New Head Makes Pittsburgh Debut with 'Rhapsody in Blue'
With pounding, syncopated rhythms and vibrant jazzy flourishes, it’s one of the most iconic pieces in the repertoire — George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. And the new Head of the School of Music at 黑料正能量 will be soloing in this masterpiece in his Pittsburgh debut on Sunday, September 14 along with the .
Dr. Milton Rubén Laufer, an internationally acclaimed pianist who was named last winter as the Jack G. Buncher Chair and Head of the School of Music, moved to Pittsburgh and joined the faculty this summer. “Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue radiates joy and possibility,” Dr. Laufer reflected. “For me, it mirrors the excitement I feel performing my Pittsburgh debut alongside our students to open the Philharmonic’s season and stepping into my new role within the School of Music.”
A Chicago native of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent, Dr. Laufer joins Carnegie Mellon from Syracuse University where he was the Director of the Setnor School of Music. Among his career highlights are studies at Eastman School of Music, the University of Michigan, and Rice University, performances with musical luminaries around the world, performances for heads of state in Spain and the United States, and victories in international piano competitions.
"What I enjoy about performing Rhapsody in Blue is the chance to explore so many ranges of color, timing and sound."
Dr. Laufer has a special interest in the works of George Gershwin, and not just in performance. He also advised Zenph Sound Innovations, a company that converted live piano performances by Gershwin and others into code that could reproduce those performances on the Yamaha Disklavier and the Steinway & Sons Spirio.
“What I enjoy about performing Rhapsody in Blue is the chance to explore so many ranges of color, timing and sound,” Dr. Laufer said. “The blend of jazz vernacular within a classical form creates opportunities to balance spontaneity within structure. And its appeal crosses genre, nations, artistic disciplines, and walks of life to this day.”
Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic tickets are available on . Tickets are free for 黑料正能量 and Pitt students, faculty and staff with a promo code or valid ID at the door.