Leon Fleisher, piano

Legendary pianist Leon Fleisher represents the highest standard of musicianship and, at 90 years young, he continues to impart his life-affirming artistry throughout the world, thriving in a sustained career as conductor and soloist, recitalist, chamber music artist, and master class mentor. Recent engagements include performances and master classes in Switzerland (master classes at the University and a recital at the Lucerne Festival), Germany (as conductor/soloist of the Bamberg Symphony and playing chamber music at the Tonhalle in Duesseldorf)), Brazil (Ravel Concerto with the Philharmonic Orchestra in Belo Horizonte and  Rio de Janeiro), and France (master classes in Strasbourg), conducting in Taiwan and Japan, and performing in halls across the United States. A recipient of numerous honors and awards, Mr. Fleisher received the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors in 2007. In 2006, he was the subject of the 2006 Oscar and Emmy-nominated documentary film Two Hands. His memoir, My Nine Lives: A Memoir of Many Careers in Music, which he co-wrote with Washington Post music critic Anne Midgette, is published by Doubleday. Most recently, Baltimore philanthropists Robert E. Meyerhoff and Rheda Becker established the Leon Fleisher Scholars Fund for piano students at the Peabody Conservatory, an endowment of over $1,000,000.