Kenneth Broberg

Kenneth Broberg
Pianist Kenneth Broberg
Kenny Broberg in the semi-final round at the Fifteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Background information
Born (1993-08-02) August 2, 1993 (age 31)
Minneapolis, Minnesota
GenresClassical music
OccupationMusician
InstrumentPiano
Years active2011–present
Websitekennybroberg.com

Kenneth (Kenny) Broberg (born August 2, 1993) is an American classical pianist.[1][2] In June 2017 he won the silver medal at the Fifteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.[3] In June 2019 Broberg earned the third prize and bronze medal at The XVI International Tchaikovsky Competition.[4] In June 2021 he won the American Piano Awards.[5]

Early life and musical education

Broberg was born and raised in Minneapolis. Interested by the upright piano in his family home that was a wedding gift to his parents from his maternal grandparents, he began playing piano at the age of 6.[6] At 9, he began studying piano with Dr. Joseph Zins at Crocus Hill Studios in Saint Paul, Minnesota.[7] He went on to study with Nancy Weems at the University of Houston's Moores School of Music, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 2016.

Broberg is a graduate student at Park University in Parkville, Missouri, studying with Stanislav Ioudenitch, who was a gold medalist at the Eleventh Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2001.

Professional career

Broberg was featured on NPR’s radio program for young musicians, From the Top, two times early in his career at the age of 16.[8][9] He has since been broadcast on other radio stations across the world including ABC in Australia and KUHF in Houston, Texas.[10]

Broberg has performed as guest soloist with orchestras around the world including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Dallas Chamber Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, and Sydney Symphony Orchestra.[11] He also performs solo recitals both on concert series and at festivals including the International Keyboard Odyssiad and Festival,[12] the Rye Arts Festival in the United Kingdom,[13] and New Orleans Keyboard Festival.

In addition to many other wins at international piano competitions, Broberg won the fourth prize at the Sydney International Piano Competition in 2016; several of his performances from that competition were included on CDs released on the Universal Music Australia label.

On June 10, 2017, Broberg gained international attention by winning the silver medal at the prestigious Fifteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.[14] Broberg had been invited to the live competition in Fort Worth, Texas, along with 29 other competitors from a pool of 290 applicants.[15] Broberg progressed through each of the four rounds which required two 45-minute solo recitals, one 60-minute solo recital, a piano quintet with the Brentano String Quartet, and a Mozart piano concerto with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and Nicholas McGegan, and he chose to end the final round by performing Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and Leonard Slatkin. As a result of winning the silver medal, Broberg received $25,000 cash, three years of career management, a live recording, a recording partnership with Universal Music Group, press kits, videos, and a website.[16]

As part of his Competition prizes, Decca Gold released his debut solo album on August 18, 2017, Cliburn Silver 2017, featuring a selection of Broberg’s live performances during the competition.[17]

Awards

Year Event Award
2021 American Piano Awards[18] Winner
2019 International Tchaikovsky Competition[4] Bronze medal (tie)
2017 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition Silver medal
2017 Hastings International Piano Competition[19] Gold medal
2016 Dallas International Piano Competition[20] Gold medal
2016 Sydney International Piano Competition[21] 4th place
2015 Seattle Symphony Piano Competition[22] 2nd place
2014 New Orleans International Piano Competition[23] Bronze medal
2014 Wideman International Piano Competition[24] Silver medal
2014 Mika Hasler Young Artist Competition Foundation[25] 1st place
2013 Young Texas Artists Competition[26] Silver medal
2012 New Orleans Piano Institute Concerto Auditions[27] 1st place
2012 Moores School of Music Concerto Competition[28] 1st place
2011 Wideman International Piano Competition Bronze medal

Discography

Year Album Label
2017 Cliburn Silver 2017 Decca Gold
2016 Encore!: Recorded Live at the Sydney International Piano Competition of Australia 2016 ABC Classics
2023 Sonatas By Medtner, Rachmaninov, Scriabin Steinway & Sons

References

  1. ^ "Park University student wins silver at Van Cliburn International Piano Competition". The Kansas City Star.
  2. ^ "Filling in due to flu, Kenny Broberg shines in Minnesota Orchestra concerto debut". Star Tribune.
  3. ^ "Kenny Broberg – The Cliburn". cliburn.org.
  4. ^ a b "The Names of the Prizewinners at the XVI International Tchaikovsky Competition in the Piano Category have been Announced". The XVI International Tchaikovsky Competition. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  5. ^ "Kenny Broberg wins 2021 American Pianists Awards in Indianapolis" by Domenico Bongiovanni. The Indianapolis Star, 27 June 2021. Retrieved 2021-06-30..
  6. ^ Ewen, Chelsey Engelhard. "'Like a homecoming': Minnesota-based pianist, Van Cliburn Silver Medalist performing at MSUM". Inforum. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  7. ^ Gedetsis, Jacob. "Park grad student is one of 6 finalists in Van Cliburn piano competition". The Kansas City Star.
  8. ^ "Show 219: Listening Guide". From The Top. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  9. ^ "Saint Paul, MN / 219". From The Top. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  10. ^ Strachan, Sue. "New Orleans Keyboard Festival reception caps off a virtuosic week". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  11. ^ Estes, Maggie. "2017 Cliburn Competition Winners Concert Tours Announced". Musical America. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  12. ^ Jacobs, Jennifer Clary. "Performances of a Lifetime at the International Keyboard Odyssiad & Festival". Colorado State University. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  13. ^ Stuart, Andy. "Keyboard delights at Arts Festival". Rye News. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  14. ^ Raihala, Ross. "Minneapolis native a finalist in 'most prestigious classical music contest in the world'". Twin Cities Pioneer Press. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  15. ^ Ahles, Andrea. "Meet the pianists going for gold in the 2017 Cliburn competition". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  16. ^ "Find out who won the 15th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition!". Pianist Magazine. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  17. ^ "Watch: WQXR Presents the 2017 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition Winners". WQXR. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  18. ^ Kenny Broberg wins 2021 American Pianists Awards in Indianapolis by Domenico Bongiovanni. Indianapolis Star, 27 Jun 2021. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
  19. ^ "Past Winners". Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  20. ^ "Kenny Broberg Wins the Dallas International Piano Competition 2016". Dallas International Piano Competition. Archived from the original on April 14, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  21. ^ Janovy, C.J. "Park University Piano Student Has One More Concert In Prestigious International Contest". KCUR. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  22. ^ "Piano Competition". Seattle Symphony. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  23. ^ Waddington, Chris. "Spanish woman wins gold in 2014 New Orleans International Piano Competition". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  24. ^ "News". University of Houston. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  25. ^ "Past Winners". Mika Hasler Competition. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  26. ^ "YTA Music Competition 2013 silver winner, Kenneth Broberg, earns silver at Van Cliburn International Piano Competition". The Paper Magazine. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  27. ^ "Kenny Broberg". Hall Piano Co. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  28. ^ Thayer, Natalie. "Piano Alumnus Brings Music to Life on International Stage". University of Houston. Retrieved April 13, 2018.