CayMusicA’s Annual Cayman Piano Festival starts on 2 October and showcases local and international talent

Piano music lovers are in for a real treat as CayMusicA hosts its fourth annual Cayman Piano Festival from 2 to 11 Oct.

The festival will feature four piano concerts that showcase both local and international talent. 

The series starts Thursday 2 Oct. with a recital by Marlon Cortes, a rising star in CayMusicA – which rebranded from Cayman Arts earlier this month. Cortes, who is a student at the University College of the Cayman Islands, studies piano with Glen Inanga and will perform a variety of Cuban pieces, including Manuel Saumell’s ‘Contradanzas’ and Ignacio Cervante’s ‘Danzas Cubanas’ for Four Hands (with special guest pianist Ydelkys Mayola, who also happens to be his mother).

Co-Founder of CayMusicA and Creative Director Glen Inanga said, “Marlon is an exemplary student and musician, and I’m proud that he’s undertaking his first full recital in CayMusicA. I’m also delighted that we have our international performers here. The varied repertoire and each pianist’s interpretations will make for a very special festival.”

Three internationally acclaimed pianists will follow.  Arturo Pizzaro, who has been honoured by his native Portugal with several cultural awards, will play on Saturday, 4 Oct.  His programme includes compositions by Frederic Chopin, Gabriel Faure and Claude Debussy.

Konstantin Lifschitz, a Ukrainian-born pianist who is internationally celebrated for his poetic and virtuosic artistry, will perform on Thursday, 9 Oct. The programme will include works by Johann Sebastian Bach and Robert Schumann. 

Tamami Honma, who enjoys an acclaimed international career, will round off the festival on Saturday, 11 Oct. with works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Maurice Ravel. 

All four of the Cayman Piano Festival concerts will be held at the George Town Public Library – the permanent home of CayMusicA’s Shigeru Kawai grand piano – and will run from 6:00 – 7:00 pm each evening. Attendees of either Thursday evening concert can enjoy a special promotion at Casanova’s By the Sea restaurant after the show and get 20% off the regular menu prices.

Marius Gaina, Executive Director of CayMusicA, says, “A hallmark of the festival is the engagement of visiting artists with the community. Visiting pianists will also lead masterclasses in local schools, sharing their artistry and insights while inspiring the next generation of musicians.”

For tickets, visit caymanartsfestival.com, email enquires@caymanartsfestival.com  or call 922-5550.