Praised by the New York Times for his “accurate” execution and “catlike ease” at the keyboard, American pianist Julio Elizalde is gaining widespread recognition for his musical depth and creative insight. His awards include first prizes at the San Francisco Young Pianists, Mu Phi Epsilon Young Artist, Berkeley Piano Club and San Jose Music Study Club Competitions in the San Francisco Bay Area. In the fall of 2007, Mr. Elizalde won the Juilliard School concerto competition for Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 25 in C Major, K. 503. He gave his New York City Concerto debut with the Juilliard Orchestra conducted by Anne Manson in the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Lincoln Center.
Highlights of the 2008-09 season include performances with violinists Pamela Frank, Robert Mann, Donald Weilerstein, soprano Susan Narucki, baritone William Sharp and cellist Bonnie Hampton. Dedicated to the music of our time, Mr. Elizalde worked with composer pianist Stephen Hough, Argentinean composer Osvaldo Golijov and American composer Leon Kirchner. Mr. Elizalde has performed at various summer music festivals including Taos, Kneisel Hall, Music Academy of the West, the Olympic Music Festival, Yellow Barn and Caramoor. In addition to his performing activities, Mr. Elizalde has twice served on the faculty for Yellow Barn’s Young Artist Program and has been invited as a guest artist at the San Francisco Conservatory Preparatory Division.
Born near San Francisco, California, Mr. Elizalde earned his Bachelor of Music degree with honors at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music as a student of pianist/violist Paul Hersh. In May of 2007, Mr. Elizalde graduated as a Master of Music from the Juilliard School in New York City studying with Jerome Lowenthal and Joseph Kalichstein in addition to studying chamber music extensively with violinist Pamela Frank at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. He is completing his studies at the Juilliard School as a C.V. Starr Doctoral Fellow studying with Robert McDonald. For his doctoral document, Mr. Elizalde will closely examine the chamber works with piano of French composer Gabriel Fauré. In addition to his doctoral studies, he serves as an instructor in the college division of the Juilliard School.
