received the 2021 Kurt Alten Prize at her university in Germany.
She has performed and taught master classes around the United States, as well as in Argentina, Canada, Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Germany, Austria and Hungary. She is featured in the 2021 podcast “30 Bach” alongside Jeremy Denk, Angela Hewitt, Tim Page and Simone Dinnerstein in a discussion and performance of the Goldberg Variations. Her most recent concert season featured guest artist appearances at the Chautauqua Institute, The San Francisco International Piano Festival, Merkin Hall for IKIF, Osimo Piano Hours (Italy) and the Lilacs Series in New York City. Breen has an interest in languages, having received first prize on the National Latin Exam and third prize on the National French Exam, and is currently based in Hannover, Germany.