Adam Marks Joins Yamaha Artist Roster
BUENA PARK, Calif. — Pianist Adam Marks admits he's a late musical bloomer. "I began piano studies at age four but wasn't on a professional music track," explains Marks. "In college I began as a biochemistry major with a theater minor and intended to become a doctor. I didn't predict I'd become a professional musician, but contributing to the existing repertoire and helping others give voice, literally, to their work, feels electric."
No stranger to Yamaha pianos, many of Marks' friends and colleagues are also Yamaha artists, Michael Tilson Thomas, Sara Davis Buechner, and Lisa Yui among them. He's enjoyed numerous encounters with Yamaha pianos, including a residency with the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckinridge, Colorado; a solo recital at Yamaha Artist Services, Inc. (YASI); and collaboration with YASI staff on their Salon concert series. In 2005, on a Yamaha CFIIIS concert grand piano, Marks' premier performance of David Rakowski's "Absofunkinlutely" at the 7th Orleans International Piano Competition in Orleans, France, secured the prestigious Chevillon-Bonnaud Prize for the composer.
"When I'm performing on the road, there is not always time for practicing with a piano," says Marks. "Yamaha is security for me; I know what I'm getting. My musical repertoire features extreme dynamics and playing the pianos' insides. Yamaha pianos produce rich colors and remain consistent through the registers."
During a visit to Buechner's home, Marks fell in love with her Yamaha GranTouch™, and subsequently purchased one. "As a city mouse, it allows me to practice without the self-consciousness that's so omnipresent in NYC," he explains. "The GranTouch, though electronic, replicates the touch and sound of a concert instrument. The tone quality is extremely sophisticated – and I really challenged it!" he laughs. "I can do tedious practicing without disturbing my neighbors, and it re-creates the feeling of privacy you have in a practice room."
"I prefer the CFIIIS for performances," Marks continues. "But, sometimes, I like the smaller grand pianos, particularly for chamber music projects with Fifth House Ensemble from Chicago. We offer music in unexpected places, such as in front of a fish tank at Shedd Aquarium."
Known for his impassioned and innovative performances, Marks is a devotee of contemporary music. A committed educator (New York University, The Juilliard School of Music, Mannes College of Music, Yale University, New Triad for Collaborative Arts), he is currently a Ph.D. candidate in piano performance at NYU (his dissertation, 'The Vocalizing Pianist'). He has developed courses on audience engagement and an interactive and informal series, "Curated Concerts," to encourage listeners to conceptualize and embrace even the most complicated pieces.
"Audiences want to know how a piece came to life, understand why it's special to the performer, and learn to listen in different ways," says Marks. "I'd rather have people say 'I don't like it,' than 'I don't get it.' The challenge for today's musicians is learning how to bring about a Renaissance and how to maintain classical music's relevancy to those who have a background in music and those who don't."
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; or e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.
Adam Marks Photo Credit: Stephen Mosher |
"When I'm performing on the road, there is not always time for practicing with a piano," says Marks. "Yamaha is security for me; I know what I'm getting. My musical repertoire features extreme dynamics and playing the pianos' insides. Yamaha pianos produce rich colors and remain consistent through the registers."
During a visit to Buechner's home, Marks fell in love with her Yamaha GranTouch™, and subsequently purchased one. "As a city mouse, it allows me to practice without the self-consciousness that's so omnipresent in NYC," he explains. "The GranTouch, though electronic, replicates the touch and sound of a concert instrument. The tone quality is extremely sophisticated – and I really challenged it!" he laughs. "I can do tedious practicing without disturbing my neighbors, and it re-creates the feeling of privacy you have in a practice room."
"I prefer the CFIIIS for performances," Marks continues. "But, sometimes, I like the smaller grand pianos, particularly for chamber music projects with Fifth House Ensemble from Chicago. We offer music in unexpected places, such as in front of a fish tank at Shedd Aquarium."
Known for his impassioned and innovative performances, Marks is a devotee of contemporary music. A committed educator (New York University, The Juilliard School of Music, Mannes College of Music, Yale University, New Triad for Collaborative Arts), he is currently a Ph.D. candidate in piano performance at NYU (his dissertation, 'The Vocalizing Pianist'). He has developed courses on audience engagement and an interactive and informal series, "Curated Concerts," to encourage listeners to conceptualize and embrace even the most complicated pieces.
"Audiences want to know how a piece came to life, understand why it's special to the performer, and learn to listen in different ways," says Marks. "I'd rather have people say 'I don't like it,' than 'I don't get it.' The challenge for today's musicians is learning how to bring about a Renaissance and how to maintain classical music's relevancy to those who have a background in music and those who don't."
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; or e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.