One of the more dynamic pianistic talents of the late 20th century, Joshua Pierce enters the 21st at the top of his pianistic talents: From his Solo and Duo-Piano World Premier recordings to his collaboration with composer Daron Hagen, to his being named a Yamaha Artist, Joshua Pierce just keeps on surprising and pleasing both critics and fans alike. Joshua Pierce has been acknowledged as one of today's most versatile, exciting and original pianists. He is renowned as a "thoroughly musical and brilliant interpreter" of the standard repertoire and is widely recognized as an major interpreter of contemporary music. During the course of his career, Joshua Pierce has achieved a reputation as a prolific pianist who has forged his own individual and unique style in with a vast repertoire of music spanning, all eras of piano literature. His technical mastery has afforded him the ability to move easily from the concerti of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, to the big works of Brahms; Liszt, Tchaikowsky, Rachmaninov, to the provoking sounds of John Cage, Charles Ives, Ivan Wyschnegradsky, Harry Partch, Teo Macero, Karl Stockhausen, La Monte Young, Toru Takemitsu, Swen Sandstrom, Maurice Ohana, Ben Weber, Sofia Gubidulina and many others. His impressive array of reviews speak loudly as to his tremendous ability: "Joshua Pierce possesses an arsenal of pianistic talents that can astonish the ear and instruct the mind." (Robert D. Cummings, Classical Net).

Mr. Pierce grew up in New York City, studying at the Juilliard School of Music, pre-College Division where for seven years, he was the recipient of the Heckscher Foundation Award, the Manhattan School of Music, and Columbia University. He also studied at the Cleveland Institute where he received the Victor Babin Award. Many more awards would follow during his accomplished career. His principal teacher and mentor has been Dorothy Taubman; he also did extensive chamber music work with Joseph Seiger and Artur Balsam.

Mr. Pierce has performed internationally as solo recitalist, in chamber music performances, with Russia's famed Leontovich String Quartet, as well as an astounding array of orchestras and on an equally impressive array of broadcast services. He has given historical performances of works by Charles Ives and John Cage in Russia where he received outstanding reviews and critical audience acclaim. Pierce's 2003 world premiere performances of Michael Harrison's "Revelation" absolutely stunned and floored audiences in New York. His performances of April 25 and 26 and May 2 were sold out and greeted with standing ovations. Alan Kozinn of The New York Times described Joshua Pierce as an "eloquent new-music pianist."

Mr. Pierce commands a vast repertoire and has played with many prestigious orchestras including, to name a few, the Royal Philharmonic, London Philharmonia, Luxembourg Radio Symphony, Chicago Sinfonietta, Utah Symphony, Missouri Chamber Orchestra, San Antonio Symphony, Mexico City Philharmonic, Jalisco Philharmonic of Guadalajara, Berlin Radio Symphony, Czech National Symphony Orchestra, RTV Orchestra Slovenija, Slovak Philharmonic, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra of Bratislava, State Philharmonic Orchestra Kosice, the National Symphony Orchestra of Polish Radio and Television, Moscow State Philharmonic, and the State Symphony Orchestra of Russia at Tchaikovsky Hall (Moscow) where he made a highly successful 1993 debut performing Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1 in Eb Major.

In broadcast, Mr. Pierce has been heard on NPR nationally, PRI International, in New York on WQXR-FM, WNYC-FM, WFMT/Chicago, Morning Pro Musica on WGBH/Boston, plus Netherlands Radio, Radio Luxembourg, Russia's Radio 'VOLGA', Radio 'PULS', Radio 'RUSSIA' and Radio 'BIM'/Kazan, Republic of Tartarstan, Slovak Television (Stv2), Zurich Radio, Bergen Radio, BBC London, French and German ArteTelevision as well as MBC Radio and Television of South Korea. He has been heard on such nationally syndicated programs as John Shafer's new Sounds, George Jellinek's First Hearing, Peter Schickele's Schickele Mix, National Public Radio's All Things Considered and David Dubal's American Century and Reflections From The Keyboard.

Mr. Pierce's November 2001 concerts in Bratislava, Slovak Republic, produced the first simulcast performaces in Europe of George Gerswhin's complete and restored Rhapsody in Blue and the Concerto in F for the EBU via Radio Slovenska. The concert was simulcast in 19 countries throughout Europe. On November 22, under the auspices of Slovak Television (STV-1), Mr. Pierce taped a spectacular performance of the complete and restored Rhapsody in Blue. During the previous year, Mr. Pierce began his collaboration with composer Daron Hagan, on a new Concerto for Piano and Orchestra to be premiered during the 2003-2004 season and will be performed with a consortium of orchestras at various venues throughout the United States and Europe.

A highly prolific recording artist, Mr. Pierce has recorded over 40 solo concertos including works by Tchaikowsky, Kchaturian, Rachmaninov, Prokofieff as well as the complete piano concertos of Beethoven, Brahms, and Liszt. Other recordings include works by Hummel, Czerny, Reinecke, Weber, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Franck, Strauss, Casella, Respighi, Gershwin and Ellington. Other solo works to be released are the complete Impromtus, Moments Musicaux, the Sonata in Bb major D.960, Huttenbrenner Variations D. 576 and various other piano works by Franz Schubert.

His 20-year association and work with the late pioneering innovator-composer. John Cage, is legendary. Mr. Pierce's landmark series of recordings of John Cage's keyboard music for the German label Wergo: John Cage, Works for Piano and Prepared Piano Volumes I, II, III, IV and Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano have received many prizes, much critical acclaim and in 1991 won the Prieses Der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik. Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano (Mr. Pierce collaborated with both John Cage and the work's dedicatee, pianist Maro Ajemian in preparation of this landmark recording) of which, David Hurwitz stated: "... Joshua Pierce is the greatest living exponent of Sonatas and Interludes" and Etude Revue, Paris, France said: "Pierce's interpretation is a mixture of virtuosity, strength, poetry and beautiful harmonies"; Alan Rich of the Los Angeles Herald Examiner: "Joshua Pierce plays the music of Cage as imaginatively as its most famous exponent, David Tudor did on records years ago." Other releases of Cage's works are Between the Keys/Sony Classics and "live" recorded performances of John Cage, Charles Ives and Ivan Wyschnegradsky for SoLyd Records/Moscow, Russia titles "Joshua Pierce: Live at the Dom/Alternativa Festival 2000" (SLR 0303). Other recently released solo albums are: "For the Fun Of It All" for Kleos Classics (KL-5124) and "Baccalaureat 2003" for EMI Classics (562111). Ants Records of Rome, Italy has issued a spectacular Double CD in Tribute to John Cage with the American Tenor Robert White, titled John Cage, A Tribute (AG06).

In May 2000, Mr. Pierce made music history by becoming the first pianist ever to perform John Cage's Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano, Daughters of the Lonesome Isle ("Under Pierce's command, his playing gave evidence to his performance of 'staggering timbre of palate' revealing tremendous finds in the musical compositions of the last 50 years." - Natalie Charemmikh/Newspaper: Republic of Tartarstan) and the Three Page Sonata by Charles Ives at the Alternitivo Festival of Contemporary Music 2000 in Moscow, Russia and at the 4th ISCM Festival Europe/Asia 2000 in Kazan, Russia to great critical acclaim! He has been heard at the Royal Festival Hall and the Barbican Centre/London; the Reduta/Bratislava; Gran Teatro La Fenice/Yenice, Italy; La Palacia de Bellas Artes/Mexico City; Teatro La Degollado/Guadalajara; Teatro Principal/Lima, Peru; the ISCM Festival at Rote Fabrique in Zurich, Switzerland; Tchaikovsky Moscow Conservatory, Festival "Music of Friends"/Russian Composers Union Music Series/Moscow; and the Futurismo & Futurisimi Festival, Venice, Italy. Other important performances include the International Festival of Contemporary Music in Seattle, WA; Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series, Chicago; the Amherst Music Festival; the Trenton Avant-Garde Festival; Music Mountain Chamber Music 2000 with the Leontovich String Quartet in performances of the Piano Quintet Op. 44 by Robert Schumann; performances with Chamber Players International of the Mozart's Piano Quartet in G minor K. 478, the Concerto for Piano, Violin and String Quartet in D Major, Op. 35 by Ernest Chausson, the 2001 Bergan International Music Festival/Norway; the International Piano Festival 2000 at Williams College, MA; and at SUNY-Purchase; Washington and Lee University; University of Maryland at College Park; University of Pittsburgh; and Bucknell University.

Mr. Pierce continues his association with the American Festival of Microtonal Music, Inc. (AFMM), having been the organization's official pianist and Artistic Advisor. In 1996, Johnny Reinhard brought his realization of Charles Ives' Universe Symphony to Alice Tully Hall with Mr. Pierce as pianist. They have performed together throughout Russia, Europe and the United States since 1983, presenting a wide variety of composers including many important works by John Cage, Harry Partch, Phillip Corner, Charles Ives and Ivan Wyschnegradsky.

Mr. Pierce has served as a judge for several piano competitions including the International Center for Contemporary Opera, International IBLA Competition 2002 and 2003 (Sicily) and has served on the board of the International Fulbright Commission for four years. He has multiple Grammy Award nominations, citations of excellence from such American Publications as Jazzmania (Jazz Alchemy/Best of 2000 Album), Downbeat, Billboard, Cashbox, Fanfare, Turok's Choice, Keyboard Magazine, Heavy Metal, the New Yorker and UK's Classical Music Web.

In addition to the labels already mentioned, Mr. Pierce has recorded for Helicon, Hallmark, Mastersound, MMC, Phoenix, Premier, Pro Arte, Varese Sarabande, Sony Classics, Platinum Entertainment and Carlton Classics.

For further information on Joshua Pierce contact Jeffrey James Arts Consulting
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