Kenny Broberg, Piano
Bronze Medalist of the 2019 International Tchaikovsky Competition
Meet Pianist Kenny Broberg, Bronze Medalist of the 2019 International Tchaikovsky Competition. Kenny was the only American to make the finals of the most prestigious piano competition in the world, held every four years in Moscow. A Minnesota native, Kenny came to Park International Center for Music to study with Van Cliburn Gold Medalist Stanislav Ioudenitch in 2016 and is currently completing his Master’s Degree.
Program
Johann Sebastian Bach
Toccata in C Minor, BWV 911
Samuel Barber
Piano Sonata in E-flat Minor, Op. 26
Nikolai Medtner
Piano Sonata No. 2 in E minor, Op. 25
Watch Kenny’s entire semi-final performance at the 16th International Tchaikovsky Competition by clicking here.
Biography
American pianist Kenny Broberg continues to build a reputation for “blazing intellect, impeccable technical skills, and the ability to build a strikingly imaginative and intelligent program.” His fresh interpretations are complemented by a natural, honest stage presence and “an almost miraculous array of tone qualities” (Theater Jones). The Minneapolis native first came to international attention when he captured the silver medal at the 2017 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition with performances marked by “an imaginative shaping of themes, revelation of inner voices, and an unfailing sense of momentum” (Texas Classical Review). He followed this with a bronze medal win at the 2019 International Tchaikovsky Competition, adding to his numerous competition prizes at the Hastings, Sydney, Seattle, and New Orleans International Piano Competitions.
Kenny has appeared with the Royal Philharmonic, Minnesota, Sydney Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestras, among others, collaborating with conductors Ludovic Morlot, Kent Nagano, Leonard Slatkin, Vasily Petrenko, Nicholas Milton, Nicholas McGegan, Carlos Miguel Prieto, and Stilian Kirov. His subscription concert debut with the Minnesota Orchestra—stepping in for André Watts with Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto days before the performance in February 2018—was declared “a highly auspicious debut, marked by poise [and] technical brilliance” (Star Tribune). Other recent and upcoming highlights include his debut with the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra; residencies at the Montreal Symphony’s Festival Virée Classique, Rye Arts, Methow Chamber, Strings, and Sunriver Music Festivals; recitals in Houston, Denver, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis; and tours of Japan, Australia, and Italy.
He has been featured on NPR, WQXR, APM’s Performance Today, MPR, and ABC (Australia) radio. Several of his performances at the 2016 Sydney International Piano Competition were included on CDs released on the Universal Music Australia label. His solo debut album was released in August 2017 on the Decca Gold label, featuring one of his signature pieces, the Barber Piano Sonata, as well as works by Bach, Schubert, Chopin, and Franck.
The first musician in his family, Kenny started piano lessons at age 6, when he was first fascinated by his mother’s upright—a wedding gift from her parents. He studied for nine years with Dr. Joseph Zins before entering the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree with Nancy Weems in 2016. He currently resides in Parkville, Missouri, where he is earning his master’s degree under the guidance of 2001 Cliburn Gold Medalist Stanislav Ioudenitch at Park University’s International Center for Music. Alongside his teachers, he is influenced by the recordings of Alfred Cortot, William Kapell, and Claudio Arrau.
A hockey and baseball athlete in high school, Kenny still enjoys watching and playing sports, in addition to listening to jazz and reading.
