Andrew Von Oeyen to Replace André Watts at 70th Anniversary Season Gala Concert

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AUGUST 18, 2016) – With deep regret, André Watts has withdrawn from his appearance at the Winston-Salem Symphony’s season-opening 70th Anniversary Gala Concert on September 17 due to ongoing treatments for prostate cancer. Pianist Andrew von Oeyen will perform Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2 in his place.

“I was so sorry to hear of my friend André Watts’ recent cancer diagnosis,” said Robert Moody, Music Director. “First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family. We wish him a full and speedy recovery. While we all were looking forward to hearing him play Brahms’ 2nd Piano Concerto, I am nonetheless still incredibly excited for our 70th Anniversary Gala concert.”

“We are so fortunate that last season’s piano superstar Andrew von Oeyen was able to make this date work,” Moody continued. “He will play the Brahms with us. Andrew texted me just yesterday, and wrote ‘I’m so excited to play with you and Winston-Salem again; and on my favorite concerto!’ Andrew had our Triad fully abuzz with his Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto performances last season. I know he will do the same as he helps us celebrate 70 phenomenal years of the Symphony in Winston-Salem!”

The season-opening 70th Anniversary Gala Concert will take place on Saturday, September 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Reynolds Auditorium at 301 N. Hawthorne Road in Winston-Salem. In addition to Johannes Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2, the Symphony will perform Ludwig van Beethoven’s Egmont Overture, which was played at the Symphony’s first concert in 1946. They also will play the Carmen Symphony in 12 Scenes by Georges Bizet/José Serebrier. Tickets are on sale now at WSsymphony.org or 336-464-0145 and start from $30.

Hailed worldwide for his elegant and insightful interpretations, balanced artistry, and brilliant technique, Andrew von Oeyen has established himself as one of the most captivating pianists of his generation. Since his debut at age 16 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Esa-Pekka Salonen, von Oeyen has excelled in a broad spectrum of concerto repertoire—Bartók, Barber, Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Fauré, Ligeti, Liszt, Gershwin, Grieg, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, Ravel, Schumann, Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky—with such ensembles as the Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, National Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Saint Louis Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Berlin Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Symphony, Grant Park Orchestra, Ravinia Festival Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony, Utah Symphony, Orchestre Symphonique de Marseille, Geneva Chamber Orchestra, Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra, Slovenian Philharmonic and Slovak Philharmonic. As both soloist and conductor he has led concerti and orchestral works by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Ravel and Kurt Weill. On July 4, 2009, von Oeyen performed at the U.S. Capitol with the National Symphony in A Capitol Fourth, reaching millions worldwide in the multi-award winning PBS live telecast.

Andrew von Oeyen, of German and Dutch origin, was born in the U.S. He began his piano studies at age 5 and made his solo orchestral debut at age 10. An alumnus of Columbia University and graduate of The Juilliard School, where his principal teachers were Herbert Stessin and Jerome Lowenthal, he has also worked with Alfred Brendel and Leon Fleisher. He won the prestigious Gilmore Young Artist Award in 1999 and also took First Prize in the Leni Fe Bland Foundation National Piano Competition in 2001. Andrew von Oeyen lives in Paris and Los Angeles.

Ticket holders who have questions regarding the concert may contact the Symphony Box Office by calling (336) 464-0145. The box office is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

About the Winston-Salem Symphony

The Winston-Salem Symphony, one of the Southeast’s most highly regarded regional orchestras, begins its 70th anniversary performance season in September 2016. Under the baton of Music Director Robert Moody, the season includes a special 70th anniversary opening gala concert, Classics and Kicked-Back Classics series, Plugged-In Pops series, Discovery Concerts for Kids, annual performances of Handel’s Messiah, a concert featuring Winston-Salem Symphony and Youth Symphony musicians, holiday concerts, three youth orchestra ensembles, and a multitude of educational and community engagement programs. The Symphony is supported by Season Presenting Sponsor, Bell, Davis & Pitt, P.A. and generous funding from the Arts Council of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County, the North Carolina Arts Council, and other dedicated sponsors. For more information, visit WSsymphony.org.

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