Internationally Acclaimed Pianists Perform at Diplomat Middle School

CAPE CORAL, Fla. - March 28, 2025 - PRLog -- Students of Diplomat Middle School had a rare opportunity to hear internationally acclaimed pianists Andreas Kern and Paul Cibis Tuesday, March 25, when the duo performed a private concert for the students in the school auditorium.

The concert was provided courtesy of the Fort Myers Community Concert Association as part of its outreach program for Lee County public school students.

"We provide seats for each of our concerts at no cost to students in Lee County public schools, but we realize that not all students have the ability to get to our weeknight performances.  To expose as many young people as possible to classical music, our Board of Directors decided to take some of our concerts to the students," said Community Concert Association President Mary Lee Mann.

The musicians performed for about an hour and answered questions from students interested in the arts and music.

Mann said the Community Concert Association Board of Directors chose Kern and Cibis for its school outreach because "they have been so well received by other communities and we thought they would be perfect for our student outreach program."

The school performance preceded the duos' performance that night at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall

Born in South Africa, Kern has extensive experience as a soloist and chamber musician in Europe, Canada, Hong Kong, China, Japan, India and South Africa.  He created the critically acclaimed "arte lounge" for the French-German TV channel Arte and served as its co-host. He also was the architect of the Piano City Berlin Festival in 2010, which featured more than 100 piano performances within one weekend.  Kern recorded an album of original piano creations in 2014.

Cibis has performed at international festivals in the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, South Africa, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand.   In addition to his many concert performances, he has been featured in radio and television programs around the world.  Cibis has released several albums, including a collection of French melodies and piano works.  He also has taught at Trinity College of Music in London and frequently gives master classes in Germany, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea.

About the Fort Myers Community Concert Association

The Fort Myers Community Concert Association, now in its 75th concert season, is an all-volunteer not-for-profit organization founded by the legendary Barbara B. Mann in 1949 to bring world-class entertainment to Southwest Florida at affordable prices.  The association consists of more than 1,200 members, underwriters and sponsors.  For membership information, visit www.fortmyerscommunityconcerts.org