The Stony Brook International Piano Festival in honor of Jorge Bolet is a unique program designed for middle and high-school students who are serious about piano study, and who might be considering majoring in piano performance at the college level. Designed to foster the highest excellence in piano playing, this intensive program will be set on the beautiful campus of one of the most prestigious college preparatory school in the northeast, The Stony Brook School, the same school from which legendary pianist Jorge Bolet received a post graduate diploma in 1934. Bolet retained a close relationship with The Stony Brook School throughout his life, returning frequently to the school’s Carson Auditorium to play solo recitals. Only fifty miles from New York City, the peaceful campus is an ideal setting for focused learning, while retaining all the benefits of the rich musical culture of city, only a train ride away. During this two-week program, students will benefit from private instruction from Artist Faculty Members, the opportunity to play in a public master class by a Guest Artist, and several performance opportunities, including a recital at Carson Auditorium, an outreach concert at the Sunrise Assisted Living Facility in Setauket, and a final concert performance at New York City’s Steinway Hall. Each week, every student will receive three one-hour private lessons and will be supervised during daily practice. Other musical opportunities will be offered, such as concerts by guest performers, lectures on topics related to piano playing, and miniature courses on subjects such as music theory, piano literature, and practice methods. Recreational activities, including a trip to a concert in New York City, an outing to the Port Jefferson Harbor, and a trip to Stony Brook’s historic Village will also be part of these exciting two weeks.
Jorge Bolet was born in 1914 in Havana, Cuba. In 1927, he was awarded a full scholarship to attend the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with David Saperton (Leopold Godowsky’s son-in-law) as well as with Godowsky himself, Josef Hofman and Moriz Rosenthal. In 1934, he wished to broaden his education and did so by studying for one year at The Stony Brook School.
In 1937, Bolet won the Naumburg International Piano Competition. Later that year, he presented his New York debut, a concert that Rachmaninoff, Horowitz and Godowsky all attended. Success did not immediately follow him, however, and in the 1940s and 50s he supplemented his few performances by teaching as Rudolph Serkin’s assistant at Curtis Institute. During the 1970s he began to achieve greater recognition, and it was his epic Carnegie Hall recital in 1974 that truly turned the tides of his career.
In 1976, he signed an exclusive recording contract with Decca, with whom he recorded all the cornerstones of his repertoire, principally music by Chopin, Schumann, and Liszt. He passed away in 1990 in Mountain View, California at the age of 76. Although Bolet did not receive the recognition he deserved until late in his life, he is now widely regarded as one of the finest pianists of the 20th century.
www.stonybrookschool.org
A school distinguished for academia, set apart by its mission, The Stony Brook School is widely known for a passion for character education.
Founded in 1922 with the motto “Character Before Career,” The Stony Brook School educates students in matters of the mind, body and heart. Students are challenged to become leaders with integrity and virtue; character development is considered to be an essential component of the educational process. While students are presented with the truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they are free to maintain their own personal spiritual beliefs.
With its beautiful historic buildings, newly renovated practice spaces, and a strong emphasis on the arts, The Stony Brook School provides ample resources for those who wish to continue serious music studies within a rigorous academic environment.