Gershwin

Norman Krieger, piano

A native of Los Angeles, NORMAN KRIEGER is one of the most acclaimed pianists of his generation, highly regarded as an artist of depth, sensitivity and virtuosic flair.

Norman Krieger regularly appears with the major orchestras of North America, among them the New York, Los Angeles, Buffalo, Dayton and Hamilton Philharmonics, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Boston Pops Orchestra and the Baltimore, California, Chicago, Cincinnati, Florida, Hartford, Honolulu, Kansas City, Milwaukee, National, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pittsburgh, Richmond, Saint Louis, San Antonio, San Diego and Syracuse Symphony Orchestras. He has also been heard as guest soloist with the Hong Kong Philharmonic, Prague's Czech National Symphony Orchestra, Turkey's Presidential Symphony Orchestra, New Zealand's Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and Taiwan's National Symphony Orchestra. In recital, he has been heard throughout the United States, Europe, Mexico and Asia, while chamber music collaborations have included appearances with soprano Sheri Greenawald, violinist Livia Sohn, cellist Jian Wang and the Tokyo and Manhattan String Quartets. In the summer of 1994, Mr. Krieger made his debut at New York City's prestigious Mostly Mozart Festival, earning an immediate invitation to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts' 1995-96 "Great Performers Series."

Norman Krieger's current season is highlighted by his debuts with Germany's Philharmonisches Orchster Augsburg, Holland's Orkest van het Oostenaand a return to Mexico's Orquesta Sinfónica de Xalapa. In the United States, he appears as guest soloist with the symphony orchestras of California, Canton, Grand Rapids, Jacksonville, North Carolina, Richmond, San Juan, Santa Fe and Southeast Texas as well as the Greeley and Tennessee Philharmonics.

In 1987, Norman Krieger made headlines by being named the Gold Medal Winner of the first Palm Beach Invitational Piano Competition. Earlier, in 1984, he was selected to join the distinguished roster of Affiliate Artists, where he participated in the Xerox Pianists Program from 1984 to 1986. Mr. Krieger is also the recipient of the Paderewski Foundation Award, the Bruce Hungerford Memorial Prize, the Victor Herbert Memorial Prize, the Buffalo Philharmonic Young Artists Competition Prize and the Saint Louis Symphony Prize.

Norman Krieger's training began in Los Angeles under the tutelage of Esther Lipton. At the age of 15, he became a full scholarship student of Adele Marcus at the famed Juilliard School, from which he received both Bachelor's and Master's degrees. Subsequently, he studied with Alfred Brendel and Maria Curcio in London, and was awarded an Artists Diploma from the New England Conservatory, where he worked with Russell Sherman.

A champion of contemporary music, Norman Krieger features the music of John Adams, Leonard Bernstein, John Corigliano, Daniel Brewbaker, Judith St. Croix, Lukas Foss and Lowell Liebermann among his active repertoire.

Norman Krieger's recordings include four albums available on the Artisie 4 label: "Norman Krieger Piano Recital," with music by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and Chopin; "American Piano Concertos," featuring works by MacDowell and David Wiley with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Mr. Wiley; "Raising the Roof," an album of chamber music by Haydn, Bloch, Bruch and Martinu; "The Prince Albert Chamber Music Festival," including works by Barber, Beethoven, Bizet, Chopin, Schubert and Tchaikovsky. Other releases include the two Brahms concerti with the Orchestre Symphonique Francais on the Beaufour label, an all-Gershwin album on Stradivari Classics and "Summerdays," music of Barber, Berg, Bernstein, Gershwin, Glazunov, Lehar and Mozart, from the Musical Masterworks Festival at Old Lyme, featuring Mr. Krieger and additional artists on Well-Tempered.

Norman Krieger is the founding Artistic Director of The Prince Albert Music Festival in Hawaii. In the spring of 1997, he was appointed Associate Professor of the distinguished faculty of the University of Southern California.

Denisha Ballew, soprano

Denisha Ballew, soprano is ready to take the Opera World by Storm! The young lyric soprano made her Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Debut, premiering Joseph Baber’s River of Time singing Eliza within the “Our Lincoln” production with Dr. Everett McCorvey and the UK Opera Theatre. Denisha received her Bachelors of Music Performance at the University of Kentucky where she is a native. Along with her Kennedy Center debut, Ms. Ballew has performed in several UK Opera Theatre productions: Stars of Tomorrow Opera Gala: Carmen (Frasquita), Puccini’s Suor Angelica and Madame Butterfly, Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, and Verdi’s La Traviata. 

Denisha was a highlight in the American Spiritual Ensemble’s Solo Spain Tour in 2006&2008. Recently Denisha attended the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. There she had the privilege to work with renowned artists such as: Michele Crider, Gabrielle Lechner, and Andrea Huber. In addition to various masterclasses and recitals Denisha performed in the Italian Opera Concert one of Mozart’s famous duets “La ci darem la mano” from Don Giovanni under the baton of Maestro Eduardo Muller.  

Ms. Ballew will be completing her Masters degree at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where she studies with soprano Marjorie Bennett Stephens. Within her studies at Tennessee Denisha has performed Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi as Ciesca, Tituba in Richard Ward’s The Crucible and Zerlina in Mozart’s Don Giovanni. Denisha Ballew was a competitor in the NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) competition where she has been a finalist 2008-2009. Moreover, the ambitious soprano was the featured soloist in the First Annual “Knoxville Opera Goes to Church” Concert where she performed pieces from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, and Bernstein’s Candide Finale, “Make Our Garden Grow”. Denisha Ballew, enthused and determined soprano looks forward to embarking upon her personal journey of music so that she may share her love for the art with the world!  

Michael Rodgers, bass baritone

Michael Rodgers was born in Williamsburg VA. While in VA Michael sang for church functions, in school choirs and has given many private recitals in local halls in Williamsburg. He was a standout singer from an early age. He sang with the Troubadours’ at Bruton High School where he also won several scholarships to attend college. He participated in Honors Choirs and was also awarded the Most Outstanding Young Musician Award from the local organization. This catapulted him into the spotlight where he was asked to attend the National convention of the NAACP where Ruth B. Stokes the choir director at Knoxville College approached him. Mrs. Stokes appreciated his voice so much that she asked him to come to Knoxville College and study voice. Michael jumped at the chance to study at Knoxville College. After his arrival in Knoxville, Michael began to sing for concerts at the college and travel with the well-known choir on their choir tours across the United States and Europe. Michael graduated from Knoxville College in May 1993 with his B/A in Vocal performance he was then asked by George Bitzas to work on his graduate studies at the University of TN, Knoxville. Michael began to freelance and accept positions for higher and began singing at many different venues in Knoxville and around the region. Mr. Rodgers also in 1993, joined the Knoxville Opera Company where he has been cast in several comprimaro roles and has performed with the magnificent opera chorus. He sings with several different companies and has worked under the tutelage of several different directors and conductors who can all attest to his large but controlled musical instrument. Mr. Rodgers currently serves as a soloist with Cokesbury and Christ United Methodist Churches. He also teaches students with special needs for the Knox County School System. Michael now serves on the Board of Directors with the Knoxville Opera Company and chairs their education committee.

Discounts up to 20% are available for groups of 10 or more!  To bring your group to a KSO performance call Lusada at 865-521-2337.