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General | | Biography: | PIANIST STEPHEN WILBER has been hailed for the “freshness and refinement” of his playing and for his “force, imagination, feelings, and lyricism” (Editia de Arad, Romania).
In 1999, Mr. Wilber won first prize in the Pro Mozart competition and second prize in the American Liszt Society competition; he was a semifinalist in the Concert Artist Guild auditions. He made his orchestral debut with members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in the same year, performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto no. 26 in D major (Coronation). Recent appearances have included recitals and solo performances with orchestras in Saratov, Russia; Arad, Romania; Tallinn, Estonia; Leysin, Switzerland; as well as Honolulu, Atlanta and New York City (Merkin Hall). He has been a guest artist in the Music Festival of the Hamptons; Music at Grey Towers, Milford, PA; and the Shandelee Music Festival in New York City. A recent showcase recital for the Embassy Concerts in Washington, DC, resulted in the following review: “It was a thrilling experience to hear Stephen Wilber in recital…His thoroughly engaging artistry is dynamic, passionate and absorbing…He has a superb articulation and pianistic touch that lends much coloring to his playing. His communication with the audience is truly enchanting.”
His debut recording, Overture, has been praised for its “purity of style, deeply internalized concepts and sense of drama.” An enthusiastic review of a recent recital in Tallinn, Estonia, read: “BRAVO to American pianist Stephen Wilber for a performance of Beethoven sonatas, Schumann and Chopin that was inspirational, full of poetry and flexibility and psychologically dynamic…an amazing sense of sound.”
Mr. Wilber’s appearances in 2004 included Leysin and Flims in Switzerland, Tallinn, Estonia and Rome. He ended the year performing with the Festival Orchestra of Zurich, Switzerland, under the baton of conductor Vincent de Kort. He received the following reviews: "Stephen Wilber … captivated with his playing of the Beethoven 2nd Piano Concerto with an outstanding interpretation of the work…Wilber dazzled with subtle yet forceful and refreshing playing. The audience was enthusiastic and was treated to an encore of a virtuoso playing of the Liszt Rhapsody … (Arena Flims) Another review noted: "BRILLIANT GALA CONCERT - The soloist was AMERICAN STEPHEN WILBER who is known for his ‘freshness and refinement of playing’ which he fully lived up to … His interpretation of the Beethoven work landed him thunderous applause and shouts of bravo to which he responded with a sparkling solo encore of the Liszt Rhapsody. (Bundner Taglatt)
Mr. Wilber's appearances in 2005 will include performances in cities throughout Switzerland, Germany and the United States.
A graduate of Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Mr. Wilber also studied at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. He holds a master’s degree from the Peabody Institute and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Maryland. Teachers have included Larissa Dedova, Gregory Sioles, Robert Weirich, Frances Walker, Miles Mauney and Charles Beno.
Stephen Wilber has managed to combine a successful career as a classical pianist with achievements in competitive sports, playing wide receiver for the Washington Chiefs, a semi-professional football team, in 1998-99.
He lives and teaches in Rockville, MD, and has given master classes in Honolulu, at the Saratov Pedagogical Institute and Conservatory, and at the American School in Leysin.
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