Orion Weiss
Encyclopedia
Orion Weiss is an American classical pianist.
, Reinberger Chair in Piano and Head of the Piano Department at the Cleveland Institute of Music
. Also during these years he attended summer music festivals and workshops at Pianofest in the Hamptons, the Sergei Babayan
International Piano Academy, the Perlman Music Program, and Music Academy of the West
. In 2004 he graduated from the Juilliard School
in New York earning a Bachelor of Music degree. At Juilliard, he studied with Emanuel Ax
.
Weiss was featured in the 2004 Musical America and the March 2004 Symphony Magazine as part of the next generation of great artists in classical music. He has performed with numerous orchestras such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic
, Chicago Symphony, New World Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra
, Cleveland Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic
. He made his New York recital debut at Alice Tully Hall in April 2005. Also in 2005, he made his European debut in a recital at the Musée du Louvre in Paris. In 2005, he toured Israel with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Itzhak Perlman
. He toured the US with the Orchester der Klangverwaltung Munich conducted by Enoch zu Guttenberg
in October 2007. He toured China with the Pittsburgh Symphony in May 2009 (Cultural China).
As a recitalist and chamber musician, Weiss has appeared across the United States at venues and festivals from, among many, the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
to the Seattle Chamber Music Society, to the Carnegie Hall Weill Recital Hall with Itzhak Perlman in a benefit for the Perlman Music Program. He was a member of the Chamber Music Society Two program of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center from 2002–2004, which included his appearance in the opening concert of the Society’s 2002-03 season at Alice Tully Hall with Shai Wosner. In addition, Weiss has performed duo-piano recitals with, among others, Emanuel Ax. Weiss described his preparation for recitals in a 2006 profile in International Piano.
Orion Weiss is married to the pianist Anna Polonsky with whom he performs duo-piano recitals throughout the United States, including Chamber Music Northwest, Seattle Chamber Music Festival, and Camerata Pacifica.
Education
Weiss began his musical studies at the Preucil School of Music in Iowa City, Iowa. When his family moved to Lyndhurst, Ohio, he continued his piano studies with Carol Lubetkin, and later with pianist and composer Edith Reed. He attended the Interlochen Arts Camp between 1991 and 1995, winning the concerto competition each year. Between 1995-2000 he studied with Paul SchenlyPaul Schenly
Paul Schenly is an American classical pianist. He is the head of the piano department at the Cleveland Institute of Music and is the founder and director of the summer music festival in the Hamptons, New York...
, Reinberger Chair in Piano and Head of the Piano Department at the Cleveland Institute of Music
Cleveland Institute of Music
The Cleveland Institute of Music is an independent music conservatory located in the University Circle district of Cleveland, Ohio, United States and is overseen by president Joel Smirnoff and Adrian Daly, dean....
. Also during these years he attended summer music festivals and workshops at Pianofest in the Hamptons, the Sergei Babayan
Sergei Babayan
Sergei Babayan is an Armenian-American concert pianist.-Biography:Babayan began his musical studies at age six with Luisa Markaryan. He studied under Lev Naumov and at the Moscow Conservatory under Vera Gornostayeva and Mikhail Pletnev. In 1989 Babayan travelled to the United States...
International Piano Academy, the Perlman Music Program, and Music Academy of the West
Music Academy of the West
The Music Academy of the West is a music conservatory located in Montecito, California near Santa Barbara, California. Every year, it hosts a summer music festival for the community highlighted by concerts and workshops directed by famous composers, conductors, and artists.A yearly maximum of 135...
. In 2004 he graduated from the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
in New York earning a Bachelor of Music degree. At Juilliard, he studied with Emanuel Ax
Emanuel Ax
Emanuel Ax is a Grammy-winning American classical pianist. He is currently a teacher on the faculty of the Juilliard School. He is considered one of the best known concert pianists of the 21st century.-Early life:...
.
Career
In February 1999, Weiss made his Cleveland Orchestra debut performing Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1. In March 1999, with less than 24 hours’ notice, Weiss stepped in to replace André Watts for a performance of Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. He was immediately invited to return to the Orchestra for a performance of the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto in October 1999.Weiss was featured in the 2004 Musical America and the March 2004 Symphony Magazine as part of the next generation of great artists in classical music. He has performed with numerous orchestras such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
, Chicago Symphony, New World Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
, Cleveland Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
. He made his New York recital debut at Alice Tully Hall in April 2005. Also in 2005, he made his European debut in a recital at the Musée du Louvre in Paris. In 2005, he toured Israel with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Itzhak Perlman
Itzhak Perlman
Itzhak Perlman is an Israeli-born violinist, conductor, and instructor of master classes. He is regarded as one of the pre-eminent violinists of the 20th and early-21st centuries.-Early life:...
. He toured the US with the Orchester der Klangverwaltung Munich conducted by Enoch zu Guttenberg
Enoch zu Guttenberg
Georg Enoch Robert Prosper Philipp Franz Karl Theodor Maria Heinrich Johannes Luitpold Hartmann Gundeloh Freiherr von und zu Guttenberg , known as Enoch zu Guttenberg, is a German conductor...
in October 2007. He toured China with the Pittsburgh Symphony in May 2009 (Cultural China).
As a recitalist and chamber musician, Weiss has appeared across the United States at venues and festivals from, among many, the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is a complex of buildings in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of New York City's Upper West Side. Reynold Levy has been its president since 2002.-History and facilities:...
to the Seattle Chamber Music Society, to the Carnegie Hall Weill Recital Hall with Itzhak Perlman in a benefit for the Perlman Music Program. He was a member of the Chamber Music Society Two program of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center from 2002–2004, which included his appearance in the opening concert of the Society’s 2002-03 season at Alice Tully Hall with Shai Wosner. In addition, Weiss has performed duo-piano recitals with, among others, Emanuel Ax. Weiss described his preparation for recitals in a 2006 profile in International Piano.
Orion Weiss is married to the pianist Anna Polonsky with whom he performs duo-piano recitals throughout the United States, including Chamber Music Northwest, Seattle Chamber Music Festival, and Camerata Pacifica.
Awards and recognitions
- 1999 Gilmore Young Artist Award
- 2001 Mieczyslaw Munz Award at the Juilliard School
- 2002 Avery Fisher Career Grant
- 2002, 2003 Gina Bachauer Scholarship at the Juilliard School
- 2005 Juilliard William Petschek Award
Recordings
- Works for piano and cello by Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, Schumann with cellist Julie Albers (Artek Records, 2005), Artek AR-0022-2
- J.S. Bach, Scriabin, Mozart, Carter (Yarlung Records, 2008), Audiophile digital recording