Featuring Pianist Ralph Votapek
SAMS invites you to join them Sunday, April 8, 2018 at 3:00pm in the Chapel of the Christ at Martin Luther College (1995 Luther Ct), New Ulm, Minnesota. The performance features the pianist Ralph Votapek.
Ralph Votapek’s early triumphs — as winner of the prestigious Naumburg Award and gold Medalist in the first Van Cliburn International Piano Competition — were an auspicious prelude to an even more remarkable career.
Mr. Votapek has made literally hundreds of appearances with major American orchestras. Featured no less than sixteen times as the Chicago Symphony’s guest soloist, Votapek has frequently played with the Boston Pops, also concertizing with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Pittsburgh Symphony, the San Francisco Symphony, National Symphony, and leading orchestras in St. Louis, Houston Dallas, Louisville and elsewhere.
With concerto appearances abroad ranging through London, Lisbon, St. Petersburg and into the Far East, Mr. Votapek has made a special commitment to Latin America, where he has toured every other year for more than 42 years, performing in Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Asuncion, Montevideo, Sao Paolo, Lima, Caracas, Santiago and numerous smaller cities. Mr. Votapek is equally celebrated as a solo recitalist throughout four continents: in New York alone, he has performed repeatedly at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Guest appearances with the Juilliard, Fine Arts, New World and Chester String Quartets are highlights of his extensive chamber music experience.
Born in Milwaukee, Mr. Votapek began his musical education at age nine, when he enrolled in the Wisconsin Conservatory. Continuing his studies at Northwestern University, he subsequently attended the Manhattan School of Music and The Juilliard School, where his principal teachers were Rosina Lhevinne and Robert Goldsand. He has served as Artist-in-Residence at Michigan State University where he is currently Professor Emeritus of Piano at the College of Music.
In 2013 Mr. Votapek was awarded best foreign artist in recital by the Association of Argentine Music Critics. In May 2016 he returned to South America for the 25th time celebrating the 50th anniversary of his first tour there.
Admission: $13 adults, $35 three-concert pass, $5 students and children
Tickets: online at Eventbrite.com or at the door on the day of the concert. For more information, visit www.summitavenuemusic.com
