Washington International Piano Series: Francesca Hurst, Piano Recital

• Francesca Hurst, piano

Jennifer Margaret Barker — Geenyoch Ballant
Jennifer Margaret Barker — BuMian
Faina Lushtak — Piano Sonata in C major
Frédéric Chopin — Four Mazurkas, Op. 17
Caroline Shaw — Gustave Le Gray
Jennifer Margaret Barker — Moana
Faina Lushtak — Old and New

The Washington International Piano Series presents a solo recital by classical and new music pianist Francesca Hurst featuring music by Jennifer Margaret Barker, Frederic Chopin, Faina Lushtak, and Caroline Shaw. At ease with a wide range of repertoire, Francesca makes sense of the music regardless of style and period, is passionate about communicating with her audiences, and has a special interest in performing music by women.

Francesca has appeared as a solo and collaborative guest artist at festivals like the Atlantic Music Festival, New Music Gathering, and the Bang on a Can Music Marathon. Equally versatile in the classical repertoire, she has played in such venues as the Kennedy Center, the National Gallery of Art, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC; and internationally in Bulgaria, Italy, Portugal, and most recently in France, where she performed with flutist Robert Cart at the American Cathedral in Paris. She was just named to the 2023-2024 Performing Artist Touring Roster of the Virginia Commission for the Arts.

Francesca is on the piano faculty at The Catholic University of America and maintains a thriving private piano studio in northern Virginia.

About Benjamin T. Rome School of Music, Drama, & Art of The Catholic University of America

https://arts.catholic.edu

About Francesca Hurst, piano

Dynamic and engaging, pianist Francesca Hurst delights audiences with a mix of classical and contemporary music. Listeners have described her playing as "moving and compelling" and "powerful yet sensitive." Classically trained, she fell into the new music scene in 2013, when a last-minute gig with Great Noise Ensemble turned into a decade-long engagement as their pianist. At ease with a wide range of repertoire, she makes sense of the music regardless of style and period, is passionate about communicating with audiences, and has a special interest in performing music by women.

As a new music pianist, Francesca has appeared as a solo and collaborative guest artist at festivals like the Atlantic Music Festival, New Music Delaware, New Music Gathering, Charlotte New Music Festival, and the Bang on a Can Music Marathon. Equally versatile in the classical repertoire, she has played in such venues as the Kennedy Center, the National Gallery of Art, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC, and internationally in Bulgaria, Italy, Portugal, and France. During the pandemic, she created the 100-day online video series Daily Dose of Piano, which featured music from the Baroque to today, including 14 premieres. She was recently named to the Performing Artist Touring Roster of the Virginia Commission for the Arts, and just recorded her debut album of women composers, which will be released in early 2024.

Francesca is on the piano faculty at The Catholic University of America and the University of Virginia, and maintains a thriving private piano studio in Northern Virginia. She is an MTNA Nationally Certified Teacher of Music and holds a DMA in Piano Performance.

https://www.francescahurst.com