Grace Nikae, Concert Pianist: Official Website

Happy Holidays!

office — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:26:21 +0000

Grace and Aki wish all of you a holiday season full of joy and warmth and a new year filled with much happiness!

Piano Portraits Tour

office — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:01:27 +0000

Grace celebrates the classical pianistic tradition through a diverse and exciting program that explores the music of Austro-German, Spanish, Russian, French, Polish, and American traditions from varying time periods.
Piano Portraits brings to life a rich musical landscape highlighting the traditions, culture, and artistic imagination of composers from Europe and America. Each piece is a unique portrait that displays the capabilities of the piano as an instrument, combining together to create an artistic concert experience that mixes the rhythmic and vibrant with the poetic and fantastical.
In an effort to engage and strengthen the connection between audiences and classical music, Grace Nikae is taking this project to the United States, beginning in 2010.
Program includes works by: Mozart, Granados, Chopin, Ginastera, Ravel, Rachmaninoff, and Gershwin. Please contact Carla Croy for more information.

New Interview: Grace Discusses Art and Her Work with UNICEF

office — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:15:22 +0000

The New Mainstream (Canada):

“A few months back on a beautiful summer evening in Toronto, I attended a CD launch party for Twitter-friend and internationally renowned pianist Grace Nikae…Following the recital, we spoke - about music and its ability to communicate and cross cultures, her international travels and life abroad (mostly in Spain), and the many cultural experiences that have enriched her life and music. What I discovered was an exceptional woman – committed to her art and humanitarian work – exemplifying the life of an engaged, global citizen."

Read the latest interview with Grace about her work with UNICEF and the importance of art in the global community.

Interview: Grace Nikae & UNICEF’s Universal Children’s Day

office — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:57:03 +0000

The New Mainstream (Canada)
November 18, 2009
by Doreen Iannuzzi

A few months back on a beautiful summer evening in Toronto, I attended a CD launch party for Twitter-friend and internationally renowned pianist Grace Nikae. Hosted by Toronto fashion designer Rosemarie Umetsu at her Avenue Road studio, Grace gave us a sneak peak of her latest CD, Chopin | Schumann: Sonatas.
The event itself combined both professional and personal interests. I knew I would enjoy the music, but I was also curious to learn of Grace’s international and cross-cultural experiences. Following the recital, we spoke … about music and its ability to communicate and cross cultures, her international travels and life abroad (mostly in Spain), and the many cultural experiences that have enriched her life and music. What I discovered was an exceptional woman – committed to her art and humanitarian work – exemplifying the life of an engaged, global citizen.
“Understanding other peoples’ cultures … I think that means having empathy, understanding someone’s feelings, understand their way of thinking,” said Nikae. “It makes me better as an artist, changes the way I hear things, the way I perceive things. The fact that I have changed in that way has also allowed me to be able to use music, to go to places.”

