Rising Stars Piano Series Brings Stellar Talent To Off Season Audiences - 27 East

Arts & Living

Arts & Living / 1508987

Rising Stars Piano Series Brings Stellar Talent To Off Season Audiences

icon 1 Photo
Soyeon Kate Lee.

Soyeon Kate Lee.

authorStaff Writer on Aug 25, 2019

Seventeen years ago, Hampton Bays resident Liliane Questel attended a concert presented by Pianofest in the Hamptons at Avram Theater at the Stony Brook Southampton campus (back when it was still Long Island University’s Southampton College). Pianofest is the annual summer program founded more than three decades ago by pianist Paul Schenly, and each year, it brings stellar young pianists from around the world, many of whom are college students, to the East End for monthlong residencies where they learn, perform and build on their skills in a supportive setting surrounded by their peers.

When Questel pulled into the Avram parking lot to attend that Pianofest concert all those summers ago, one thing immediately struck her.

“I saw there were so many cars,” she said. “I know half of them must be from people who are here year-round.”

That observation led Questel, who is, herself, a pianist and a graduate of the Brussels Conservatory and Baltimore's Peabody Conservatory, to create the Rising Stars Piano Series at the Southampton Cultural Center (SCC), where she is a board member.

Founded in 2003, the much lauded series has been going strong ever since. The mission of the Rising Stars Piano Series is a simple one — to provide performance opportunities primarily for participants and alumni of Pianofest of the Hamptons. Though truth be told, at this point many of these musicians are no longer “rising stars” but successful pianists in their own right and highly celebrated performers with stellar careers.

Which is why Questel feels Rising Stars is so special.

With concerts held each fall and spring at the Southampton Cultural Center’s Levitas Center for the Arts, Questel explains that her goal in creating Rising Stars was to provide off-season residents with the same high quality performances that summer audiences enjoy with Pianofest. Helping to make the series a success and select likely candidates for the concert line-up is pianist Konstantin Soukhovetski, an artist-in-residence at Pianofest and the managing director of Rising Stars.

The 2019/2020 season of the Rising Stars Piano Series kicks off on Saturday, September 7, with a performance by Soyeon Kate Lee, a returning Pianofest participant. Lee, who took first prize in the 2010 Naumburg International Piano Competition and the 2004 Concert Artist Guild International Competition, will perform works by Debussy, Chopin and Granados at SCC. The Korean-American pianist has been lauded by both the New York Times and the Washington Post.

While Rising Stars has a dedicated and loyal following, Questel is now actively looking to spread the word and build a larger audience for the series.

“We have people, but we don’t have enough. This hall is the most beautiful hall in the area and it’s designed for music,” she said. “My series is for those who live here in fall and spring who don’t have this kind of music. The pianists are coming back, but it’s very difficult to fill the hall, and this hall is smaller than Avram theater.

“I have people who are happy to come. We’re bringing music here when there is none …”

Those who do frequent the Rising Stars series are well aware that the music they are hearing is made by an international group of pianists who represent countries around the world.

“It’s not always strictly classical either,” said Questel. “We’ve had someone do jazz and improvisation.”

Sometimes, a pianist will even bring a unique spin on the music, as was literally the case with Vincent Ip, who is also an accomplished and passionate figure skater.

“He played his pieces on roller skates,” remarked Questel.

Seeing dynamic and talented pianists is not only entertaining, it can also be inspirational, particularly for young students of the instrument. For that reason, Questel is particularly interested in reaching out to schools for help in encouraging budding pianists to come see the rising (and often risen) stars of Rising Stars. Last August, Rising Stars offered a special summer concert featuring Hampton Bays native and Juilliard graduate, Matthew Maimone, someone who could serve as a strong inspiration for other local piano students.

“Parents will spend a lot of money for lessons, but often do nothing else for the student,” she said. “At our concerts, which are free for students, you can listen for an hour and then go to dinner.”

And who knows, perhaps over dinner, talk will turn to who might be the next local rising piano star.

