Critically acclaimed for his “thoughtful, lyrical, lustrous” pianism by The Washington Post Emanuel Ax took those skills and more to SFCM in October for a masterclass and visit with students. 

"I think listening is an incredibly great way to learn," Ax told students during his visit in the Barbro Osher Recital Hall of the Bowes Center. "Most of what I learned was actually not by spoken comments but by going to hear piano recitals," Ax added.

Emanuel Ax in the Barbro Osher Recital Hall.

Ax worked with several student musicians during the masterclass across different instruments, "SFCM has some really exceptionally talented students," Ax said.  

Ax is represented by Opus 3 Artists and Askonas Holt, the leading artist management companies acquired by SFCM in 2020 and 2022, respectively. Ax was also in San Francisco for a world premiere of Anders Hillborg’s new piano concerto, written specifically for him, at the San Francisco Symphony's Davies Symphony Hall. 

"It was incredible to be able to watch such a world-class and beloved artist in close range," said student Isabel Tannenbaum, who attended the masterclass. "I think what stuck out to me the most was the joy and curiosity Mr. Ax still carries with him, even after having a massive career under his belt. That's a level of deep love for music and learning that I hope to carry with me far into my career as well," she added. Tannenbaum is a viola and chamber music student working with Dimitri Murrath.

Emanuel Ax works with music students.

"It was super exciting to have Mr. Ax on campus! In addition to his enriching musical advice, he spoke about everything from the experience of premiering new works to the value of influences," said piano student Oliver Moore. "He mentioned going to Carnegie Hall with my teacher Garrick Ohlsson as teenagers to hear pianists like Vladimir Horowitz and Sviatoslav Richter. It’s such a privilege to be able to take in the artistry of musicians like Ax and Ohlsson both on campus," he added.

The Barbro Osher Recital Hall.

Born to Polish parents in what is today Lviv, Ukraine, Emanuel Ax moved to Winnipeg, Canada, with his family when he was a young boy. Ax made his New York debut in the Young Concert Artists Series, and in 1974 won the first Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Competition in Tel Aviv. In 1975 he won the Michaels Award of Young Concert Artists, followed four years later by the Avery Fisher Prize.

Learn more about studying piano at SFCM.