Sunday November 10, 2019 in Mclean

Kevin Ayesh

Piano

P  R  O  G  R  A  M

Prelude and Fugue in D Major, WTC II — Johann Sebastian Bach
(1685-1750)

Prelude, La fille aux cheveux de lin — Claude Debussy
(1862-1918)

Sonata in F Minor, Op. 5 — Johannes Brahms
(1833-1897)
Allegro maestoso
Andante espressivo
Scherzo:  Allegro energico
Intermezzo:  Andante molto
Finale:  Allegro moderato ma rubato

Biography

Pianist Kevin Ayesh has presented concerts and master classes throughout the United States (he has performed in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico), as well as in Canada, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, and Hong Kong.  Dr. Ayesh has taught music at Blue Ridge Community College (an All-Steinway School) in Flat Rock, North Carolina since 1992.  As a North Carolina Visiting Artist for four years, he appeared before thousands across that state, performing as many as 50 recitals in a season.

Ayesh was recently a guest artist at the Lindlar International Piano Festival in Germany, the Gene Marcus Piano Festival at Purdue University-Fort Wayne, the Star Valley Junior Music Festival in Wyoming, and the USA Piano Camp at the University of South Alabama.  Within the past two seasons he has presented recitals at Western Kentucky University, Stephen F. Austin University (TX), Winthrop University (SC), St. Mary’s University of California, Saddleback College (CA), Schmitt Music in Kansas City, KS, the Steinway Society of Puerto Rico in San Juan, the Silk Purse Arts Centre in West Vancouver, BC, the St. Paul’s Concert Series in Walnut Creek, CA, and the GVPC Live! Concert Series in Henderson, NV, in addition to three appearances at Emerson Avenue Salons, and several performances in Europe.

With orchestra, Ayesh has performed such concertos as Mozart’s K. 466, K. 467, and K. 488, Beethoven’s 2nd, 3rd, and Choral Fantasy, Brahms’ 1st, Rachmaninoff’s 2nd, and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.  He has presented numerous lecture-recitals of the piano music of American composer Robert Starer.

Ayesh is the recipient of many prizes, including the Naftzger Piano Award, Baltimore Music Club Award, and Winner of both the JCC Baltimore Piano Competition and the Maryland State Music Teachers’ Elizabeth R. Davis Memorial Piano Competition.  A finalist in several national and international competitions, Ayesh was awarded Second Prize at the Wideman International Piano Competition, and won both Third Prize and Composer’s Prize at the New Orleans International Piano Competition.

A native of Wichita, Kansas, Ayesh received his Bachelor of Music degree with highest honors from the University of Texas at Austin; his master’s and doctorate degrees are from the University of Maryland.  His teachers were Elinor Aiken, William Race, and Nelita True.