For 85 years, the annual Gratwick Concert has brought some of the world’s most renowned classical musicians to Milton’s campus. On Sunday, February 22, Milton welcomed pianist Jonathan Biss to Straus Library for this year’s concert event. The afternoon’s performance included Beethoven’s Sonata No. 1 in F minor and Sonata No. 28 in A Major; Schoenberg’s Sechs kleine Klavierstücke; Schumann’s Waldszenen; and Berg’s Sonata, Op. 1.
An internationally recognized pianist, Jonathan teaches at the Curtis Institute of Music where he holds the Neubauer Family Chair in Piano Studies. He has also reached over 55,000 students with his online course, Exploring Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas.
During his visit to campus, Jonathan also taught a master class and worked individually with Milton’s musicians.
“He gave each student a half-hour of one-on-one time,” said music faculty member Louise Mundinger. “Meeting someone with his talent, who is also so generous with his time and really good at working with students, is rare.”
The Gratwick Concert foundation was established by Dr. Mitchell Gratwick, a master at the Academy, in memory of his wife, Katharine Perkins Gratwick, who was a cellist and graduate of the Girls’ School, Class of 1924.
