RACHEL
FRANKLIN
As
a Pro Musicis International Award winner, British pianist Rachel
Franklin has given her solo debuts in Carnegie Recital Hall, New York,
and Jordan Hall, Boston. The Boston Globe enthused about her
“beautiful differentiations of color, touch and texture” and
described a performance on her solo debut CD as “not inferior.. .to
the recorded performances by Cortot and Rubinstein.” She has also
given European Pro Musicis solo debuts in Paris and Rome.
At
the Wigmore Hall, London, where she has given several recitals, critics
applauded her “stunning individuality,” “exquisite dynamic
control,” and “amazing power and solidity of technique.” The
Washington Post praised her “cool-headed bravura and panache.” In
Dublin the Irish Times said: “Of the many qualities that distinguished
Rachel Franklin’s recital, it was perhaps the intelligence
underpinning her creative interpretations that caused her to stand out
from so many other young pianists...” She has been featured on NPR’s
“Performance Today,” with whom she has given frequent spoken
broadcasts. Her recital broadcasts include BBC Radio 3, WQXR and WNYC in
New York and WJHU in Baltimore, and Radio Telefis Eireann in Ireland.
She has concertized as a soloist and ensemble artist throughout Europe,
Canada and the US, recording on Sony Vox with violinist Sergiu Schwartz,
and Sonoris with violinist Janice Martin. Other collaborators have
included clarinetist Paul Green and violinist Phillip Levy. Among her
many awards are top prizes in the florence International Chamber Music
Competition, and the Louise B. McMahon International Music Competition
Rachel
Franklin studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School with Vlado Perlemuter and
Louis Kentner, giving performances at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London,
and at the Menuhin Festival, Gstaad. She then attended the Royal College
of Music. In 1995 she gained her Doctorate of Musical Arts with Ann
Schein at the Peabody Conservatory of Music. Ms. Franklin also studied
with Irma Zaritskaya at the Rubin Academy of Music, Tel Aviv University,
where she won First Prize in the school’s piano competition and
received highest honors upon graduation. In addition, she has
participated in master classes with such artists as Joseph Kalichstein,
Andras Schiff and Menachem Pressler.
An
accomplished jazz pianist, Rachel Franklin has performed with many jazz
ensembles and has broadcast solo jazz on BBC Radio 3. Much in demand as
a teacher and speaker, she is a Faculty Member at the University of
Maryland, Baltimore County and Associate Faculty at Peabody. She gives
courses and lectures for many organizations including the Smithsonian
Associate Program, the Levine School, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
and the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra.