Lara Downes, pianist: Press Kit

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Steinway Concert Artist Lara Downes has attracted attention as one of the most exciting and communicative young pianists of today's generation, cited by critics for her "breathtaking virtuosity" and called "a most delightful artist, with a unique blend of musicianship and showmanship" by National Public Radio.

Lara has won over audiences at some of the world's most prestigious concert venues, including Queen Elizabeth Hall London, the Vienna Konzerthaus, Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center.  Recent appearances have included concerts at the Kennedy Center, San Francisco Performances, the University of Vermont Lane Series, the American Academy in Rome, the El Paso Pro Musica Festival, and the Montreal Chamber Music Festival. Lara is currently Artist in Residence at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts at UC Davis, where she is the host and co-curator of the Studio Classics series.

Lara's chamber music appearances include collaborations with noted soloists and ensembles, including the Alexander String Quartet, the Miami String Quartet, cellists Zuill Bailey and Denis Brott, violinists Rachel Barton Pine, Lara St. John and Nicholas Kitchen. Commissions and premieres of new works for Lara include composers Aaron Jay Kernis, David Sanford, Benny Golson, Dan Coleman, Jonathan Russell and Laurie San Martin. Lara has been heard on NPR's Performance Today, WNYC's New Sounds, and WBGO's Jazz Set, and she will be featured in an upcoming documentary produced by WQXR.

Lara's busy performance career is strongly impacted by her commitment to expanding and developing new audiences for the arts.  She is the Founder and President of the 88 KEYS® Foundation, a non-profit organization that fosters opportunities for music experiences and learning in America's public schools by providing pianos and music education programming in K-12 classrooms.  Lara is also the Founder and Artistic Director of the Rising Stars of California program, a statewide initiative that showcases California’s most gifted young musicians in mainstage concerts and community outreach performances.

In addition to the excitement Lara brings to the concert stage, her commercial recordings have been met with tremendous critical and popular acclaim. Her debut CD, Invitation to the Dance, was called “a magical little recording” by NPR, and her CD American Ballads was ranked by Amazon.com among the four best recordings of American music ever made.

Lara lives in Northern California, where she spends her free time baking with her kids, fighting her addiction to vintage clothing, practicing Bikram Yoga, tidepooling, and watching 30 Rock.

Lara Downes is a Steinway Artist.

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A captivating presence both on and offstage, critically acclaimed Steinway Artist Lara Downes is a brilliantly virtuosic, effervescent young pianist dedicated to creating performances that run the gamut of musical styles from Bach to the Beatles. Lauded by NPR as “a delightful artist with a unique blend of musicianship and showmanship” and praised by the Washington Post for her stunning performances “rendered with drama and nuance”, Lara has won over audiences at some of the world’s most prestigious concert venues, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Queen Elizabeth Hall London, the Vienna Konzerthaus, and the Salle Gaveau Paris.  She is currently Artist in Residence at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts at UC Davis.

Along with her robust performance schedule, Lara maintains a strong commitment to working with young audiences.  She is the Founder and President of the 88 KEYS® Foundation, a non-profit organization that places pianos in K-12 public schools. Lara is also the Artistic Director of the Rising Stars of California program, a Statewide initiative that showcases California’s most gifted young musicians in mainstage concerts and community outreach performances.

In addition to the excitement Lara brings to the concert stage, her commercial recordings have been met with tremendous critical and popular acclaim. Her debut CD, Invitation to the Dance (Arkadia/Postcard, 2000) was called “a magical little recording” by NPR, and her CD American Ballads was ranked by Amazon.com among the four best recordings of American music ever made.