LOUISVILLE, Ky. —Italian pianist Beatrice Rana took the silver medal and the Audience Award in June at the 2013 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. At 8 p.m. Oct. 29, she’ll play a free, public concert in Comstock Hall at the University of Louisville.
Her program will include Robert Schumann’s Variations on the Name “Abegg,” for piano in F major, Op. 1 and Symphonic Etudes, Op. 3; and Sergei Prokofiev’s Sonata No. 6 in A major, Op. 82.
UofL supporters Ruth Atkins and Luis Prada saw Rana’s performance at the Van Cliburn competition and worked with Naomi Oliphant, associate dean and piano professor, to bring her to campus.
“She (Rana) played with great passion, her personality engaging and exciting the audience, clearly deserving top awards both for performance and response,” Prada said.
Rana comes from a family of musicians. She made her concerto debut at the age of 9 and has played with symphonies and at festivals worldwide. Her performances consistently draw top reviews. Earlier this year, International Piano magazine named her “one to watch.”
A graduate of the Nino Rota Conservatory of Music, Rana now studies with Arie Vardi at the University of Music, Drama and Media in Hannover, Germany. Rana will give a master class Oct. 30, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. in Comstock Hall. It is free and open to the public.