Published on
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN (February 3, 2004) - On Tuesday, February 24 at 7:30 p.m. in
Kretschmer Recital Hall of the Aquinas College Art and Music Center, Danny Driver
will perform French Suite no. 2 in c minor by Bach, Intermezzo Op. 118 no. 2 in A
major by Brahms, The Well Transfigured Clavier by Kutnowski, Nine Ings by Cowell,
Prelude for Piano by Harrison and Symphonic Studies Op. 13 by Schumann. This on-campus
performance is being sponsored by one of our friends and patrons, Ernest "Bud" Kretschmer,
and proceeds from the ticket sales will benefit recipients of scholarships that bare
his name. Ticket prices are $10 general admission, $5 seniors, and $3 students with
valid ID. Call (616) 632-3012 for further information.
Driver came to the British public's attention in 2001as winner of both the Royal Overseas League Competition Keyboard Award and BBC Radio 2 Young Musician of the Year. In the same year he gave his debut recital at the internationally renowned Wigmore Hall in London and was broadcast in recital and as concerto soloist with the BBC Concert Orchestra on BBC Radio. Since then he has given critically acclaimed recitals at high profile London venues such as the South Bank Centre (Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room), and Fairfield Hall, Croydon. Among other awards he has received are a fellowship from the Aspen Music Festival and School (1998), the Eric Falk Trust Award (2002) and the Amerada Hess Junior Fellowship at the Royal College of Music (2001).
Driver gained a first class degree in Natural Sciences at Cambridge University before embarking on formal training as a pianist at the Royal College of Music, where he won various student prizes. After graduating with distinction from the class of Professor Irina Zaritskaya he was awarded the Amerada Hess Junior Fellowship by the College, enabling him to complete his studies privately with Maria Curcio. To date he continues to participate in the life of the Royal College of Music as teaching assistant to the Head of Keyboard.
In 2003 Driver's performing schedule took him to Israel, where he gave the Israeli premiere of Vogler's "Variations sur l'air de Marlborough" for piano
orchestra with the Tel Aviv Soloists, and where he was aired on National Radio. Subsequently he was featured extensively at the 2003 Edinburgh Fringe, giving five recitals of both solo and chamber music, and receiving a five-star review in The Glasgow Herald newspaper. In September he traveled to Norway with his piano trio, winning third prize at the Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition, before continuing to Calgary where he reached the semifinals of the fourth Honens International Piano Competition, having been the only British pianist selected for participation in the final stages.
Driver came to the British public's attention in 2001as winner of both the Royal Overseas League Competition Keyboard Award and BBC Radio 2 Young Musician of the Year. In the same year he gave his debut recital at the internationally renowned Wigmore Hall in London and was broadcast in recital and as concerto soloist with the BBC Concert Orchestra on BBC Radio. Since then he has given critically acclaimed recitals at high profile London venues such as the South Bank Centre (Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room), and Fairfield Hall, Croydon. Among other awards he has received are a fellowship from the Aspen Music Festival and School (1998), the Eric Falk Trust Award (2002) and the Amerada Hess Junior Fellowship at the Royal College of Music (2001).
Driver gained a first class degree in Natural Sciences at Cambridge University before embarking on formal training as a pianist at the Royal College of Music, where he won various student prizes. After graduating with distinction from the class of Professor Irina Zaritskaya he was awarded the Amerada Hess Junior Fellowship by the College, enabling him to complete his studies privately with Maria Curcio. To date he continues to participate in the life of the Royal College of Music as teaching assistant to the Head of Keyboard.
In 2003 Driver's performing schedule took him to Israel, where he gave the Israeli premiere of Vogler's "Variations sur l'air de Marlborough" for piano
orchestra with the Tel Aviv Soloists, and where he was aired on National Radio. Subsequently he was featured extensively at the 2003 Edinburgh Fringe, giving five recitals of both solo and chamber music, and receiving a five-star review in The Glasgow Herald newspaper. In September he traveled to Norway with his piano trio, winning third prize at the Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition, before continuing to Calgary where he reached the semifinals of the fourth Honens International Piano Competition, having been the only British pianist selected for participation in the final stages.