16th Annual Elizabeth Dunaway Burnham Piano Festival

Saturday October 07, 2023

7:30 pm - Frederick Moyer Piano Concert

Fred Moyer returns to OPA by popular demand, with a program of classical favorites and a bit of jazz!

Returning to Ogunquit by popular demand for the 3rd time, concert pianist Frederick Moyer has entertained audiences in more than 44 countries- in such international venues as the Sydney Opera House, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Windsor Castle, with orchestras in London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Brazil, and Iceland- and across every region in the U.S. ranging from Boston, NYC, Baltimore and Washington D.C. to St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Milwaukee to Dallas, Houston and Los Angeles. His performances exhibit an affinity for a wide variety of styles in both classical music and jazz, and his relaxed and witty commentary from the stage engages audiences in the heart of the musical experience.
Moyer’s wide ranging interests have resulted in the use of technology often with software he has written himself. An avid computer programmer and inventor with multiple patents, Moyer has created innovative concerts that redefine traditional piano recitals. His MoyerCam gives the audience a view of the hands and keyboard from almost any seat in the audience. His USolo software enables him to play piano concertos in recital with orchestral accompaniment synchronized to his interpretations.

His performance plan includes works by Schumann, Mozart, Mendelssohn, and a wide ranging selection of his (and our) jazz standards. Critical praise from the New York Times refers to his work as “First class…His playing is clean, unmannered, and full of ideas and intelligence.”

Price $20 in advance; $25 at the door; $5 Student. Free Parking.

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Friday October 13, 2023

7:30 pm - Liana Paniyeva Piano Concert

Ukranian-born pianist Liana Paniyeva makes her first appearance in Ogunquit, with a program of power and grace.

Making her Ogunquit debut, Ms. Paniyeva began winning prizes as a young prodigy in Ukraine in 2002. Since that time, she has won prizes in numerous international competitions. In 2008, she was awarded first prize in the Music World International Competition in Italy, and was winner of the Voice of Music competition in Israel.

Since then, she has been awarded performance prizes from such prestigious competitions, including but not limited to: the American Fine Arts Festival in NYC, Grand Prize at the Metropolitan International Competition in NYC, the Cargill Foundation Prize in the Scottish International Competition, the George Gershwin International Competition, the Oxana Yablonskaya Piano Institute in Spain.

Her concert reviews have described her as “a sensitive player” whose “Tuileries movement displays nearly Horowitzian staccato notes at high speed” and her playing presence “holds your attention with tender regard for the music, a captivating inwardness and sense of free spontaneity.”

Her international performance venues include, but are not limited to, piano festivals in Norway, Hungary, Austria, Canada, England, Syria, Italy, South Africa, Spain and Israel. Her domestic performances include multiple performances at Carnegie Hall,
and the Myra Hess concert series in Chicago.

Her formal professional education was at the Donetsk Music Academy in Ukraine, the Manhattan School of Music, and the Hartt School at the University of Hartford. In 2022, she was granted the Extraordinary Abilities in the Arts U.S. residence, awarded only to artists who have attained the highest level in their field.

It is appropriate that her Friday performance precedes Sunday’s student piano recital. Based in Boston, where her studio focuses on encouraging, teaching, and mentoring promising young piano students, during the pandemic, she founded the first online Young Stars International Piano Competition for young pianists, ages 6-
14 yo. Children from all over the world submitted their recordings: Germany, Malaysia, Australia, Poland, Canada, Macedonia, Thailand, US, UK, Taiwan, Italy, India, Lithuania, and Azerbiajan.

Her planned program includes, Chopin, Brahms, Weinberg and Schumann.

Price $20 in advance; $25 at the door; $5 Student. Free Parking.

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Sunday October 15, 2023

3:00 pm - 7:30 pm - Annual Student Piano Recital

Showcasing Southern Maine’s finest young pianists

The Festival concludes with the Student Piano Recital, featuring the area’s best young pianists. Talented local students have the opportunity to perform before a live audience, sharing the Festival with renowned pianists of national and international repute (Frederick Moyer and Liana Paniyeva).
The Festival, and especially this recital, honors the memory of Elizabeth Dunaway Burnham, the founder and first Chair of Ogunquit Performing Arts. A pianist herself, “Betty” studied, performed and taught piano for most of her life.

Betty Burnham had long dreamed that Ogunquit could support such a program as Ogunquit Performing Arts to add to its attractiveness as a welcoming place for artists, sculptors and summer theatre. Her dream was realized in November 1978, when the Committee for the Performing Arts was formed and began its work, with Betty elected as chairperson.

She saw to it that Ogunquit Performing Arts acquired its spectacular Steinway Concert Model C Grand Piano, which still remains OPA’s greatest treasure.

Now 45 years later, we hope and believe Betty would be happy with the ongoing work of OPA, and would certainly be proud of the students showcased in this concert.

Free Admission

Date: October 7 - 15, 2023

Location: Barn Gallery, 3 Hartwig Ln, Ogunquit, ME 03907

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