Wassermann Piano Series Brings Acclaimed Pianist Garrick Ohlsson to USU

LOGAN, Utah — The Wassermann Piano series will bring Grammy Award-winning concert pianist Garrick Ohlsson to Utah State University.

The concert will be at 7:30 p.m. March 31 in USU’s Russell/Wanlass Performance Hall. Ohlsson, one of the world’s leading authorities on the music of Frédéric Chopin, will present an all-Chopin recital featuring some of the most dramatic and heartfelt works ever written for the piano.

Since winning the 1970 Chopin International Piano Competition, Ohlsson has established himself worldwide as a musician of magisterial interpretive and technical prowess. Although long regarded as one of the world’s leading exponents of the music of Chopin, Ohlsson commands an enormous repertoire, which ranges over the entire piano literature.

A student of the late Claudio Arrau, Ohlsson has come to be noted for his masterly performances of the works of Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert, as well as the Romantic repertoire. To date he has at his command more than 80 concertos, ranging from Haydn and Mozart to works of the 21st century.

For the first time in its history, last year the Chopin Competition invited an American to chair the jury, and Ohlsson assumed that role for the 19th incarnation in October.

The Wassermann Piano Series has long been one of the most high-profile concert series in Utah, drawing piano enthusiasts from the entire Western region. The series honors the late Irving Wassermann, who founded the piano program at Utah State University.

The annual series has brought acclaimed soloists such as Krystian Zimerman, Sergey Babayan, Daniil Trifonov, the Brad Mehldau Trio, Stephen Hough, Marc-André Hamelin and Nikolai Lugansky to USU, letting students and local community members hear world-class performances at a very low cost.

In addition to their performances, Wassermann guest artists offer a free masterclass where USU students work closely with the artists in front of an audience. This highlights the late Irving Wassermann's commitment to maximizing the educational impact these artists have on aspiring music students.

The masterclasses expose students to different philosophies on music, practical advice on technique, injury prevention and how to read music effectively.

Tickets are available online or at the Fine Arts Box Office located in the Daryl Chase Fine Arts Center. Tickets for this event are free for USU students, $35 for general admission, and $15 for youth under 18. For more information, visit the event website or call the box office at (435) 797-8022.