Six Concert Pianists Join Forces at Aloha International Piano Festival Finale

June 4, 2012 - PRLog -- The Aloha International Piano Festival (AIPF) today announced that world-renowned concert pianists Jon Nakamatsu, Kevin Kenner, Sara Davis Buechner,  John Bayless, Noriko Uenaka and Lisa Nakamichi will join forces for a humor-packed Festival Finale concert on on Saturday, June 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the Hawaii Convention Center. This "monster" ensemble will feature works by one, two, three, and four piano ensembles – and offer local audiences the unprecedented opportunity to see six AIPF guest artists in one fun-loving concert that promises to have everyone laughing.

The AIPF Finale program includes Weber’s Invitation to the Dance for 2 pianos/8 hands, Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries for 4 pianos/16 hands, Gershwin’s American in Paris for 2 pianos/4 hands, and The Stars and Stripes Forever for 4 pianos/24 hands. AIPF guest artists will also welcome Honolulu’s own Mark Wong and local young pianist Evan Lin to the AIPF stage. Tickets are $25 or $10 for students and are on sale now at http://www.alohapianofestival.com.  For the latest news, Like AIPF on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AlohaPianoFestival.

“The Finale Concert of the Aloha International Piano Festival is a veritable explosion of delight for the piano lover!” said Sara Davis Buechner. “We'll be having a grand piano extravaganza in the best and most time-tested of ways, featuring all of our Festival artists on combinations, using one, two, three and four pianos. With music by John Bayless, Robert Schumann, Franz Schubert, Carl Maria von Weber, Richard Wagner, Camille Saint-Säens, George Gershwin, and culminating in ‘The Stars and Stripes Forever’ with bells, whistles, cannon fire and fireworks over Waikiki. Well, not the last part!”

“And look at that line-up of pianists. AIPF's founder-director Lisa Nakamichi, Van Cliburn winner Jon Nakamatsu, Chopin Competition winner Kevin Kenner, beloved American pianist John Bayless, Honolulu's own Mark Wong and Evan Lin,” continued Buechner. “Returning to the AIPF stage are Noriko Uenaka and Kayoko Segawa from Japan. Making their AIPF debut, special scholarship winner from Japan, Misora Ozaki, and former Hawaii resident, Dan Sato. And serving as guest emcee of the event, pianist-conductor Sara Davis Buechner, whom many of you remember as the High Jump Champion of last year's Pianomania Fest. Think of this year's finale as last year's finale on steroids!”

The 2011 Festival Finale was a sold-out event. Concertgoers are encouraged to purchase their tickets online to avoid being disappointed at the door!

Opening on June 16 at the Hawaii Convention Center, the 2012 Aloha International Piano Festival features critically-acclaimed pianists Kevin Kenner, Jon Nakamatsu, Sara Davis Buechner, Lisa Nakamichi and Noriko Uenaka, as well as pianist/composer John Bayless and violinist Ignace "Iggy" Jang. The seventh annual weeklong festival features an evening concert series, two piano competitions, free events, classes and workshops for students and music teachers, an Amateur program for adult pianist and a Piano Academy for selected young pianists. Visit www.alohapianofestival.com to learn more.

About the Aloha International Piano Festival
Founded in 2006 by pianist Lisa Nakamichi, the Aloha International Piano Festival (AIPF) is a non-profit organization committed to educating Hawaii’s children and teachers. AIPF addresses three main needs: the need for music teacher training, the need for low-cost music concerts and music education opportunities, and the need for high-caliber classes and lessons for piano students. AIPF strives to elevate the awareness of classical music in Hawaii while offering people of all ages the opportunity to experience music in a welcoming and educational setting. As a result of volunteer efforts and work to minimize administrative costs, AIPF has consistently offered programs at low and affordable rates for more than five years. Visit www.alohapianofestival.com for more information and Follow AIPF on Facebook.