United States

Sponsored and Hosted by Drs. Kevin Hall and Josefine Heim-Hall

Twenty-seven-year-old American pianist Rachel Breen’s performances have been described as “truly show-stopping” (Gramophone UK), having “a beautiful piano sound and original detail.” Currently based in Germany, she is a student of the late Lars Vogt at Hannover’s Hochschule für Musik; previously, she completed degrees at Yale University under Boris Slutsky and the Juilliard School under Julian Martin. Breen was self-taught until age 10, when she began lessons with Dr. Sharon Mann at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Breen has enjoyed an active competition career, having been awarded top prizes at Premi Iturbi (2023), the Hans von Bülow International Competition (2023), the Bösendorfer International Competition (2023), the Honens International Piano Competition (2022), Concorso Internazionale Palma D’Oro (2022), the Beethoven International Competition in Vienna (2021), among others. She was selected as the 2021-23 National Federation of Music Clubs’ Young Artist in the U.S. 

She has performed and taught masterclasses throughout North America, Argentina, and Europe, most recently at the Chautauqua Institute, The San Francisco International Piano Festival, Merkin Hall for IKIF, Osimo Piano Hours (Italy), and the Lilacs Series (NYC). She is featured in the podcast “30 Bach” alongside Jeremy Denk, Angela Hewitt, Tim Page, and Simone Dinnerstein in discussion and performance of the “Goldberg Variations.”

Aside from piano, Breen has an interest in languages, having received 1st prize on the National Latin Exam and 3rd prize on the National French Exam. She spends her spare time running, exploring philosophy and visual arts, and forgetting to answer important emails.

https://www.rachelbreenpiano.com/
Facebook (rachelbreenpiano)
Instagram (rachelbreen109)
YouTube (@plvsbpb)

BACH Goldberg Variations

ROUND II

PROKOFIEV March from Love for Three Oranges
KURTAG Prelude and Waltz in C
SCRIABIN Prelude in F Op. 11 No. 23
PROKOFIEV Intermezzo from Cinderella Op. 95 No. 1
BEETHOVEN Bagatelle Op. 126 no. 3
ALBÉNIZ Evocation
CHOPIN Impromptu No. 1 in Ab
BERIO Wasserklavier (1965)
CHOPIN Impromptu No. 2 in F sharp
MEDTNER Fairy Tale Op. 51 No. 5 (1928)
RACHMANINOFF Etude Op. 39 No. 4
DESYATNIKOV Prelude No. 4
LISZT Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6
BARBER After the Concert (1960s)

ROUND III

ERIC TRAN Water (2015)
AARON PRADO El Colibrí y la Cempasúchil (2023)

ROUND IV

BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58