The children of Nepal
A passionate and true artist, Nikae specifically recalled a trip to Nepal.
“One of the biggest lessons I learned from my music outreach and humanitarian tour in Nepal was the power of art to communicate and reach people of all backgrounds, cultures, and languages. The conditions there were certainly shocking and having the opportunity to work with children and orphans by teaching them western classical music was an extraordinary and eye-opening experience. Music excited these children so much!”
The Nepal tour in particular proved to Nikae that speaking a common language wasn’t necessarily a barrier to communicate, interact and, ultimately, connect. “Music, by its very nature, is a symbolic or representative art form, meaning that musical notes and sounds serve as a means of communicating deeper ideas regarding humanity, and of improving our understanding not only of ourselves, but also our relationship to each other and to the world around us. Because of this very reason, music is a powerful means of crossing any cultural or national boundaries – it speaks to something much more intrinsic, which is the fundamental humanity in all of us.”
“India and Nepal have their own very strong classical music tradition, and what surprised me so much was the sensitivity these children had to musical pitches. I have worked with children from all over the world and had never encountered a group of kids who so naturally and accurately picked up differences in sound. Their singing was beautiful! I realized that the natural complex intonations contained in their own language made them more acute to nuances in intervals and differences in pitch.”
The living conditions of many of these children did not go unnoticed by Nikae. “It was a profound experience to witness children living in such abject poverty possessing such refinement in both their voices and listening sensitivity.”
The transcending nature of Art
No doubt, the life of a musician, a travelling one at that, has its hardships.
“I believe in live performance, and I strongly believe in the powerful and educational value of concerts. But the life of a touring musician is also difficult, and often times the hectic schedule can leave musicians with the questionable feeling of whether or not our art has actually had an impact or contributed something memorable to a community.”
The Nepal trip reinforced Nikae’s belief that music and art is actually something much larger than any of us, and reminded her of why she became an artist. “Art transcends simplistic ideas such as ethnicity or nationality or religion that provide easy ways for us to categorize and divide ourselves. Instead, it allows us to see the common threads that bind all of us together, nurtures more complex ideals such as compassion and empathy, while at the same time, it illuminates the human condition so that we may perhaps better understand ourselves and our own lives.”
Working with UNICEF Spain
Towards the end of the summer, Grace took some time off to recharge her batteries amongst the beauty of the Spain countryside, and prepare for what would prove to be a very busy fall, including her work with UNICEF Spain.
Nikae’s Chopin | Schumann Sonatas recording actually marked the official start of her collaboration with UNICEF Spain, an organization whose work compliments her own commitment and dedication to humanitarian outreach, especially work that leads to the betterment of children worldwide.
This week, the international Convention on the Rights of the Child celebrates its 20th anniversary. The Convention is an international agreement that “sets the civil, social, political, economic, and cultural rights of children,” and is the first legally binding, international convention affirming human rights for all children.
To celebrate this historic milestone and UNICEF’s Universal Children’s Day, Grace will give a special piano performance of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, accompanied by narrator Fernando Palacios, this coming Friday (November 20) in Madrid.
* To find out more about UNICEF’s Convention on the Rights of the Child, you can visit their official website here.
* To learn more about the activities of UNICEF Spain, you can visit their website (in Spanish) by clicking here.
* To visit Grace Nikae online, you can check out her official website, her “Stretching Intervals” blog, her YouTube channel, or you can follow her on Twitter by clicking here.
-Direct external link
-The New Mainstream

Grace Performs for UNICEF’s Universal Children’s Day

office — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:44:16 +0000

For UNICEF Spain’s celebration of Universal Children’s Day, Grace will give a special performance of the solo piano version of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite on November 20, 2009. Grace will be joined by special narrator, Fernando Palacios.
Every year, UNICEF’s Universal Children’s Day celebrates the international Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was first signed on November 20, 1989. The convention is an international agreement that sets the civil, social, political, economic, and cultural rights of children. For more information, please visit UNICEF Spain.

Nov 20 2009: Madrid, SPAIN

office — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:52:22 +0000

UNICEF: Concert for Universal Children’s Rights Day

Anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child

Program:

Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker Suite for solo piano

Narrator: Fernando Palacios

SummerWorks and Grace Nikae Reception

admin — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:49:35 +0000

Metro Canada (Canada)

