Biography

Joseph Irrera

Pianist

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Biography

Pianist Joseph Irrera was born in 1982 and began his musical studies at the age of five. In 1993 he was accepted to study piano in the Community Education Division of the Eastman School of Music’s Preparatory Department where he also received training in counterpoint and music history. Mr. Irrera received the Eastman Preparatory Diploma with honors in 2000 and remained at the Eastman School of Music for his undergraduate studies earning a Bachelor of Music Degree with Distinction, in 2005. Mr. Irrera also holds a Masters Degree in Piano Performance from the Peabody Conservatory of the John Hopkins University.

Among his principle teachers are Alla Kuznetsov, Douglas Humpherys, and Alexander Shtarkman. Mr. Irrera has also received additional training from renowned pedagogues Martin Canin, Philip Kawin, Lev Natochenny, Irina Edelstein, Victor Rosenbaum, and concert pianist Jon Nakamatsu.

Mr. Irrera has concertized throughout the United States and abroad with appearances at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C with Leonard Slatkin, the Moulin d’Ande International Music Festival in France, and additional solo recitals in Bulgaria, Germany, and Italy. At the age of 18 he made his concerto debut performing Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Highlights from Mr. Irrera’s 2009-2010 concert season include solo appearances in Louisville Kentucky, Twin Lake Michigan, and guest soloist with the Genesee Symphony Orchestra performing Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.

Mr. Irrera is laureate of many national and international piano competitions including the Guthman International Piano Competition in Atlanta, Georgia, the Young Artist’s International Piano Competition in Washington, D.C., and most recently the American Protégé International Piano Competition in New York City where he was awarded first Prize.

Mr. Irrera serves on the faculty of the Eastman School of Music Preparatory Department and the Hochstein School of Music. He is currently pursuing the Doctorate of Musical Arts Degree at the Eastman School of Music.