"A young pianist of unusual beauty whose playing encompasses not only the full range of virtuosity through enthusiasm and inner volcanic power, but also the deeper emotional side of music." — Macedonian pianist Simon Trpceski "A young pianist with a great talent and a great future who impressed me immensely with her rare musical talent and also with her very interesting musical personality; her interpretations are always original and personal” — French pianist Pascal Rogé “Katie Mahan is a daring and innovative performer; her rendition of Chopin’s Piano Sonata Op. 35 and of Wagner/Liszt’s Liebestod was the musical equivalent of blinding light illuminating vast, scary spaces that are not for the faint of heart to venture into. Always in command of the relationship between sound and space, and never afraid to explore new roads in what many consider old territory, this young artist proves just how strong the impact of piano music can be; she can tear from the piano an anguished and truly grand singing sound, as well as abandon herself to joyful lightness and speed without fear. She was a most welcome guest of our Cultural Events series and thoroughly inspired our students.” — Fabio Parrini, Professor of Music, Cline School of Music, North Greenville University Praised for her unique personality and extraordinary musical sensitivity, American pianist Katie Mahan is quickly establishing herself as an artist of rare appeal. Her passionate performances have attracted audiences throughout the United States, Germany, France, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Russia, Canada, Austria, and Japan. A native of Colorado, Katie began her piano studies at the age of four with her mother, Bobette Mahan, and gave her first solo recital at the age of six. She has appeared as recitalist, soloist with orchestra, or chamber musician across the world. Recent performance highlights included a recital debut in Prague, Czech Republic sponsored by the Trebbia Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting and awarding exceptional talent in the arts; a recital debut in the Konzerthaus in Berlin, Germany sponsored by the Berliner Salon; and a recital in Moers, Germany in honor of Robert Schumann in which the Neue Ruhr Zeitung heralded her performance as “brilliant, masterly playing... associations with the young Clara Schumann were revived – she could have played like this.” Further recent highlights include performances in Munich, Dusseldorf, Weilheim, and Essen, Germany; Prague, Czech Republic; Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia; Paris, Epinal, and Vallauris, France; Dubai, UAE, Cleveland, Ohio; Washington D.C.; New York City, Englewood, Denver, Boulder, and Aspen, Colorado; and Greenville, South Carolina. Katie was recently awarded the prestigious 2008 Classical Superstar Award by the Berliner Salon, a Berlin-based foundation dedicated to discovering and furthering the careers of young and gifted individuals in the arts and sciences both in Germany and abroad, and is a prize winner in many national and international competitions. She often presents programs which reflect the wide scope of her repertoire as well as her particular interest in the music of Claude Debussy, whose music she studied with the celebrated French pianist, Pascal Rogé, who traces his musical heritage at the Paris Conservatoire directly back to the composer himself. Katie was a protégé of the late Howard Waltz, himself a pupil of the legendary French pianist, Robert Casadesus, and has studied with such musicians as Lang Lang, Simon Trpceski, and Michel Béroff, and collaborated with conductors such as Jiri Belohlavek, Marin Alsop, and Lawrence-Leighton Smith. Katie is a Steinway Artist and has been featured on radio and TV in the USA, Germany, Canada, France, Czech Republic and Slovakia. Recent CD recordings include “Rêverie” featuring music of Claude Debussy, “Liebestod” containing works of Chopin and Liszt, a recital program of Brahms, Rachmaninov, and Prokofiev, and “Fantasy” containing works of Schumann and Schubert. For more information, please visit www.katiemahan.com