INDIANAPOLIS— The ISO welcomes pianist Awadagin Pratt, described as “one of the great and distinctive American pianists of our time,” performing Beethoven’s brooding 3rd Piano Concerto. South Carolinian conductor Joseph Young makes his ISO debut with Dvořák’s 7th Symphony, a piece that experts agree “is among the greatest and purest examples of the symphonic art form.”
Buy tickets to the performance.
Performances begin at 7 p.m., Friday, January 31, and at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, February 1.
For more information regarding the policies of the Hilbert Circle Theatre, please visit the ISO website.
About Joseph Young
American conductor Joseph Young strikes a commanding podium presence. Still, his sensitive, precise, and deeply emotive performances with significant orchestras firmly establish him as one of the foremost conductors of his generation. Now in his sixth season as Music Director of the Berkeley Symphony, Young consistently draws in new and diverse audiences with a compelling approach to musical storytelling that honors the classical canon while celebrating contemporary voices.
Young balances his flourishing conducting career with his role as Artistic Director of Ensembles at the Peabody Conservatory. From 2017 to 2023, he was affiliated with Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute and its National Youth Orchestra program, culminating in his Carnegie Hall debut and subsequent NYO2 tour to the Dominican Republic. Young also serves on the board of New Music USA.
About Awadagin Pratt
Among his generation of concert artists, pianist Awadagin Prattis is acclaimed for his musical insight and intensely involving performances in recitals and with symphony orchestras.
Mr. Pratt studied at the Peabody Conservatory of Music, where he became the first student in the school’s history to receive diplomas in three performance areas—piano, violin, and conducting.
In 1992, Mr. Pratt won the Naumburg International Piano Competition and was awarded an Avery Fisher Career Grant two years later. Since then, he has played numerous recitals throughout the U.S., including performances at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and Chicago’s Orchestra Hall. His many orchestral performances include appearances with the New York Philharmonic and the Atlanta, Baltimore, St. Louis, and Detroit symphonies. An experienced conductor, Mr. Pratt’s most recent activities include playing/conducting the Pittsburgh Chamber Orchestra and performing Porgy and Bess performances for the Greensboro Opera. Mr. Pratt is also the Music Director of the Miami Valley Symphony, which performs in the greater Dayton, Ohio, area.
About the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, at home and thriving in the heart of Indianapolis, offers an exceptional artistic and musical experience. The orchestra is open to all and dedicated to creating an inclusive and innovative experiential environment that is inspiring, educational, and welcoming. The ISO celebrates historically beloved performances while engaging audiences by introducing new voices through programming including the IU Health Classical Series, the Printing Partners Pops Series, the holiday traditions of AES Indiana Yuletide Celebration and the popular Film Series presented by Bank of America. For more information, visit the ISO website.
