Corey Hamm is one of the world’s foremost champions of contemporary piano music. For Piano Masters, he will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the spectacular The People United Will Never Be Defeated! by Frederic Rzewski, about which the composer exclaimed, “This may be the best recording!”
Program Information Repertoire
HENRI DUTILLEUX (1916–2013): Sonate (1948)
I. Allegro con moto
II. Lied
III. Choral et variations
JOHN PSATHAS (b. 1966): Avenoir (2022)
(written for Corey Hamm)
—INTERMISSION—
FREDERIC RZEWSKI (1938–2021): The People United Will Never Be Defeated! (1975)
Welcome
The Boston Conservatory Piano Masters Series is a popular and unique piano series, presenting a diverse and international array of world-class pianists in rare Boston recital appearances and master classes. It allows Boston music lovers to hear these great artists perform solo recitals in an intimate venue, for a nominal cost, and to enjoy their fascinating master classes with talented Conservatory students the following day, free of charge. We welcome you to join us for these wonderful concerts!
—Michael Lewin, Artistic Director
About the Artist
Corey Hamm, piano, has premiered over four hundred solo, chamber, and concerto works by composers from all over the world, such as Psathas, Finnissy, Rzewski, Ping, Chang, and Hamel, among many others. His recording of Rzewski’s The People United Will Never Be Defeated! was critically acclaimed and sparked Rzewski to write, “This may be the best recording!” He had the privilege of working on all of the piano and chamber works of Dutilleux with the composer himself. Recent and upcoming concerto performances include Ligeti’s Piano Concerto, Prokofiev’s Piano Concertos No. 2 and No. 3, Barber’s Piano Concerto, Chang’s “Gateways” double concerto for erhu and piano soloists, and Bartok’s Piano Concerto No. 2. His PEP (Piano and Erhu Project) produced three CDs and commissioned over 80 composers for this cross-cultural duo. Dr. Hamm is professor of piano at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, where he won the Killam Teaching Award and the Dorothy Somerset Award for Artistic Excellence. His students have won first prizes in numerous international and national piano competitions, including, most recently, at the 2024 Leeds International Piano Competition, 2023 Montreal International Piano Competition, 2022 Maria Canals, 2022 Hilton Head, and 2022 Paloma O’Shea Santander. His beloved teachers include Thelma Johannes-O’Neill, Ernesto Lejano, Stéphane Lemelin, Marek Jablonski, and Lydia Artymiw. About the Series
Piano Masters Series is artistically directed by Michael Lewin and part of Boston Conservatory at Berklee’s
Artistry in Action series. The Artistry in Action series celebrates exceptional artists and initiatives that exemplify Boston Conservatory’s core values of excellence, innovation, and community engagement. Hosted by the Conservatory’s Music Division, Artistry in Action brings together the school’s prestigious and long-standing Piano Masters Series, String Masters Series, and Chamber Series with exciting new programming for winds, faculty recitals, and ensemble in residences. Learn more and view upcoming Artistry in Action events. Concert Services Staff
Senior Manager of Concert Services – Luis Herrera
Coordinator, Concert Services – Matthew CareyConcert Production Manager – Kendall FloydPerformance Technology Technicians – Sara Pagiaro, Goran Daskalov
Boston Conservatory thanks audience members for viewing this program information online. This paperless program saved 130 sheets of paper, 14 gallons of water, and 12 pounds of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions.
