Noted Bay Area native and Cliburn Gold Medal winner Jon Nakamatsu headlines the opening concert for Steinway Society - The Bay Area’s 25th Anniversary Season. The concert, to be held September 21 at 7:30 pm. at McAfee Performing Arts Center in Saratoga, is also the inaugural performance of the annual Frieda Ann Murphy Memorial Concert Sponsored by MTAC, Santa Clara County Branch.
Frieda Ann Murphy was a native Californian who was an accomplished concert organist, as well as a member of PEO, the American Guild of Organists, and of the Music Teachers Association of California (MTAC). The MTAC Santa Clara Branch has established this annual concert in her memory.
“We are so thrilled to have the Bay Area’s own Jon Nakamatsu as the featured performer for this new concert series,” said Kathy You Wilson, president of Steinway Society – The Bay Area. “Ever since Jon was awarded the Gold Medal at the Tenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 1997, classical music lovers in Silicon Valley have been among his most ardent fans. It’s only fitting that the inaugural concert honoring our beloved colleague Frieda Ann Murphy will feature ‘our own’ internationally acclaimed artist.”
A San Jose native, Jon Nakamatsu graduated from Stanford University. He has performed widely in North and South America, Europe, and the Far East, including appearances at New York's Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center, and in Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Paris, London, and Milan.
“Nakamatsu evinced brilliant musicianship. His tone and articulation sparkled and shimmered, while his use of dynamics and energy brought out the lifeblood of each and every phrase.”
– Daniel J. Kusher, The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle