Michelle Cann, Piano

“A masterful player with a commanding presence” (Seen and Heard International), American pianist Michelle Cann has made a name for herself by excavating, championing, and performing under-recognized works by the great composer Florence Price. Last year, Cann became the first African American appointed to the piano faculty at the Curtis Institute of Music, and was also the recipient of the Sphinx Medal of Excellence. She has earned praise for her fascinating programs connecting the music of Black women pianist-composers Price, Hazel Scott, and Margaret Bonds, and here performs her Cal Performances debut recital featuring Price’s formally inventive Piano Sonata in E minor, alongside a haunting 2020 work by Joel Thompson inspired by a James Baldwin essay, plus works by Liszt, Ginastera, and Ravel.

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