World renowned pianist to play on campus

By Jennifer Palmberg
The Collegian

In 1970 Garrick Ohlsson proved he is one of the world’s greatest pianists by winning the Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw. He was the first American ever to do so.

On Friday, Nov. 4, Ohlsson will make his first appearance at Fresno State.

Ohlsson is a native of White Plains, New York. He began studying piano at the age of 8 and at 13 he attended The Julliard School in New York City.

He won his first award in 1966 at the Busoni Competition in Italy and another in 1968 at the Montreal Piano Competition. But it wasn’t until his victory in 1970 in Warsaw that he became recognized worldwide for his talent.

To this day he has performed in more than 80 piano concerts in many countries covering works from such composers as Beethoven, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Haydn, Mozart, Brahms and Bach.

The New York Times said Ohlsson has “tasteful virtuosity, elegant sense of proportion and the balance between intimacy and declamation.” The Los Angeles Times described him as, “fast and furious as any of his peers, but he never forgets to make the piano sing at all dynamic levels.”

Ohlsson will perform as part of the Philip Lorenz Memorial Keyboard Concert Series at 8 p.m. in the Concert Hall. Cost of admission is $12.50 general, $7 seniors and $5 for students.

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