Jeremy Denk to Perform Beethoven’s Transcendent Piano Sonata No. 31 at the Music Academy of the West
An Evening of Music and Generosity: Supporting the Music Academy’s Full-Scholarship and Youth Choral Programs
Santa Barbara, CA – December 11, 2024 – The Music Academy of the West is thrilled to announce a one-of-a-kind event, Denk, Denim & Diamonds, featuring world-renowned pianist and Music Academy teaching artist Jeremy Denk. The intimate experience will take place at the Academy’s enchanting Lehmann Hall on Saturday, February 1, 2025, offering an unforgettable evening of music, conversation, and community. Proceeds from this magical event will benefit the Music Academy’s full scholarship program for the annual Summer School & Music Festival fellows and the year-round Sing! youth choral program.
The evening will begin with cocktails followed by an elegant dinner, setting the stage for an exclusive performance. Denk will perform Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Op. 110, a work revered for its profound emotional depth and technical brilliance. Interwoven with his performance, Denk will share insights and personal reflections, offering guests a unique glimpse into Beethoven’s creative genius. Blending the charm of casual sophistication with a touch of sparkle, attendees are invited to show-off their best denim and diamonds — in any form.
Jeremy Denk is a renowned American pianist and MacArthur “Genius” Fellow celebrated for his dynamic performances and thoughtful interpretations. He has appeared with major orchestras worldwide and earned accolades for his recordings and writings about music.
Jeremy Denk’s artistry and insight into Beethoven’s work promise a captivating evening. We are excited to offer this intimate experience to our community, celebrating great music with this preview of our exciting 2025 Summer Festival programming.
EVENT & TICKET DETAILS
Date: February 1, 2025
Location: Lehmann Hall, Music Academy of the West, Santa Barbara, CA
Time:
5 PM: Cocktail hour
6 PM: Dinner and Performance
8 PM: Dessert and Coffee
Tickets:
Tickets are available at the Music Academy website, at musicacademy.org/diamonds. The $500 per person ticket package includes the reception, dinner, and performance. Seating is limited to 100 guests. 50% of the ticket amount is tax-deductible.
For information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact the Director of Donor & Community Engagement, Leila Drake, at 805-695-7929 or ldrake@musicacademy.org.
Proceeds will benefit the Music Academy of the West’s transformative music education programs, fostering the next generation of classical musicians, by providing a full-scholarship to nearly 150 young musicians annually to attend the eight-week Summer School & Festival as fellows and offering the year-round Sing! youth choral program to over 40 area elementary schools free of charge.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
JEREMY DENK is one of America’s foremost pianists, proclaimed by The New York Times as “a pianist you want to hear no matter what he performs”. A New York Times bestselling author, Jeremy is the recipient of both the MacArthur ‘Genius’ Fellowship and the Avery Fisher Prize, and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Jeremy Denk has served as a solo piano faculty artist at the Music Academy of the West since 2015.
Jeremy has performed frequently at Carnegie Hall, and in recent years has worked with such orchestras as Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, and San Francisco Symphony. Meanwhile, he has performed multiple times at the BBC Proms and Klavierfestival Ruhr, and appeared in such halls as the Köln Philharmonie, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and Boulez Saal in Berlin. He has also performed extensively across the UK, including recently with the London Philharmonic, Bournemouth Symphony, City of Birmingham Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, and Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
Denk is also known for his original and insightful writing on music, which Alex Ross praises for its “arresting sensitivity and wit.” His New York Times Bestselling memoir, Every Good Boy Does Fine, was published to universal acclaim by Random House in 2022. Meanwhile, his latest album of Mozart piano concertos was deemed “urgent and essential” by BBC Radio 3, while his recording of the Goldberg Variations reached No. 1 on the Billboard Classical Charts.
ABOUT THE MUSIC ACADEMY OF THE WEST
Located in Santa Barbara, the Music Academy of the West creates a space where exceptional talent can thrive by encouraging artists to stretch, experiment, improvise, and play. The Academy provides classically trained musicians and diverse audiences with transformative educational and performance experiences. The Music Academy’s programs include an annual eight-week Summer School & Music Festival which trains up to 150 fellows ages 18-34 and presents more than 130 performances and events, competitions, and a fully staged opera; Sing!, a children’s choir that performs with local, national, and international partners; the innovative Alumni Enterprise Awards; and the Mariposa Series of concerts by Academy-affiliated artists.
For hi-res images, access the press kit
Press Contact
For further information, contact:
Kate Oberjat
Senior Director, Marketing & Communications
Music Academy of the West
koberjat@musicacademy.org
805‐695-7908