Sanford-Hill Piano Series presents: 2022 Van Cliburn Bronze Medalist Dmytro Choni
We are excited to host the most recent Bronze Medalist from the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano competition (June 2022): Dmytro Choni from Ukraine!
Photo credit: Lisa-Marie Mazzucco
Time and Location
Masterclass event
Concert Program
Sergei Prokofiev (1891–1953)
Sarcasms, op. 17
- Tempestoso
- Allegro rubato
- Allegro precipitato
- Smanioso
- Precipitosissimo
Claude Debussy (1862–1918)
- “Les collines d’Anacapri” from Préludes, Book I
- “Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut” from Images, Book II
- L’isle joyeuse
Alexander Scriabin (1872–1915)
Sonata No. 4 in F-sharp Major, op. 30
- Andante
- Prestissimo volando
Intermission
Stephen Hough (b. 1961)
Fanfare Toccata
Valentin Silvestrov (b. 1937)
Three Bagatelles, op. 1
- Allegretto
- Moderato
- Moderato
Lowell Liebermann (b. 1961)
Gargoyles, op. 29
- Adagio semplice, ma con molto rubato
- Allegro moderato
- Presto feroce
Credits: Mr. Choni appears by arrangement with the Cliburn.
| Date | Time | Venue | Sign up link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performing Arts Center 155 - Concert Hall | Sign up to usher for at |
Tickets
Single tickets
On sale at the box office
- $49 Section A - Center of the front section with view of keyboard. Limited: order soon.
- $39 Section B - Front section left with view of keyboard or pianist.
- $31 Section C - Front and middle areas, good view of pianist.
- $20 Section D - Rear and right seating, some seats may have view of pianist obscured by piano.
Discounts
- All students (K-12 and college): $5 tickets for seats in Section D! Available at the box office in-person only with student ID.
- WWU Piano Students: Sit free in Section B! Available at the box office in-person only with student ID.
- Music Teachers (K-12 and Private): $10 tickets for seats in Section D! Available at the box office in-person, online, or by calling 360-650-6146.
Each time he strode onstage, it was with winning confidence and a big smile. He’s clearly an accomplished, assured ― and communicative — pro.
Dallas Morning News
About Dmytro Choni
Dmytro Choni took home bronze at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in June 2022, only the second Ukrainian pianist to medal at the prestigious contest. He won hearts and accolades with a compelling and colorful musicality that is fortified by a genuine, immediately engaging stage presence. As one critic noted: “Each time he strode onstage, it was with winning confidence and a big smile. He’s clearly an accomplished, assured―and communicative—pro” (Dallas Morning News).
Dmytro’s Cliburn prize builds on an already impressive resume. He has collaborated with renowned orchestras, such as the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Phoenix Symphony, RTVE Symphony, Seongnam Philharmonic, Ukraine National Symphony, Liechtenstein Symphony, and Dominican Republic National Symphony Orchestras, working with conductors Andrew Manze, Marin Alsop, Nicholas McGegan, Oksana Lyniv and others. His performances in major halls and festivals in Europe, Asia, South America, and the United States have made a lasting impression on his musical development.
Highlights from Dmytro’s 2022–2023 inaugural tour as Cliburn medalist include Beethovenfest Bonn, the Duszniki International Chopin Piano Festival (Poland), Salle Cortot (Paris) and Palau de la Música (Barcelona); concertos with the Hamburger Camerata and Silesian Philharmonic; and a recital tour across the United States.
A whirlwind named Dmytro Choni, 28 and from Ukraine, made Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major leap off the page in a stunning display of musical intelligence and keyboard athleticism. Sitting poised and upright, Choni executed feats of gnarly passagework, leaps, and interlocking hands, all the time with the neoclassical Prokofiev of the First Symphony looking over his shoulder, demanding transparent textures and articulation that projected to the back of the hall. And whatever the pianistic hijinks, an unerring sense of direction and line animated every bar.
This is the kind of pianist one wants to hear play variations, and Prokofiev thoughtfully provided a set as the concerto’s second movement. Choni vividly characterized them all, from dreamy to speedy to a sharp - edged (not banged) marcato. In the finale, he flung out chords on a musical line, traced fantastic shapes in a soft interlude, glowed under high - flying strings in the lyrical theme, and finished with a furious crescendo of scales that brought the audience instantly to its feet.
Classical Voice North America
About the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Widely considered one of the preeminent international music contests, the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition exists to share excellent classical music with the largest international audience possible and to launch the careers of its winners every four years. Building on a rich tradition that began with its 1962 origins in honor of Van Cliburn and his vision for using music to serve audiences and break down boundaries, the Cliburn seeks, with each edition, to achieve the highest artistic standards while utilizing contemporary tools to advance its reach. The world’s top 18- to 31-year-old pianists compete for gold in front of a live audience in Fort Worth, Texas, as well as a global online viewership of over 10 million.
In its 60-year history, the Cliburn has identified and ushered a host of exceptional artists to international prominence, including Olga Kern, Vadym Kholodenko, Radu Lupu, Jon Nakamatsu, Beatrice Rana, Yekwon Sunwoo, Joyce Yang, and Haochen Zhang. They have garnered Grammy® nominations, Diapason d’Or de l’Année awards, Gramaphone Awards, Avery Fisher Career Grants, and recognition from BBC Music and Radio, the Borletti-Buitoni Trust, International Piano magazine, and the Leonore Annenberg Fellowship Fund.
Disability Accommodations
For disability accommodations, please contact the department presenting the event. Disability access information is available online at Parking Services, and further resources can be found by contacting Western's Disability Access Center.
