When was the last time you got to witness the first steps of an international star in the making? Even more amazingly, one who was trained by the award-winning masters right here at the Park International Center for Music in Metro Kansas City! Join us for a performance celebrating our own Kenny Broberg’s Silver Medal in the 2017 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.
A native of Minneapolis, now 24-year-old pianist Kenny Broberg won the silver medal at the Fifteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition for performances that showed “an imaginative shaping of themes, revelation of inner voices, and an unfailing sense of momentum” (Texas Classical Review).
His 2017–2018 debut season as Cliburn medalist will include a recital tour in Hawaii, Texas Music Festival, and orchestra and recital engagements in Denver, New Orleans, West Palm Beach, and other cities across the United States. In Europe, Mr. Broberg appears with the Rye Arts Festival and Hastings Philharmonic in the United Kingdom, and in recital in Italy. His debut solo album was released by Decca Gold in August, as part of his Competition prizes.
Also a prizewinner of the Hastings, Sydney, Seattle, and New Orleans International Piano Competitions, Mr. Broberg has previously performed as soloist with the Royal Philharmonic, Minnesota, Sydney Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Dallas Chamber, Fort Worth Symphony, and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestras, among others, working with conductors Ludovic Morlot, Carlos Miguel Prieto, Leonard Slatkin, Nichola Milton, and Nicholas McGegan. His solo, chamber, and concerto performances have been broadcast on NPR and ABC (Australia) radio, and several of his performances at the 2016 Sydney International Piano Competition were included on CDs released on the Universal Music Australia label.
The first musician in his family, Mr. Broberg started piano lessons at age 6, when he was first fascinated by his mother’s upright—a wedding gift from her parents. He studied for nine years with Dr. Joseph Zins before entering the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree with Nancy Weems in 2016. He currently resides in Parkville, Missouri, under the guidance of 2001 Cliburn Gold Medalist Stanislav Ioudenitch at Park International Center for Music.
Kenny played hockey and baseball in high school. He still enjoys watching and playing sports, in addition to listening to jazz and reading.
Join us and be a part of history in the making as Kenny recreates parts of his award-winning performance at the beautiful Folly Theater.