Hot Ticket by Enza Anderson
August 14 2009

External Link
PDF version

CD Review: Grace Nikae - Chopin | Schumann Piano Sonatas

office — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 06:35:42 +0000

Audiophilia (Canada)
by Anthony Kershaw
Aug 4 2009
This is US pianist Grace Nikae’s second release on Tempora Records. Her first, Fantasies, received very positive notices, not least in Audiophilia. I very much enjoyed her wonderful musicianship, fluid technique and ringing sound.
This second Nikae release is a completely different kettle of fish. Fantasies contained some very difficult music to be sure, but this new CD has two of the towering benchmarks of Romantic piano literature, recorded by giants, feared by many, and completely mastered by few.
Like many of todays young guns, this music holds no fears technically for Nikae. She takes both pieces in her stride and is comfortable in reproducing the sound world of the restless, syncopated Schumann and the more rhapsodic nature of Chopin.
Interestingly, it was Schumann who is quoted as describing Chopin’s music as ‘cannons behind the flowers’. The contemporaries were admirers of each others work, with the most admiration flowing from Schumann. Nikae manages to convey the powerful cannons behind the most delicate of touch. Her Chopin is so very musical. The music breathes and has time to build and conclude naturally. Lovely. The Finale is absolutely scintillating!
Her Schumann Sonata is not quite as successful, but excellent nonetheless. The glorious Andantino is especially fine. The incredibly difficult opening movement is done well but lacks the clarity and power of Martha Argerich. In other parts of the Sonata, I prefer Nikae. Comparison with the great Argerich is praise indeed.
Although recorded in a different space than Fantasies (this time, the Victoria de Los Angeles Conservatory, Madrid), the recordings are strikingly similar. The piano is mic’d up close and personal, but the recording retains enough of the hall for some transient bloom. I like it.
Grace Nikae is making quite a name for herself and for all the right reasons. She is a truly expressive player (so many technophiles around these days), yet has the fingers to do masterpieces like the Schumann and Chopin justice. Her promotion is truly 21st Century. She is building following on Twitter and her blog, Stretching Intervals is one of my favourite stops (web designers, check it out for what I think is design perfection). She even has her own YouTube channel.
Sonatas Schumann|Chopin can be found on iTunes or may be purchased from Audiophilia’s affiliate, Amazon, with confidence. Highly recommended.
External Link: Audiophilia

Learning From The Masters

office — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 06:22:24 +0000

Daily Interlake (USA)
July 30 2009
Though he was being observed by his peers, a scattering of parents and a world-class concert pianist, Will Holdhusen said he wasn’t nervous about playing during a masters class at North Valley Music School in Whitefish on Tuesday afternoon.
The 15-year-old from Whitefish played from “Warrior’s Song” by Stephen Heller for evaluation by Grace Nikae, a guest artist with this week’s Festival Amadeus in Whitefish.
“Would the military allow you to walk around with bad posture?” Nikae asked, trying to create a visual picture of the music Holdhusen was presenting. “It’s the same thing with rhythm.”
Five students of Camp Amadeus performed for Nikae, with the public also invited to listen and learn from Nikae’s enthusiastic advice. The Hawaiian-born pianist, who now lives in Madrid, Spain, played Wednesday for a chamber concert at the O’Shaughnessy Center and will be featured again Saturday in a Mozart piano concerto with the Festival Amadeus Orchestra at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center.
Festival Amadeus is a weeklong event featuring chamber and orchestra concerts of classical music, produced by the Glacier Symphony and Chorale. This is the second year for the event, which has again drawn notable guest artists from the world of classical music.
The camp, held in conjunction with the festival, provides a week of chamber music education for young string musicians, though many also are accomplished pianists.
Bass-baritone Ricardo Hererra also gave a master class, “Opera 101,” at North Valley Music School on Wednesday. Glacier Symphony music director John Zoltek said the educational component of the festival provides young music students with exposure and a rare opportunity to receive a few tips from an elite perspective.
Zoltek’s daughter, Geneva, played a bit of Bach for Nikae.
“I was excited to hear the advice of a professional,” the 14-year-old said. “She didn’t say anything new, but there were some things I hadn’t heard for a while.”
With Zoltek, Nikae concentrated on adding more dynamics, energy and rhythm to the piece.
“Did you know jazz musicians practice Bach?” Nikae said to Zoltek and the watching crowd. “Because he has this fantastic rhythm.”
Working with young pianists is natural for Nikae, 32, who makes education a key part of her life as a classical artist. Nikae, whose own career was launched by piano lessons with her mother when she was nine months old, gives musical outreach programs and does humanitarian work for UNICEF and is a musical ambassador for the U.S. Department of State.
“I enjoy doing something like this for the community,” she said of her Whitefish class. “It makes me feel like I can do something that lasts longer than the concert.”
She performed two years ago with the Glacier Symphony during its regular season and didn’t hesitate to make the long trip to the Flathead Valley for Festival Amadeus.
“John and I got along really great, so I was more than happy to come back,” Nikae said. “I’m impressed with the level of enthusiasm and support for musical education you have in this area, with this huge festival and music camp. Not so many small communities of this size have so much enthusiasm for the arts.”
External Link

Grace on Classical FM 96.3

office — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 20:02:17 +0000

Grace will perform and chat live at Classical FM 96.3 in Toronto on Wednesday, August 5 from 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM.
Listen in on your radio or watch it live at www.classical963fm.com!