Soyeon Kate Lee performs at 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 7, at Southampton Cultural Center’s Levitas Center for the Arts, 25 Pond Lane, Southampton. Tickets are $20 in advance at scc-arts.org or $25 at the door (students under 21 free). The fall Rising Stars Piano Series will continue with Robin Giesbrecht on September 28 and Kara Huber on November 9.

You May Also Like:

Leigh Bardugo Comes to Sag Harbor Books for Book Signing, Meet and Greet

Growing up, best-selling author Leigh Bardugo always knew she wanted to be a writer, but ... 11 Jul 2025 by Hope Hamilton

Springs Artist Fitzhugh Karol Debuts Outdoor Sculpture Show at Duck Creek

The Arts Center at Duck Creek will present “Fitzhugh Karol: On the Grounds,” a site-specific ... 8 Jul 2025 by Staff Writer

La Goulue Sur Mer Arrives in Southampton, With a Dash of Chaos and a Side of Style

“Is it true?” said the anxious DM on my Instagram account. “Is La Goulue really ... by Steven Stolman

Art on a Line: Guild Hall’s Clothesline Sale Hangs Tough for 2025

Guild Hall’s beloved Clothesline Art Sale returns on Saturday, July 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The annual event, a Hamptons tradition since 1946, transforms the museum’s lawn into a sea of original artwork — hung on clotheslines — and offers visitors the chance to purchase local art at accessible prices. Jackson Pollock once sold a painting at the sale for $250, and past participants have included Lee Krasner, Alfonso Ossorio, Elaine and Willem de Kooning and other art-world icons. The event continues to offer a rare opportunity for the public to view and purchase work by East End ... by Staff Writer

The Climate-Friendly Fitness Routine

“Live simply so that others might simply live” — Mahatma Gandhi The first time I ... by Jenny Noble

Joy Behar Gets the Last Laugh in ‘My First Ex-Husband' at Bay Street Theater, July 14-19

Emmy Award-winning comedian and co-host of “The View,” Joy Behar stars in “My First Ex-Husband,” a bold, funny and heartfelt new play based on true stories from her life. The limited engagement runs July 14 through 19, at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor. With razor-sharp wit and no filters, “My First Ex-Husband” explores the messy, hilarious truths of love, sex and relationships. Adapted from Behar’s personal experiences, the show is both deeply personal and widely relatable. Behar will appear on stage on July 14, 18 and 19. Also appearing nightly, July 14 through 19, are Veanne Cox, a Tony-nominated ... by Staff Writer

Experience the Rhythms of Brazil With Nilson Matta’s Voyage Quartet

Grammy-nominated bassist Nilson Matta will lead his Brazilian Voyage Quartet at The Church on Friday, July 25, at 6 p.m. The concert is part of Hamptons JazzFest. The group features acclaimed guitarist Chico Pinheiro and offers a rich exploration of samba, bossa nova and modern Brazilian jazz. Matta, a founding member of the renowned Trio da Paz and longtime collaborator with Yo-Yo Ma on the Grammy-winning “Obrigado Brazil” project, is known for blending traditional Brazilian rhythms with contemporary jazz. His lyrical bass playing and deep rhythmic connection have earned him international acclaim. Guitarist Chico Pinheiro, recognized as a leading voice ... by Staff Writer

At the Galleries for July 10, 2025

Montauk The Depot Art Gallery, at the Montauk railroad station at the corner of Flamingo ... by Staff Writer

Round and About for July 10, 2025

Fireworks Shelter Island Fireworks The Shelter Island fireworks will be held on Saturday, July 12, ... by Staff Writer

Curtis Institute of Music Alumni and Faculty To Perform in East Hampton on July 22

Talented alumni and faculty from the world-renowned Curtis Institute of Music will tour the East Coast this summer, with a concert scheduled for Tuesday, July 22, at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of East Hampton. The event is presented by Music for Montauk. The program features beloved melodies ranging from Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess” to works by Brahms and de Falla. Performers include mezzo-soprano Katie Trigg, violinist Elissa Lee Koljonen, pianist Hanchien Lee, and Curtis Institute President and violist Roberto Díaz. The concert program includes: Manuel de Falla’s “Suite Populaire Espagnole,” performed by Díaz (viola) and Lee (piano); ... by Staff Writer